UCI Move In and Move Out Guide for Parents

Fall move in, step by step

For fall 2026, Housing scheduled move in for Sept 19 to 20 in the residence halls (Mesa Court and Middle Earth) and Sept 19 in Arroyo Vista. The 2026 to 27 residence hall sample contract lists the halls as opening at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept 20, and says students must check in and pick up keys no later than Sept 24.

Your student's assignment email holds their check in location and how to select a move in day and time. Windows come in 30 minute slots and go first come, first served. Students who arrive in their own window get priority at check in, and Housing warns that showing up early can mean a wait.

Parking is complimentary on your move in date. Loading zones have a 20 minute limit, so plan to unload fast, then move the car. Overnight parking needs an overnight permit, sold at a dispenser or kiosk. Housing's move in page points to a Move In Guide for each community, with a map of check in locations, parking, elevators and cart check out, plus a floor plan for each community. Look at yours before you arrive so you know which building entrance to aim for.

What the room already has

Each furnished bedroom includes a bed with an extra long twin mattress (38 by 80 inches), a mattress cover, a desk and chair (some desks have a bookcase), and a wardrobe. Housing notes that storage space in rooms is limited, so bring less than you think.

Packing: what Housing suggests and what it bans

Housing's what to bring list includes extra long twin sheets, towels, toiletries, a study lamp, laundry detergent, hand sanitizer and emergency supplies. It also suggests surge protectors, fans, a bicycle and kitchenware for shared kitchens.

Leave these at home:

1. Candles, incense and anything with an open flame, plus heaters and sun lamps
2. Vaping materials and tobacco (UCI is a smoke free and tobacco free campus)
3. Pets other than fish (see Housing policy for details)
4. Drones and personal wireless routers
5. Dry erase or cork boards on doors
6. Microwaves, except the one built into a micro fridge combination unit, which can be rented or bought through a UCI endorsed company
7. Any refrigerator that is not UL approved or is larger than 4.3 cubic feet

Cooking appliances are only allowed in kitchen areas, not bedrooms. The move in page also points to Housing's renters insurance page, worth a look before you pack electronics.

Move out in June

The sample contract sets the end of the year at noon on Saturday, June 12, 2027, with a late charge of $32 per hour after that. The 2027 move out page was not up yet in October, so here is how the spring 2026 version worked. Students had to:

1. Remove everything from the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen areas and mailbox
2. Put furniture back where it was at check in
3. Clean, including dusting and vacuuming
4. Submit the mandatory Roompact Move Out Form
5. Return keys using the Express Checkout boxes in their community
6. File a USPS change of address, since mail arriving after the closing date went back to sender
7. Submit work orders for any damage before leaving

Excessive cleaning results in charges to the student's Zot Account. According to the contract, property left in a room after the contract ends is disposed of under state law, and the university takes no responsibility for it.

Donating, storing and shipping

In 2026, the Move Out Donation Drive put bins throughout the communities for clothing, bedding and similar items. For everything else: USPS, UPS and FedEx all ship boxes home, and self storage facilities around Irvine rent units by the month. If your student is coming back in fall, compare the cost of storing a few boxes for the summer against shipping them twice.