Utility Billing General Information

About Us

The City of Vancouver provides a variety of utility services to our citizens. These services are billed in several different ways.

New For 2012

To reflect the additional costs of supplying water in the drier months (June to October), residential and commercial properties in Vancouver will be charged a seasonal rate that is 25 per cent higher that the rest of the year for their water. During the drier season the water supply is low and the delivery system is at its maximum capacity. The higher fees are expected to reduce water consumption during these months when consumption is at its peak and defer costly expansion of the delivery system.

As of January 2012 all new single and two family homes will be required to install a water consumption meter. This is another measure designed to encourage conservation. For information about this new program please follow this link http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/watersewers/water/meters/faq.htm.

Meeting our conservation goal of a 33 per cent reduction in water consumption by 2020 will result in Vancouver being able to live within its current water means in perpetuity.

On Your Property Tax Notice

Existing Single Family and Two Dwelling properties (with or without a laneway house) are billed for the following services on their Property Tax Notice. The typical Single Family home will have a separate line item for each of the following charges:

Garbage Cart (size)
Recycling
Sewer - 1 Dwelling
Water - 1 Dwelling
Yard Trimmings Cart (size)

Metered Water and Sewer

All new properties (January 2012) will be metered for Water and Sewer. Properties that are metered for water and sewer will not have the flat rate Water and Sewer charges billed on their tax notice. Instead, these metered properties will have water meters installed which are read and billed every three months based on the consumption registered on the meter. These properties may have Recycling, Garbage and Yard Trimming Carts on their Property Tax Notice and will often also have a charge for a Fireline and/or Cross Connection Fees.

Annual Utility Bill

Strata properties that have three or more strata lots will NOT have their flat rate utility charges on their tax notices. Flat rate annual charges for these properties are sent to the Strata Corporation and the bill is due the 2nd business day in July each year.

Transfer and Landfill Accounts

Some commercial customers have accounts set up with the City that allows them to dump loads at the Transfer Station in South Vancouver or the Landfill in Delta. These charges are billed each month. To change the mailing adress for these accounts please submitt your request in writing, by email or by fax directly to the Utility Billing Office. Please include your contact information and position with the company.For more information visit the Vancouver Landfill or Transfer station

Commercial Account application ( pdf)