Water meters in laneway homes

• A door hanger will be left at the affected addresses a few days before the installation.
• The water meter will be installed on City property in front of the home, in a small underground chamber and covered by a ground-level lid that measures 45 by 30 centimetres.
• You do not need to do anything prior to installation.
• You are not required to be home for the installation.
• The water will be shut off for about an hour on the day of the installation.
• The process, from digging the initial hole to restoring the landscape, is generally completed within a week.
• There is no cost to you for the meter or installation.

The metered rate will take effect November 2023.

We bill for water three times a year, in March, July, and November. You will receive their first bill in March 2024.

How this impacts your bill amount will depend on water consumption. Summer water bills will depend on how efficiently lawns and gardens are being watered. Ensure that tenants know about the change, and that plumbing fixtures are free of leaks. 

There won’t be a charge for water and sewer on your tax notice. Water use in 2023 has already been paid for. After November 2023 water and sewer charges that used to be on the tax notice will be replaced by three bills a year. 

Separate meters will not be installed for laneway houses. Our policy is one meter per property. We do not get involved in dividing the bill among residents. It is up to the account holder to determine who pays the bill.