Utility Billing

Starting August 15, 2020, the Utility Billing team began converting utility bills for the City's water service area from tenants to the property-owner: 

• All new accounts are opened in the name of the property owner of record (owner-only billed).
• Existing accounts billed to tenants can be converted upon request of the property owner or authorized property manager/agent.
• When tenant accounts are closed, all existing tenant-billed accounts will be converted to owner-only accounts.

Owner-only Billing Notice

A notice to all City of Stockton water service area customers was sent July 6, 2020, providing information to property owners about owner-only billing. A reminder letter was sent November 16, 2020. Customers who received the second letter and are not rental property owners, may disregard the November letter. We apologize for the error.

• Notification Letter - July 2020
• Reminder Letter - November 2020

For questions, please contact Utility Billing Customer Service.

New accounts - Owner-only Billing

• The property owner of record must be the account holder.
• The property owner can request that bills are mailed care-of tenant or sent to any other address, however, the property owner is responsible for payment.

Existing Tenant Accounts

• As the account holder, the tenant is responsible for all charges billed in the tenant's name.
• The property owner is not responsible for delinquent service charges and penalties billed in the tenant's name.
• Change to owner-only billing may be initiated upon owner request or when the City converts to an owner account.

 Closed Tenant Accounts 

• Tenant is responsible for all charges billed to the tenant as the account holder.
• The property owner is not responsible for charges billed to the tenant account holder.
• When tenant accounts are closed, a new account will be opened in the name of the property owner of record.
• The bill will be mailed to the address on the San Joaquin County tax roll until/unless the property owner or authorized manager/agent requests a change in the mailing address.
• The property owner is responsible for all owner-only account charges, regardless of the mailing address.

When you open a utility account, you will receive water service through one of the two water service providers - the City of Stockton or the California Water Company (Cal Water). The City provides sewer and stormwater services to all Stockton residents. To verify your water service provider, please visit About Your Address

City of Stockton Water Service Area

In the City's water service area, the City bills residential customers for water, sewer, stormwater. Commercial and industrial customers receive a bill from the City for sewer and stormwater, and a solid waste bill directly from Republic or Waste Management for garbage and recycling services.

• Utility accounts for addresses in the City of Stockton water service area are established only for property owners. (See "Changes to Utility Billing - Owner-only Billing")
• Please be prepared to provide proof of ownership.

California Water Service Company (Cal Water) Service Area
If your address is served by the California Water Company (Cal Water):

• Cal Water will send a bill for water service.
• The City of Stockton will send a bill for sewer and stormwater.

Final/Closing Bills

When a customer requests to close a utility account, a service person will be sent on the date requested to read the meter and turn off the water service. A final or closing bill will be sent to the customer approximately 3 weeks after the closing date.

If the customer has opened another account at a different location in the City of Stockton service area, every attempt will be made to apply any charges due or credit refunds from the final bill to the new account.

If the customer has not opened a new City of Stockton utility account and is due a credit refund, the customer will need to fill out and submit a Refund Request Form along with proof of payment.

For more about utility bills, accounts, and charges, please refer to the Municipal Utilities Department's Water Fees and Regulations in the City Fee Schedule or call Utility Billing Customer Service during business hours.

• Account closings will only be processed upon property ownership changes.
• Only the customer of record or their agent can request to have an account closed.
• Submit a closing request by:
• filling out and following instructions on the Request to Close an Account form or
• Call a customer service representative during regular business hours.
• Closing requests require advance notice of at least one business day and cannot be accepted for any weekend, holiday or closed Friday.
• At no time will services be provided to a property or person free of charge.
• When tenant accounts are closed, a property owner-only account will be opened to bill for water, if applicable, and/or for sewer and stormwater services, using the property owner information listed on the San Joaquin County tax roll.
• For closed accounts, tenants will be responsible for all charges billed in the tenants' name. Property owners will not be responsible for charges billed to the tenant as an account holder.
• Property owners are responsible for notifying the City when property ownership has changed.
• Unpaid, delinquent accounts billed to the property owner may be liened against the property and ultimately transferred and collected through the county tax roll.

A basic penalty of ten percent (10%) of any delinquent amount will be charged on any amount remaining unpaid twenty-five (25) days from the billing date, plus one percent (1%) per month for charges that remain unpaid. Postmarks are not accepted.

For accounts where the utilities are billed to the property owner, delinquent balances may result in the recording of a lien against the property where service is provided and an assessment on the San Joaquin County Tax Roll.

City’s Water Service Area

In the City’s water service area, customers receive a unified bill for water, storm drain and sewer.

Cal Water Service Area

In Cal Water’s service area, customers receive a water bill from Cal Water and a separate bill from the City of Stockton for storm drain, and sewer. When the City of Stockton bill is unpaid, water service cannot be shut off because the City is not the water service provider.

Liens and Assessments

Effective in 2018, unpaid accounts billed to the property owner may result in the recording of a lien on the property. If the lien is not cleared and the amount is left unpaid, the City may collect by assessment of charges transferred to the San Joaquin County Tax Roll and collected through the property tax bill.

Notices Sent to Property Owners/Utility Account Holders

"Notices of Intent to Record a Lien" are sent throughout the year and "Notices of Charges to Be Assessed" are sent to the billing address and the owner of record mailing address listed on the San Joaquin County Assessor’s property records.

