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Utilities (User Rates)

MyCity

MyCity allows homeowners and businesses within the community more access to information about their properties and accounts. It gives you access to inquiries on property tax and utility accounts through a secured sign-on with the City of Nanaimo. All lookups are protected by the customer's private access code (currently provided on the tax and utility bill). Information includes: tax balances, instalments, owner information, levies, grants claimed, assessments, transactions, utility balances, transactions and billing, and reading history (along with consumption graphs).

To access MyCity, go to mycity.nanaimo.ca and sign in, or create a new account. You'll need your property identifier from your utility bill.

Need help? Email mycity@nanaimo.ca or call 250-755-4416 for assistance.

User Rate Forms And Publications

Get your City of Nanaimo documents online..

epost.gif The City of Nanaimo has partnered with epost TM, Canada Post's free online mail delivery service, to enable residents to receive their User Rate bills, Property Tax and Business LIcence Notices online.

epost TM is a free, secure, convenient service accessible from any computer with an internet connection. Your bills and documents will look just like they do in your mailbox, without the paper.

What do we mean by User Rate?

Nanaimo's User Rate system charges people directly for water, sewer, and garbage. There are no City taxes for these services.

The entire City's cost of each function is collected from those who use the service in the form of user fees. People who use more pay more. We believe this philosophy promotes conservation and helps control costs.

Information in this article is intended for residential property owners but most comments apply to commercial properties as well.

When do charges start?

Charges for water start as soon as the water meter is installed on a new property. Sewer and garbage charges start once the property is ready to be occupied.

What are the billing periods?

Statement of User Rates for water, sewer and garbage are sent out three times a year, or about once every four months.

The City is divided into 16 billing areas. All bills within a billing area are sent out at the same time.

Where and when do I pay?

Statements of User Rates can be paid at:

  • In person, at City Hall
  • Through either of the City's 2 payment plans:
  • Most major banks, trust companies and credit unions in Canada
  • Through regular mail
  • Many banks offer Telebanking and PC Banking options. Check your local branch for details.

NOTE: A five per cent discount applies if payment is received before 4:30 p.m. on the discount date printed on the User Rate Statement.

To assist people leaving for extended vacations, the City accepts prepayments and post-dated cheques.

How do I stop charges?

To stop water, sewer, and garbage charges, a disconnect permit must be purchased from Building Inspections. This will result in the water meter being physically disconnected.

To resume services and charges, a reconnect permit must be purchased. Current fees for disconnect and reconnect permits are $100.00 each.

What if ownership changes?

The City doesn't read meters when property changes hands. The law firm responsible for conveying the sale must contact the City for an estimate of the amounts owed and make an adjustment. Note that the charges remain with the property when it is transferred. The new owner becomes responsible for these payments.

What if bills aren't paid?

Unpaid water, sewer, and garbage user rates are carried forward to the next Statement of User Rates. Outstanding user rates at year end are automatically transferred to arrears of taxes and interest is calculated daily.

Water Service

Three types of meters, measuring water in gallons, cubic metres, and cubic feet, are in use throughout the City. Most meters measure cubic metres but the City uses gallons to show your daily consumption.

To convert:

  • Cubic metres to gallons multiply by 220
  • Cubic feet to gallons multiply by 6.229

Rate Structure

To encourage conservation, the charge per gallon of water increases with consumption.

"Normal" Consumption

Consumption varies greatly from one house to the next, depending on the number of occupants and water usage habits.

Lawn and garden watering, sprinkler systems, pools, and car washing can increase consumption considerably.

Typical winter consumption might be:

  • 1 or 2 occupants 100 - 200 gal/day (455 - 910 litres/day)
  • 3 or 4 occupants 150 - 250 gal/day (682 - 1137 litres/day)
  • 5 or more occupants - 250 plus gal/day (1137 litres/day)

To Check for Leaks

  • How to check for leaks.
  • Check taps, toilets, etc. to ensure no water is running in the house.
  • Read and record meter reading.
  • Don't use any water for an extended period of time such as overnight.
  • Read and record meter reading again.
  • If the meter has moved there may be a leak and a need to consult a plumber.

Sewer and Garbage

Basic Rates

Sewer and garbage collection charges are based on an annual fee. This fee is allocated to each statement based on the number of days in the billing period.

Charges for Additional Units

Houses with secondary suites are charged for additional sewer and garbage service.

Service is Mandatory

Every house that is connected to the sewer system must pay the sewer user fee.

All residential property owners of four units or less must pay for basic garbage collection and recycling service.

Basic service allows for one standard-size container of garbage ( 77 litre maximum ) to be collected each week as scheduled. Blue and yellow bags of recyclables are picked up once every second scheduled collection on the same day as residents receive garbage collection service.

Extended Garbage Service

Up to two additional containers of garbage per week can be collected by purchasing a $2 garbage tag for each container.

Where to Buy Garbage Tags for Extra Containers:

  • Nanaimo City Hall
  • Bowen Park Recreation Centre
  • Beban Park Recreation Centre
  • Cash Plan - Harbour Park Mall
  • Mid-Island consumer Co-op Gas Bar
  • Quality Foods
    • Northridge Village
    • Harewood
    • Bowen Road
  • Rexall Drug Store Postal Outlets
    • Beaufort Centre
    • Southgate Centre
  • Shopper's Drug Mart - Woodgrove Mall, Harewood or Country Club Mall
  • Fairway Market
  • Mac's Convenience Store - Departure Bay
  • Thrifty Foods - Longwood Station
  • Uplands Grocery

General Inquiries

Call: 754-4251

User Rate Statements

Call: City Hall User Rate Section at 755-4416 or 754-4251
Email: userrates.info@nanaimo.ca

Sewer & Water Service, Garbage Collection & Recycling

Call: Public Works at 758-5222

Disconnections and Reconnections

Call: Building Inspection at 755-4429

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