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Your Smooth Move to the California Coast
A PCS to Naval Base Ventura County checklist, in order. What to do the day orders drop, at 90, 60 and 30 days out, in arrival week and in your first month, with the phone numbers you will need.
The day orders drop
- Call the NBVC Housing Service Center at 805-982-4321. Ask about wait times for your rank and family size, on base and in the privatized neighborhoods. The NBVC housing guide explains each option.
- Get on the housing waitlist the same day if living on base is even a maybe. The list goes by date.
- Ask your new command for a sponsor. A good sponsor answers the questions no website can.
- Sign up at MilitaryChildCare.com. Child care waitlists here can run months.
- Start a pre-approval if you might buy. It is free and it does not commit you to anything.
90 days out
- Decide between base housing, renting and buying. Compare your BAH with real prices on the BAH rates page and pick a town with the neighborhood guide.
- Book your household goods move the moment you have orders in hand. Summer dates go first.
- Ask for school records and shot records. Read the schools guide, since the district depends on the exact address.
- If you own firearms, read PCS to California with guns now. Some items cannot come with you, and you need time to store or sell them.
60 days out
- Plan a house hunting trip. Ask your command about permissive house hunting leave.
- Cannot get away? Adam does live video tours and can write an offer while you are still at your old duty station.
- Set your budget for the move. The mortgage calculator shows a full payment with taxes and insurance.
- Start the school enrollment paperwork. The school liaison can help before you arrive.
30 days out
- Reserve lodging. The Navy Lodge at Port Hueneme is 805-985-2624. Navy Gateway Inns and Suites is 805-982-6025.
- Ask your admin office for advance dislocation allowance if you need the cash up front.
- Start one folder for every receipt: lodging, gas, tolls, hotel taxes. Your travel claim depends on it.
- Check your vehicle registration and insurance against the California DMV rules for military.
- Refill prescriptions so you have 30 days on hand during the move.
Arrival week
- Use Knott Gate at Port Hueneme or Las Posas Gate at Point Mugu. The pass and ID guide covers what to bring.
- Check in with your command.
- Visit the Fleet and Family Support Center in Building 1169 at Port Hueneme for a welcome packet and relocation help.
- Update DEERS with your new address.
- Stock up at the commissary.
- Move your TRICARE enrollment to the West Region. The medical page explains how.
The first 30 days
- Close on your home or sign your lease.
- File your travel claim. Do it early. Late claims delay your money.
- Handle the car: registration, plates, license and smog. See the DMV page.
- Walk through the Seabee Museum and the beach at Port Hueneme. You live here now.
The money that helps you move
| Allowance | What it is | 2026 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dislocation allowance (DLA) | A flat payment to help set up a new household | See the table below |
| Temporary lodging expense (TLE) | Lodging and meals while you wait for housing, stateside | Up to 21 days, capped at $290 a day |
| Partial DLA | Paid when you are ordered to move into or out of government quarters | $1,002.71 |
2026 dislocation allowance with dependents:
| Pay grade | DLA |
|---|---|
| E-1 to E-6 | $3,548.02 |
| E-7 | $3,551.31 |
| E-8 | $3,824.94 |
| E-9 | $4,149.51 |
| O-3 | $4,041.88 |
| O-4 | $4,885.43 |
Your admin office has the exact rate for your grade and status, and the rules for your orders. Rates change each January.
California rules to handle early
- Cars: what you owe the DMV and what you can skip
- Firearms: what can come and what cannot
- Taxes: how California treats military pay
- Buying with a disability rating: the new property tax break
Questions people ask
How early should I contact NBVC housing?
The day you get orders. Call the Housing Service Center at 805-982-4321. Waitlists go by date.
How many days of TLE do I get for a move to California?
Up to 21 days for a stateside move in 2026, capped at $290 a day for lodging and meals. Your admin office confirms what your orders allow.
Can I buy a home before I arrive?
Yes. Many families do. Get pre-approved, tour by live video with Adam, and close near your report date. A power of attorney can cover the signing if you are still in transit. Ask Adam how it works.
Which gate do I use when I first arrive?
Knott Gate for Port Hueneme, on Ventura Road at Sunkist Street. Las Posas Gate for Point Mugu. Both run around the clock, but confirm with your sponsor.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: Defense Travel Management Office 2026 dislocation allowance and TLE rules; Naval Base Ventura County Housing Service Center; Navy Lodge and Navy Gateway Inns and Suites; MilitaryChildCare.com; TRICARE West Region. Hours, prices, laws and dates change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
Keep going
Make the pre-approval the first box you check
It takes minutes and costs nothing. Then you know your number before you fall for a house. Adam does the loan and the home search, so nothing gets dropped between the two.