Property owners in North Cowichan receive at least one or more utility services from the municipality, which include curbside collection (garbage, recycling, and organics), water, and sewer.
Residential property owners are billed for utilities three times each year:
| Meters read | Bills mailed | Bills due | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 (Jan. - April) | May | June | End August |
| Cycle 2 (May - Aug.) | September | October | End December |
| Cycle 3 (Sept. - Dec.) | January | February | End April |
Property owners are responsible for ensuring utility bills are paid by the due date, even if a utility bill statement is not received due to problems with the postal service, inclement weather, or other circumstances.
Commercial property owners are billed for utilities four times each year:
| Meters read | Bills mailed | Bills due | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 (Jan. - March 31) | End March | April | Within 6 weeks of billing |
| Cycle 2 (April - June 30) | End June | July | Within 6 weeks of billing |
| Cycle 3 (July - Aug 31) | End September | October | Within 6 weeks of billing |
| Cycle 4 (Sept - Dec. 31) | End December | January | Within 6 weeks of billing |
Utility fees were removed from the annual property tax bill in 2023 and changed to this more common stand-alone billing model.
- The fees on the utility bill are NOT new or additional fees.
- Spreading utility charges out over the year makes them more affordable, and provides better information to people about their water usage. More frequent information about water use volumes can also help property owners detect leaks sooner.
- User fees are not part of the property tax deferral program. Property taxes and the parcel taxes on property tax bills can be deferred through the provincial property tax deferment program.
Utility user fees vs parcel taxes
- User fees are paid through utility bills (three times/year) and cover the operating costs of the service (maintenance and upkeep).
- Parcel taxes are paid through property tax bills (once/year) and cover the infrastructure (pipes) of the service.
Paying your bill
Utility bills can be paid with online banking or by cheque either in person or by mail/courier. Learn more about your payment options.
Penalties
Utility bills not paid by the due date incur a 10% penalty.
Any utility bills that have not been paid as of December 31 each year are transferred as arrears to your property tax bill the following year. Once this happens, they accrue daily interest at the going tax rate from January 1 until they are paid. This occurs under Section 258 of BC’s Community Charter, which establishes that outstanding balances of utility accounts on December 31 are transferred to the tax account of the property where the services were provided.
If you see a reference to “transfer to taxes” on your utility bill, this indicates that an amount previously owing has been moved out of your utility account and into your tax account and is now accumulating interest.
To pay a utility bill that has been transferred to taxes, follow these steps:
- Call North Cowichan’s Financial Services department at 250-746-3100 to confirm the amount owing with interest
- Once you know the total amount owing, pay the charge using your preferred method from our payment options
Water rates and consumption
Utility rates are set according to the Fees and Charges Bylaw, while municipal responsibilities are outlined in the Waterworks Bylaw.
Online account information
Access all your North Cowichan accounts online at MyMuni. View tax account information, water consumption, utilities history, dog licences, and business licences. All you need to create a profile and register your account(s) is the account number from your utility bill.
Related information
- Water conservation, including sprinkling restrictions
- Water and sewer rates
- Where your water comes from
- Sign up for e-billing
- Report a problem (water shut off, leaks) by calling 250-746-3106 or by emailing operations@northcowichan.ca. For after hours emergencies, please call 250-746-5112
- Curbside collection (schedules, Waste Wizard)