Frequently Asked Questions

Follow our step-by-step guide or watch our video tutorial! You will need your account number, email address, phone number, and last bill amount to enroll.

Your billing period begins on the first of the month and runs through the last day of the month. For example, your billing period for April is April 1^st to April 30^th.

Your bill is due on the 25th of each month.

While your bill is due on the 25th of each month, all customers are allowed a grace period until the last day of the month. If payment is received after the last day of the month, a Late Charge of $10.00 or 1.5%, whichever is greater, will apply.

Bills are due and payable upon receipt and become delinquent at the end of each billing cycle in which they are issued. If payment is not received in our office by the last day of the month, bills are delinquent and subject to additional fees and possible disconnection of water service. If services are turned off for non-payment, payment of all balances owing plus fees may be required to restore service. Checks are not accepted for accounts once a final notice has been mailed.

Delinquent notices will be mailed on balances for charges that are sixty (60) days or more delinquent, allowing 14 days for payment to be received to avoid disconnection. Checks are not accepted for accounts once a final notice has been mailed. The entire balance as stated on the final notice is required to avoid disconnection.

If services are turned off for non-payment, payment of all balances owing plus fees will be required to restore service. Checks are not accepted for accounts once a final notice has been mailed.

• Payments must be made before 2 p.m. and verified with a Revenue Collections and Compliance (Customer Service) Clerk for same day reconnect.
• Payments received after 2 p.m. on accounts that are disconnected, will not have the service restored until the following business day.
• Only City personnel are authorized to disconnect and/or reconnect service. Unauthorized tampering/damage could delay restoration of services up to one week and result in additional fees.

Payments MUST be made before 2 p.m. and verified with a Revenue Collections and Compliance (Customer Service) Clerk for same day reconnect. Payments received AFTER 2 p.m. on accounts that are disconnected, will not have the service restored until the following business day.

No, your water, sewer and storm drain charges are considered "ready to serve " and will continue to be billed monthly if the utility account is open. Only water consumption is based on usage. Services where the water is off for non-payment are still connected to City systems and the charges will continue to be billed. Garbage service is not discontinued when water is turned off for non-payment, and the charges will continue to be billed.

Residents can stop utility service by submitting their request using our secure online form, by phone at (209) 577-5395, or by visiting our Utility Billing and Collections Division, located at 1010 10th St., Suite 2100.  If using our secure online form, the termination will be completed within 48 business hours of receipt based upon requested stop date.

A service person will be sent within two working days following the termination of your utility account to obtain a final meter reading. Your prorated final bill will be mailed approximately one week from the closing date.

Accounts should be paid under written protest prior to delinquency to ensure that additional fees are not assessed, or service is disconnected. A formal Request for Review form must be completed and submitted within 30 days from the date the disputed charges are billed. This form can be obtained by speaking to a Revenue Collections and Compliance Representative at (209) 577-5395, or visiting our office located at 1010 10th Street, Suite 2100, Modesto, CA 95354. Completed written dispute forms can be delivered in person at our office or addressed to: City of Modesto - Collections Division, P.O. Box 767, Modesto, CA, 95353.

Don’t stand in line, get online! You can start, stop, or transfer your utility service with the click of a button with our easy-to-use secure online forms.

To start service you will need the following:

• Service Address
• Social Security Number
• Valid California Driver's License or ID, for all responsible parties over the age of 18
• Date of Birth
• Deposit: Amounts vary and are based on average monthly billing for service provided at the location
• Contact information (phone numbers, mailing address, etc.)

Service start date must be within five (5) business days from the submission date of this application.  Please Note: If the service is off, the sign-up process must be completed before 2:00 PM to have service restored the same day.

Residents can stop utility services using the following methods:

1. Use our secure online form to close your utility account.  The termination will be completed within 48 business hours of receipt based upon requested stop date.
2. Call us at 209-577-5395 during normal business hours.
3. Visit the City of Modesto Customer Services Division located at 1010 10th Street, Suite 2100.

Note: You will receive a final bill for service provided through the account termination date.

You may contact Customer Service at 209-577-5395 or visit our office during normal business hours with any questions or concerns regarding this process. Our normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.

A deposit may be required to establish service with the City of Modesto. Based on guidelines provided by the State of California, a deposit is not to exceed three times the average monthly bill for the property address. A deposit will also be added to active utility accounts if service is disconnected for non-payment. The deposit shall be applied to the closing bill upon the discontinuation of services and any remaining credit will be refunded. Deposit amounts vary and are based on average monthly billing for service provided at the location.

The mailing address can be updated by the account holder or an authorized party on the utility account. To change the mailing address on your utility account, please contact our office at (209) 577-5395. This change can also be made by logging into your account in our Bill Pay Customer Portal.

You may set up eBilling by logging into your online account manager. For detailed instructions view our online help document.  Once eBilling has been activated you will no longer receive paper statements. You may also sign-up for eBilling by contacting Customer Services at 209-577-5395.

Important: To avoid our e-notifications going into your “Junk” email folder, you must add: noreply@modestogov.com as a contact or add to safe sender list for your email provider.

Auto Pay must be set up within your online account manager. For detailed instructions, view our online help document.  The first auto payment will be processed on the due date of your next billing cycle for the full amount due shown on your bill.

First, you must call Customer Service at 209-577-5395 to have your pending recurring payment removed from our system. Pending payments may only be removed 14 days prior to its scheduled draft date. This will NOT un-enroll you from Auto Pay you will need to complete the second step below.

Second, you will need to Log In to our ePay system and un-enroll in Auto Pay. Click > Auto Pay, click > Disable, click> Continue, Click> Ok. You will then see a message that reads “Your account is Currently Not Enrolled.”

A return payment fee of $25.00 will be imposed for all items returned by the bank unpaid and the service may be subject to immediate disconnection. Any subsequent return payments within a 12-month period will be charged $35.00 for each additional offense.

All premises within the City of Modesto service area are required to have garbage service for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare pursuant to Modesto Municipal Code 5-5.101. For service issues, please contact your garbage company directly.

Your garbage company is determined by which street you live on. To find out more about your serviced area, visit us at www.modestogov.com or view the map to find your address and contact your company for more information. Gilton Solid Waste can be reached at (209) 527-3781 or Bertolotti Disposal (209) 537-8000.

The City of Modesto offers its residential garbage service customers a convenient way to dispose of large bulky household items via the Bulky Item Collection Program. Each residential garbage service customer may have two pick-ups per calendar year. Residents must contact their garbage company to set a collection appointment. Items should be placed out the evening before the scheduled collection day. Gilton Solid Waste can be reached at (209) 527-3781 or Bertolotti Disposal (209) 537-6911.