Liens

Property owners who receive a Notice of Intent to Lien may appeal by requesting an Administrative Hearing within 10 days of the date of mailing and by paying the Administrative Hearing Fee of $109 at City Hall, as established in the City’s Fee Schedule.

• Property owners may avoid the recording of a lien by paying the balance owed within 30 days of the lien notice mailing.
• If the property owner does not pay the amount in-full or comply with the terms established by the Administrative Hearing Officer, the lien will be filed.

Assessments

Liens not cleared will be considered for an assessment. Administrative hearing are held in June for assessments. The Administrative Hearing Officer will not address the validity of the charges and the amounts due. The purpose of these hearings is to confirm whether the charges should be added to the property tax roll report for the City Council's consideration.   

Assessments Transferred to Tax Roll

In July, the City Council holds a Public Hearing to approve the written report of assessments and to authorize the amounts owed to be assessed on the owner's property tax bill. The assessed charges are sent to the San Joaquin County Treasurer-Tax Collector for collection on the tax roll.

Delinquent Account Inquiries

To determine if a delinquent balance is being considered for lien or assessment, property owners may contact the City of Stockton Utility Billing at (209) 937-8295.

The City of Stockton provides monthly billing services for the combined utilities of water, sewer, stormwater to locations in our water service area.

Billing dates and associated delinquent dates are determined by property location and meter reading schedule based on geographical areas. All meters in an area are read at approximately the same time each month, and accounts are then billed.

City utility bills are due 18 days from the bill date and delinquent if not paid within 25 days of the bill date. Postmark date will not be considered proof of payment.

• Any charges that remain unpaid after 25 days will be assessed a 10% penalty for the first month and 1% per month for each additional month charges remain unpaid.
• If a bill becomes delinquent, water service at the location may be terminated. (SMC 13.16.270)

Final/Closing Bills

When a customer requests to close a utility account, a service person will be sent on the date requested to read the meter and turn off the water service. A final or closing bill will be sent to the customer approximately 3 weeks after the closing date.

If the customer has opened another account at a different location in the City of Stockton service area, every attempt will be made to apply any charges due or credit refunds from the final bill to the new account.

If the customer has not opened a new City of Stockton utility account and is due a credit refund, the customer will need to fill out and submit a Refund Request Form along with proof of payment.

For more about utility bills, accounts, and charges, please refer to the Municipal Utilities Department's Water Fees and Regulations in the City Fee Schedule or call Utility Billing Customer Service during business hours.

• Utility Billing Review Request Form
• Utility Disconnection and Appeal Policy

The California State Water Resources Control Board is administering the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program. The Program provides financial relief for residential and commercial water bill accounts that experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Water

In December 2021, the City applied for $1.6 million in Program funds to credit eligible past-due water utility bills within the City’s water service area (not including the California Water Service Area).

Wastewater (Sewer)

In April 2022, the City applied for $2.2 million in funding for overdue residential and commercial wastewater accounts.

Program Guidelines

According to Program guidelines, qualifying past-due water and/or wastewater utility bills must have accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic relief period established by the State Board between March 4, 2020, and June 15, 2021:

• Residential, commercial, and institutional customer accounts are eligible, including active and inactive accounts, and accounts that have payment plans or payment arrangements.
• Accounts from tenants are eligible for Program funds even if they were later converted to the property owner as a part of the City’s transition to “owner-only billing.”
• Eligible residential and commercial customers do not need to apply for Program funds.
• Funds will be applied as a credit to the water and/or wastewater utility bill of qualifying accounts.
• Eligible customers will be notified by mail.
• Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Stockton allows Real Estate Brokers or Agents authorized by the bank as the REO/BPO Agent to open a utility service account for a bank-owned property. The following are required to open an account:

• Documentation of Assignment/Authorization as REO/BPO Broker or Agent, in place of rental agreement/ownership documents/property management agreement; and
• REO/BPO Agent Personal Guarantee Form for payment of all utility charges owed on the account

The Broker or Agent will be responsible for all charges until an account closing request is received by the City with written verification.

City Hall
425 N. El Dorado Street, 1st Floor
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: (209) 937-8460
Fax: (209) 937-8844

For information or to apply for a Business License please contact the Permit Center.

22 E. Weber Avenue, Room 301
Stockton, CA 95202

For questions about City of Stockton's Clean City Program and other recycling services, please visit the Garbage and Recycling webpage or contact us:

Recycling Hotline: (209) 937-8831. Messages and information requests handled in one business day.
Email: stocktonswr@stocktonca.gov
Fax: (209) 937-7115

Call the automated 24-Hour Phone number for utility account inquiries, payments, billing information, and service requests.
To contact us via phone, please call (209) 937-8295
Email our team at utilities@stocktonca.gov
Fax: (209) 937-8051

Phone: (209) 937-8297
Email: billing@stocktonca.gov

Phone: (209) 937-8357

Report utility emergencies like broken pipes, street flooding, and water, sewer or stormwater service concerns to the City of Stockton 24-Hour Municipal Service Center at (209) 937-8341.

Please contact the Municipal Utilities Water Field Office for water service problems like reduced water pressure.
Phone: (209) 937-7031
Email: WaterFacts@stocktonca.gov

Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
City Offices are closed every other Friday.
To report water service problems outside regular business hours, please call the 24-Hour Municipal Service Center at (209) 937-8341.