Get ready for move in! Learn more

Summer Residence

2025-26

Move In

We’re available to offer support and resources to help plan for your arrival – whether you have questions about what to bring with you, when to arrive, or where to park, we want to make your move-in a success. Get ready to make Chestnut your home away from home!

Move-In dates:

August 23 & 24, 8am – 6pm

Move-In Essentials

MOVE-IN TIME slots

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helpers

Move-in time Slots

Booking your arrival time

All residents are required to register for a move-in time slot.

More information about how to book your arrival time will be shared soon.

HELPERS

Individuals helping you move-in

We recommend that you limit the number of individuals assisting you as move-in helpers to two while moving into residence. The limit is to reduce the volume of people in the building, which will reduce the wait time for elevator use.  

Please keep in mind that residents are not permitted to have guests, including overnight guests, during the move-in period as this is a very busy time in the building. This also allows residents and the overall building community to get settled and orientated before guests are permitted following move-in (beginning September 4). Please review our Community Standards for further details on our guest policy.  

If you are unable to move in on August 23 or 24 between 8am – 6pm

We encourage all new first year students to arrive during the official move in weekend of August 23 and 24, between 8am – 6pm. However, if you are unable to arrive during these times due to inflexible travel plans, such as flights, you will be able to check in during the times listed below.

Arriving outside of 8am – 6pm on August 23 – 24

or

Arriving between August 25 – September 1

When you arrive at Chestnut Residence, please visit the the Front Desk to check in and collect your keys. If the Front Desk is closed during your arrival, check in at the Security Desk. You will be given temporary access to your room. Please visit the Front Desk the next morning to formally check-in.

Please note:

Residents cannot move in prior to 8am on August 23. All residents must occupy their rooms by midnight on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 (as per section 7 in your Occupancy Agreement).

If you will be delayed in your arrival, please contact the Residence Life Office. If we have not heard from you, it will be assumed you are no longer coming and your spot may be offered to someone else.

Step by Step Move In

The steps outlined below are for arrivals between August 23 – 24, 8am – 6pm only.

1. arrival

Arrive at Chestnut Residence on the date and time of your registered move-in time slot. 

It is extremely important that you arrive during your booked time slot. 

You can cancel and reschedule your time slot online through StarPortal.

Unsure how to get here? Review our directions to Chestnut.

2. parking

If you are driving, please print your Parking Display Notice prior to move-in. Clearly display the completed notice on your vehicle dashboard. 

Upon arrival, please pull up to the awning and unpack your belongings from the car. Once you are finished unloading, please drive your car to the parking garage. 

Parking will be free in Chestnut’s underground parking garage for one vehicle per resident on the day that you check in. Upon entering the parking garage you will receive a parking ticket. 

During check-in, please provide the Front Desk Agent with your parking ticket. They will exchange the ticket and provide you with a free exit ticket at this time. 

Please note, there is a 6-foot height restriction for vehicles using the underground parking garage. Read the full instructions for parking at Chestnut.

3. MOVING CARTS

There will be carts available in the lobby of Chestnut Residence.

You are welcome to use these carts to assist in moving your belongings.

Please ensure that you return any carts back to the Lobby.

4. front desk

CHECK-IN

Once inside the lobby, please report to the Front Desk to check-in and receive your room key card.

Please then join the line for the elevator. The wait time for elevator use may be long due to the volume of residents moving into the building at the same time.

If you are moving by yourself, without a friend or family member to help you move, you can leave your belongings in the lobby while you move what you are able to carry up to your room. Please notify the Front Desk that you will be doing this.

 

Please note there is currently no stair access available to resident floors. Rooms are accessible by elevator only.

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don’t forget to say bye!

You’re now moved into your new home and it’s time to say goodbye to your family and helpers.

Once you have moved in all of your items, we kindly ask that you say farewell to your family/helpers as quickly as possible in order to adhere to your move-in timeslot and reduce the volume of people in the building, which will reduce the wait time for elevator use.

Good to Know

Dining at Chestnut icon

dining commons

Depending on your move in date and time, you may need to plan ahead and make arrangements for food.  

Full meal plan service will be available in the Dining Commons beginning with breakfast service on Sunday August 24, 2025. 

learn more
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internet

All students can access wifi at Chestnut Residence by connecting to the U of T wireless network using your UTORID. 

If you would also like the option of a wired internet connection, proceed to the ResNet Help Desk (next to the Front Desk), to register for modem & cables for in-room internet. 

Bike storage

Many students bring their bike to Chestnut. Bike storage is available on our concourse level.

Register your bike at the Front Desk and they will program your key card to allow access to the bike storage room. Remember to keep your bike locked up, even in the bike room.

What to Bring

What’s provided

don’t forget

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helpful items

do not bring

What’s provided

Chestnut Residence provides students with the following:

  • 1 double sized bed per student
  • 1 pillow per student
  • 1 desk and desk chair per student
  • 1 dresser per room
  • 1 armoire in double rooms
  • 1 closet per room
  • Curtains for the room
  • Shower curtain in the bathroom
  • Waste and recycling bins
  • Smoke detector & battery

don’t forget

Items you’ll need

  • Bedding (each resident is provided a double/standard sized bed)
  • Pillow case
  • Hangers
  • Decorations – posters, pictures, plants, photos, etc.
  • Sticky-tack adhesive or poster tabs for decorations (no nails or tacks!)
  • Storage boxes for your room (there is no extra storage in the residence)
  • Laundry bag and high efficiency washing machine detergent
  • Mattress cover (optional)

Helpful items

What you might also want to bring

  • A small/mini fridge for your room (max. 1 metre in height)
  • Ear plugs or eye masks for sleeping 
  • TV (residence rooms are not equipped with cable) 
  • Semi-formal wear 
  • Winter clothing 

prohibited items

What NOT to bring

  • Items that promote unsafe alcohol consumption, including drinking games, funnels, kegs or other drinking paraphernalia
  • Any illegal substances, non-prescribed drugs/narcotics, or drug paraphernalia (including hookahs, bongs, pipes, e-cigarettes and vaporizers etc.) 
  • Candles, incense, potpourri etc. 
  • Large stereos, sub-woofers or DJ equipment 
  • Valuables. Chestnut does not have storage safes so valuables are kept at your own risk.
  • Extra furniture. Students are not permitted to add or remove any furniture from rooms. 
  • Any cooking appliances including hot plates, rice cookers, toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves, kettles, coffee makers. There is a communal fridge and microwave on each floor.
  • Weapons are restricted. Items worn for religious purposes or used for extracurricular activities such as martial arts require advanced permission from the Residence Office 
  • Pets (dogs, cats, fish, lizards, hamsters, etc.)