IDs, documents and utilities

This chapter covers the identity documents, licences and utility accounts that make daily life in Brooklyn work. Some rules are New York State rules, not Brooklyn-specific, and some depend on your immigration status or where you moved from. Use the official pages linked in the sources for decisions, because fees and processes change.

• FreeIDNYC card, for New York City residents aged 10 and over
• 30 daysTime to exchange an out-of-state licence after becoming a New York resident
• 1-800-752-6633Con Edison main line for service and billing
• Oct 24, 2026Registration cut-off for the November 3, 2026 general election

IDNYC

IDNYC is New York City's free municipal ID. Anyone living in the five boroughs can apply, regardless of immigration status, from age 10. The card lasts five years for people 16 and older and two years for younger applicants.⁹⁸

You need 4 points of documents: at least 3 points of identity and at least 1 point of New York City residency, with at least one document that has a photo and one that shows your date of birth. For example, a US or machine-readable foreign passport is 3 points and a lease or a utility or bank statement dated within 60 days is 1 point. Expired documents are generally not accepted. The City's Document Calculator shows which of your documents qualify.^99,85

Book an appointment online or through 311; the City releases new slots on Fridays for the following Monday to Friday, and mail applications are not accepted. The East New York centre (2400 Fulton Street, 5th Floor) takes walk-ins on Tuesdays. If approved, the card arrives by mail in about 10 to 14 business days.⁹⁹

• Proof of identity for City services and for dealings with the NYPD
• Library card use in the Brooklyn, New York and Queens systems once linked to your library account
• Access to affordable housing applications through NYC Housing Connect
• Opening an account at select banks
• Free or reduced admission at participating museums, zoos and gardens

Driver licence or ID from New York State

If you become a New York resident you must obtain a New York driver licence within 30 days. You can use a valid licence from another state or country until then. Students from other states or countries who live here only while studying are usually not treated as residents.^96,100

If you hold a valid US or Canadian licence, you may be able to exchange it. The licence must show your photo, be valid or have expired within the past 24 months, have been issued at least six months before you apply, and not be suspended, revoked or marked non-renewable. At the DMV you pass a vision test (or bring Eye Test Report MV-619), surrender the old licence and prove your identity. Brooklyn residents also pay a $1.00 Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District fee for every six months the licence is in effect. A REAL ID costs no extra. Licences issued outside the US or Canada cannot be exchanged: you apply for a new original licence and surrender the foreign licence at your road test.^101,96

The DMV's online pre-screening tool, which needs a NY.gov ID, tells you whether you are eligible and what to bring before you book a visit.¹⁰²

As of the DMV's pages in October 2026, you cannot change your address online; you can do it at an office or by mail.¹⁰³

Registering a vehicle

If you bring a car, you must register it in New York within 30 days of moving. The DMV's mail-in route needs the Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82), original proof of ownership (photocopies are not accepted), proof of New York insurance, photocopies of identity documents and payment of sales tax where it applies. You get a 10-day inspection extension sticker, and registration papers take about six weeks by mail. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted for a New York-registered vehicle.^105,100

Social Security and ITIN

You usually do not need a new Social Security card when you move, because knowing your number is often enough. A replacement is free; depending on your situation you may be able to request it online through a my Social Security account, and otherwise you complete Form SS-5 and bring documents in person. The documents depend on your citizenship and card type.^106,107

An ITIN is a tax number for people who must file US taxes but are not eligible for a Social Security number. It is for federal tax purposes only, does not change immigration status and does not authorise work. Processing usually takes around seven weeks, longer during tax season. Ask a qualified tax professional or the IRS before applying.¹⁰⁸

Registering to vote

To register in New York you must be a US citizen, 18 or older (16 and 17-year-olds can pre-register), and live in your county for at least 30 days before the election. You cannot claim the right to vote elsewhere. You can register online at e-register.vote.nyc, through the DMV if you have a New York DMV ID, by mail, or in person at a Board of Elections office. For the November 3, 2026 general election, applications must be received by October 24, 2026; mail applications must arrive at least 10 days before the election you want to vote in.^109,97,110

Electricity and gas

Con Edison supplies electricity across Brooklyn. It does not supply gas here. According to the Con Edison service-territory page, Brooklyn, Staten Island and southern Queens get Con Edison electricity only, and National Grid says it serves gas customers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.^111,112

Start or move electric service online through Con Edison's Start, Move or Stop Service page or on 1-800-752-6633. For gas, use National Grid's website and its Contact Us page, which list the current ways to start or transfer service. Check your lease first, because in some buildings heat, hot water or gas is included in your rent. If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 first.^113,114

• Ask your landlord which utilities are in your rent and which are in your name.
• Request Con Edison electric service starting on your move-in date.
• Request National Grid gas service if the apartment has a gas account in your name.
• Save the Con Edison and National Grid emergency and billing numbers in your phone.
• Photograph meter readings when you move in.

Internet and TV

Brooklyn households can usually choose between providers such as Optimum (Altice), Spectrum (Charter) and Verizon Fios, depending on the building and street, so enter your address on each provider's site to see what is offered. A City Office of Technology and Innovation list (undated) names low-cost plans: Optimum Advantage, Spectrum Internet Assist and Verizon Forward, each around $15 a month for eligible households, though prices and eligibility change.¹¹⁵

A New York State law passed in 2021 requires covered internet providers to offer a low-cost plan to eligible low-income households. Ask providers for their current affordable plan, and consider the Lifeline discount.^116,87

Help with utility bills

HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) helps eligible New Yorkers pay to heat and cool their homes, with one regular benefit per programme year and emergency benefits for people at risk of losing service. A household member must be a US citizen or qualified non-citizen, and eligibility depends on income and household size or on receiving certain benefits such as SNAP. New York City residents can apply for Cooling Assistance at ACCESS.NYC.GOV, and the state hotline is 1-800-342-3009. Income limits and season dates change every year, so check the current season before applying.¹¹⁷

Con Edison's Energy Affordability Program gives a monthly discount to customers who receive qualifying benefits such as Medicaid; a December 2024 release said it could reach up to $173 per month. Many customers who get SSI, HEAP or SNAP are enrolled automatically. You can enroll online, by mail or email, or at a walk-in centre, and the Con Edison number is 1-800-752-6633.^118,119