SDSU Move In and Move Out Guide for Parents

How move in works at SDSU

Fall 2026 move in ran Wednesday, Aug. 19 to Friday, Aug. 21. Housing staggers arrival times to keep traffic moving: students receive their move in date and check in time by email in early July, then detailed instructions in early August.

On the day, families drive to the check in lot tied to the student's building, which is Parking Lot 2 (P2), 7 (P7), 15 (P15) or 17 (P17). M@College residents skip that step and go straight to M@College. If you cannot make the assigned slot, Housing warns that moving services are limited after 4 p.m., so an early flight the day before is the calmer plan.

Courtesy parking permits are activated through Housing's move in parking page and were valid through Saturday, Aug. 22 this year. After that, regular PayByPhone or pay station parking applies.

Spring arrivals are smaller. On Monday, Jan. 18, 2027, continuing residents may return after 10 a.m., and new spring residents check in from 2 to 5 p.m.

What the room has, and what stays home

First year rooms come with twin XL beds, and lofting is available for a $100 fee. Sophomore and upper division room sizes vary by community. Some buildings supply shower curtains and toilet paper and others do not, so check the list on the move in page for your student's community before you shop.

Housing does not allow mini fridges, space heaters, barbecues, hot plates, portable stoves, portable air conditioners, electric water coolers, ice makers, humidifiers or essential oil diffusers. Leave those off the packing list even if a store markets them as dorm items.

Breaks are not move out

Communities that do not offer break housing close for Thanksgiving (Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. to Nov. 29 at noon), winter (Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. to Jan. 18) and spring break (March 26 at 4 p.m. to April 4 at noon). Plan travel so your student is out of the building before each closing time.

Move out in May

Nine month residence halls and apartments close for the academic year at noon on Friday, May 14, 2027. Housing posts move out instructions for each term; its most recent page, for summer 2026 residents of Aztec Corner, M@College and Viva, shows what checkout involves:

• Use Express Checkout at the front desk: fill out the form and put keys in the envelope provided. Keys cannot be returned by mail.
• Clean the whole space, including bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, and take every personal item.
• Roommates can complete a Damage Responsibility Form so charges land on the right person.
• Items left behind are subject to an abandonment fee of $100 or more, and that includes bikes and surfboards.
• Usable items can go in the donation bin outside the community.

Expect a spring 2027 version of that page closer to May, and read it with your student, since details can change by term.

Storage and shipping options

Housing's move out page says portable storage containers are not allowed. Beyond that, families generally choose among three paths: shipping boxes home with a national carrier (the same three campus UPS Store locations handle resident mail), renting a self storage unit near campus for the summer, or booking a pickup storage service. Whatever you pick, line the pickup or drop off up with the noon closing on May 14 and your student's last final.