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Lafayette Movers
Licensed Movers for Lafayette Houses, Hillside Lots and Lamorinda Moves
Lafayette is the first stop past Orinda once our trucks clear the Caldecott Tunnel, which keeps drive time short for moves between Berkeley, Oakland and the Lamorinda towns.
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Professional Moving Services in Lafayette
Most Lafayette homes are owner-occupied houses set among rolling, grassy hills, so the typical job here is a full household on a sloped lot rather than a quick apartment hop.
Lafayette Movers for Hillside Homes and Lamorinda Households
Lafayette is a city of roughly 25,000 residents in Contra Costa County, tucked between Orinda, Moraga and Walnut Creek on the far side of the Berkeley Hills. Together with Moraga and Orinda it makes up the area locals call Lamorinda. About three out of four occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and the average household holds between two and three people, so most Lafayette moves we plan are whole houses: furniture for several bedrooms, a garage, and often a home office that has to be working again the next morning.
The People and Equipment on Your Lafayette Move
Nobody on a ShipShape truck is a contractor hired for the day. Our movers are company employees who cleared a background check before they were sent to a home. We operate under California permit MTR 0192323, and our federal registration number is USDOT 3549568. A ShipShape crew arrives in a 26-foot box truck with a loading ramp and brings its own moving blankets, plastic wrap, hand trucks, dollies, straps, floor runners, door-frame guards, wardrobe boxes and disassembly tools. The number of movers is written on your quote; a full Lafayette house usually needs more hands than a one-bedroom apartment, and we size the crew to the inventory you describe.
Sloped Driveways and Long Carries
East of the Berkeley Hills the land turns into the rolling grass hills Lafayette is known for, and plenty of homes sit above or below the street on steep, narrow or curving driveways. A loaded 26-foot truck cannot always back down those safely, so the crew may park at the curb and carry the furniture the rest of the way. We ask about the driveway, any steps to the front door and where the nearest level parking is during your estimate, which can happen at the house or over a video call.
Near Lafayette BART and Highway 24
Lafayette has its own BART station beside Highway 24, and about a quarter of the city's households rent. Apartments and townhomes near the station can have shared parking, gated garages or limited loading space, so we confirm with the property manager where a truck may stop and for how long before your date is set.
Near the Reservoir and Briones
The Lafayette Reservoir lies in the southwest corner of the city, and Briones Regional Park reaches into the north. If your home is near either one, mention it when you book so we can check street width and where the truck can stop.
Encroachment Permits for Containers and Street Work
The City of Lafayette says that anyone who stores materials or equipment within the public right-of-way needs an encroachment permit, and that on most residential streets the right-of-way runs about 20 to 25 feet out from the center of the road. The city lists a typical permit fee of $247.50 and a refundable deposit that is typically $2,500, issued through its Engineering Department, with a call to the inspection hotline two business days before the work starts. If you plan to leave a storage container or pod in front of the house, apply for that permit well ahead of moving day.
Drive Time From Our Berkeley Office
We are based at 2001 Addison Street in Berkeley. The Caldecott Tunnel runs under the Berkeley Hills, and Lafayette is the next city after Orinda on Highway 24. Under California's rules for hourly local moves, the time driven between your origin and your destination is billed at double, and the truck's trip out to you and back is not charged separately. Because Lafayette borders Orinda and Walnut Creek, a move between neighboring towns usually carries only a modest amount of drive time.
Moving Into or Out of Lafayette
A Lafayette move might begin in Berkeley, Oakland or San Francisco and end in a house in the hills, or the other way around. We handle moves between Lafayette and Orinda, Walnut Creek, Berkeley and Oakland, and our long-distance team takes on moves to other parts of California.
Booking a Lafayette Move
Phone 510-666-6480 or fill in the quote form above with your pickup and delivery addresses, the rooms you are moving, the driveway or stair situation and your preferred date. A $100 deposit reserves the crew and is returned if you cancel 48 hours or more before the move.
Moving rates from $190/hour
Our Moving Process
Personalized Consultation & Estimate
We begin by assessing your moving needs, property type, and timeline. After gathering the details, we provide a clear estimate outlining all included services for a worry-free plan
Detailed Planning and Preparation
Our team develops a structured strategy based on your inventory, parking and building access, and any specialty items. This ensures a seamless, efficient move from start to finish.
Packing and Loading
If packing is included, we protect your items with premium materials and clearly labeled boxes. Everything is loaded securely into our clean, well-maintained trucks.
Transportation & Delivery
We safely transport your belongings and deliver them on schedule, placing everything exactly where you want it in your new home or office.
Final Walkthrough
Before concluding the move, we perform a walkthrough to confirm all items are correctly positioned and in perfect condition. Your satisfaction is always our top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a mover charge for a Lafayette house move?
Our hourly rate starts at $190 for two movers with a three-hour minimum, plus an $80 one-time truck fee. A full Lafayette house usually needs three or more movers, and drive time between your two addresses is billed double under California rules. The rates page shows how a quote is built.
Can your truck get up my steep Lafayette driveway?
Sometimes not with a full load. When a driveway is too steep or tight, the truck parks at the curb and the crew carries items between the house and the truck. Tell us about the driveway when you request the estimate so the crew size accounts for the longer carry.
Do I need a city permit for a moving container in Lafayette?
The City of Lafayette requires an encroachment permit for storing materials or equipment in the public right-of-way. A container or pod on the street falls under that rule, so apply through the city's Engineering Department before it is delivered.
Do you move between Lafayette and Orinda or Walnut Creek?
Yes. Because these cities sit next to each other, the drive time on these moves is small. We also move people between Lafayette and Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco.
Can I get an estimate without an in-home visit?
Yes. We can walk through your Lafayette home over a video call, which is often the quickest way to show us the driveway, the stairs and the larger furniture.