The über-rich Rose family are rudely awakened one morning by an IRS asset-seizure raid.
Once all valuables in the house, and the house itself, have been taken, the family's only option is to move to a tiny, out-of-the-way town because, though Mr. Rose had purchased it as a gag-gift for his son, it's suddenly the only asset left of their lost fortune.
One unpleasant bus ride later, the family finds that the town, called Schitt's Creek, lives up (or down) to both their worst expectations and its own name.

Johnny must get permission to sell the town from its Mayor, Roland Schitt. David and Alexis spend a night out with the locals.

Johnny tries to get a potentially offensive town sign taken down, while David is faced with the frightening task of finding a job.

Johnny and Moira, feeling like they have failed as parents, try to get to know their grown children. Alexis spies on Mutt and thinks he's having an affair with the Mayor's wife.

Looking for privacy, Johnny and Moira take the Mayor up on his offer of using his cabin for a night, while Alexis and David use the opportunity to throw a party.

Moira is hired to be a local winery's spokesperson; David struggles with a health problem.

Following an incident where David is unable tohug an insect in his room, Stevie, as a joke, invites David along on Roland's annual turkey shoot.

Moira and David try to earn money by selling cosmetics to the locals, while Johnny heads to Elmdale in hopes of collecting unemployment insurance.

Johnny reluctantly agrees to speak at the funeral of a local man he doesn't really know. Alexis struggles with her new boyfriend's love of animals.

Johnny and Moira attend Roland's annual Hawaiian bash. Alexis and Ted throw a couple's dinner party, while David and Stevie's relationship heats up.

Moira's estranged sister, Deedee, pays an unexpected visit, while David agrees to talk with one of Jocelyn's students about being "different".

Johnny tries to arrange a surprise birthday party for Moira. Things backfire when Moira, unwittingly, takes over the planning of her own party.

Johnny finds a potential buyer for the town; David and Alexis realize they have become attached to Schitt's Creek.