New movers guide
Moving to River Forest.
A few questions, then a checklist for the first week, the first month and the first season. Each item says who is responsible and links to their page, or to the page on this site that already explains it. Nothing here restates an application; the Village, the library and the schools keep their own.
22 things for your first week, month and season
"Suggested timing" is ours, counted from your move date. Enter the move-in date above and it turns into calendar dates. An "Official date" appears only when the responsible organization publishes one. Your answers stay on this screen and are not stored; print the list to keep it.
Before the move and the first week
Water and sewer are billed by the Village, every other month. The application transfers service with the sale of a property.
Village of River Forest, Administration & Finance · Village Hall (708) 366-8500 · Application for water and sewer service
Source: Village of River Forest: Water & sewer service application, checked September 20, 2026.
Start or transfer service in your name for the move-in date. The Village also has a community solar page if you want to look at that later.
ComEd · ComEd (start or move service from its home page)
Source: Village of River Forest: New residents (utilities), checked September 20, 2026.
Most River Forest houses heat with gas. Start or transfer service for the move-in date.
Nicor Gas · Nicor: start, stop or transfer service
Source: Village of River Forest: New residents (utilities), checked October 3, 2026.
The Village contracts with LRS. Collection is Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the street; up to two cans of refuse a week and unlimited recycling, billed on the Village utility bill. Missed pickups: LRS, (844) 633-3577.
Village of River Forest and Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) · Village Hall (708) 366-8500 · Refuse and recycling, with the collection day map
Source: Village of River Forest: Refuse & Recycling, checked September 20, 2026.
Street closures, leaf collection, water main work and emergency notices come this way, to residents who sign up.
Village of River Forest · E-News & Alerts
Source: Village of River Forest: New residents, checked September 20, 2026.
Street parking overnight is by waiver, requested online before 2 a.m., and not more than three times in any thirty days. Know this before the first night a guest stays over.
River Forest Police Department · Police non-emergency (708) 366-7125 · Overnight parking request
Source: Village of River Forest: Police Service Requests, checked September 20, 2026.
The Union Pacific West line stops at River Forest, at Central Avenue and Thatcher. Schedules and fares are Metra's.
Metra · River Forest station, UP-W
Source: Village of River Forest: New residents (transportation), checked October 3, 2026.
For an emergency, call 911. For everything else, the Police non-emergency line is (708) 366-7125 and the Fire Department's is (708) 366-7629. Separately, this site has a page on what to do first when the furnace quits on a cold night.
River Forest Police and Fire Departments · Police non-emergency (708) 366-7125 · Fire non-emergency (708) 366-7629 · Police Department · When the furnace has already quit
Source: Village of River Forest: Police Department and Fire Department pages, checked October 3, 2026.
The first month
The state asks for a prompt address change after a move, online. New to Illinois: the Secretary of State page for new residents has the license and registration steps and their deadlines.
Illinois Secretary of State · Illinois address change
Source: Illinois Secretary of State: new residents, checked September 20, 2026.
The Village sells monthly commuter parking permits for the River Forest Metra station: day only, night only, or day and night. All three had a waiting list when this was checked, and you join the list online.
Village of River Forest · Monthly commuter parking permit
Source: Village of River Forest: Monthly commuter parking permit, checked October 3, 2026.
Free with a picture ID showing your River Forest address, or a photo ID plus proof of residency (a utility bill, bank statement or vehicle registration). Children under 18 need a parent's signature. Apply at the desk or online.
River Forest Public Library · Get a card
Source: River Forest Public Library: Get a Card, checked September 20, 2026.
Village news that affects your house, what is happening around town, and one seasonal thing worth doing. Sometimes we write up one local company.
The 60305 · Sign up
Source: This site, checked September 20, 2026.
Every vehicle registered in Illinois at a River Forest address needs a Village sticker. Passenger vehicle $45; senior (65 and over, one per household) $25. The season runs on an application mailed June 1 and due July 14, with late fees after that, so a mid-year mover buys the current season's sticker now.
Official date: The 2026 to 2027 application was due July 14, 2026. The Village lists late fees after that date: $10 from July 15 to August 14, $15 from August 15 to October 14, and $20 after October 15.
Village of River Forest · Village Hall (708) 366-8500 · Vehicle sticker
Source: Village of River Forest: Vehicle stickers, checked October 3, 2026.
Register or update your address online at ova.elections.il.gov with an Illinois driver's license or state ID. Staff at Village Hall can help you do it in person, and there is a mail-in form. The Village page says registration closes 30 days before an election; after that you can register and vote on Election Day at your home precinct with two pieces of identification, one showing your current address.
Village of River Forest (Village Clerk) and Cook County Clerk · Voting & Elections
Source: Village of River Forest: Voting & Elections, checked October 3, 2026.
The Village issues guest and contractor parking passes to any resident who asks, normally for one day at a time, by phone to Village Hall. Caregiver passes are good for the calendar year and go through the Police Department. Worth knowing before the movers or the first houseguest need the street.
Village of River Forest · Village Hall (708) 366-8500 · Parking passes
Source: Village of River Forest: Parking passes, checked October 3, 2026.
The Village stops unpermitted work, adds a surcharge, and can order it removed. This site's permit page explains the rules in plain words and says who to call at the Village.
Village of River Forest, Building & Zoning · Building & Zoning (708) 714-3552 · Village Building & Zoning · Permits, explained
Source: This site: Village permits page, checked September 20, 2026.
Water, sewer and refuse arrive on one bill every other month. The Village offers online payment.
Village of River Forest · Paying Village bills
Source: Village of River Forest: Pay utility bill, checked September 20, 2026.
The first season
The Village collects leaves from mid October through the first week in December, by neighborhood on a published map. Rake leaves only onto the street, leaving the curb exposed, and Village crews pick them up. No grass clippings, brush or pumpkins in the pile. If you are responsible for the outside, this is the first seasonal thing that catches new people.
Village of River Forest, Public Works · Fall leaf collection
Source: Village of River Forest: Fall leaf collection, checked October 3, 2026.
Programs and registration are the Park District's, on its own site. The village calendar here carries only the few Park District dates we could confirm, such as board meetings and seasonal events.
River Forest Park District · Programs and registration · The village calendar
Source: Village of River Forest: New residents (other government bodies), checked September 20, 2026.
Sewer lateral repair, basement flood control and lead water service replacement. The rules, the caps and the catch (apply before the work starts) are on this site. The packets are written for the property owner.
Village of River Forest · Village programs
Source: This site: Village programs page, checked September 20, 2026.
Which trades the Village licenses, what a license does and does not mean, and the directory this site keeps from the Village report.
Village of River Forest · Contractor licensing
Source: This site: licensing page, checked September 20, 2026.
The Township acts as a taxpayer advocate in the Cook County system: homeowner and senior exemptions, questions, appeals. Worth a call in the first season, before the next bill.
River Forest Township · (708) 366-2787 · Township property tax help
Source: River Forest Township: property tax, checked September 20, 2026.