A Guide to Paying Your City of Montclair Utility Bill

Your trash, sewer, and other service bills are probably sent to you every two months if you live in Montclair. In the middle of your busy day, paying this bill on time might seem like a hassle. But it doesn’t have to be! Montclair gives you a number of payment options that make paying your utility bill easy and quick.

I’ll show you all the different ways you can pay your City of Montclair utility bill in this detailed guide. I’ll tell you how to pay whether you pay online, by mail, in person, or through autopay. I’ll also talk about how to avoid late fees, understand your utility bills, and make sure your monthly payments go smoothly. Let’s dive in!.

Overview of Montclair Utility Billing

First, a quick rundown on Montclair utility billing:

• Bills arrive bi-monthly, on the 1st of the month
• Charges are for the previous 2 months of service
• Payment is due upon receipt to avoid late fees
• Bill includes trash collection, sewer and other municipal services

A typical bi-monthly bill might look something like this

• Trash – $75.28
• Sewer – $66.94
• Total Due – $142.22

Rates may vary based on number of trash containers, household size and other factors. But the sewer and trash charges make up the bulk of a standard utility bill.

Now let’s explore the ways Montclair makes it simple to pay that bill.

Paying Your Montclair Utility Bill In Person

For quick, same-day payment processing, you can pay your utility bill in person at Montclair City Hall (5111 Benito St). Here are the in-person payment options:

• At the payment counter – Pay by cash, check, money order or credit card Monday-Thursday from 7am-6pm.

• Drop box – Place check/money order payments in the secure drop box by 7am for same-day credit. Located at the main City Hall entrance.

If you need to pay your bill quickly, it’s best to do it in person on the due date. Just be sure to pay before 6pm to avoid late fees.

Paying Your Montclair Utility Bill Online

To save yourself a trip to City Hall, Montclair offers convenient online bill pay:

• Head to the City of Montclair website.

• Log into your account or register if first-time user.

• Select “Pay Trash and Sewer Bill” and enter payment info.

• Payments by 7pm process same-day.

Online you can pay by credit/debit card or e-check. I like keeping my payment info saved for easy auto-fill each month.

Online payments give you flexibility to pay anytime from home, work, or on the go!

Paying by Mail

While old school, you can still mail a physical check or money order to:

City of Montclair
Attention: Finance
5111 Benito Street
Montclair, CA 91763

Just make sure to mail it several days before your bill due date, since postmarks don’t count. And don’t mail cash!

Enrolling in Auto-Pay

The easiest way to avoid late Montclair utility bills is to enroll in auto-pay. This automatically deducts your payment from a checking account each month.

To get started, grab an auto-pay application from Montclair City Hall or download it online.

Fill out the form and mail it with a voided check to City Hall. Payments will then deduct on the 10th of each month (or following Monday if on a weekend).

Set it and forget it! Though I still recommend reviewing statements periodically to ensure accuracy.

Avoiding Late Fees

A 10% late fee applies to Montclair utility bills not paid by the due date. To avoid getting hit with this penalty:

• Pay a few days early in case of processing delays.

• Opt for auto-pay to guarantee on-time payment.

• If mailing payment, send it at least 5 business days before due date.

• Pay online before 7pm on due date for same-day processing.

• Mark due dates on your calendar so you remember.

With online and auto-pay options, there’s really no reason to pay late. But if fees are assessed accidentally, contact City Hall right away to discuss waiver options.

Payment Support Options

If you’re ever unable to pay your Montclair utility bill on time, the City offers programs that can help including:

• Senior discount – Reduced trash rate for residents 65+ years old.

• Payment arrangements – Extended payment plans for past-due balances.

• Low-income assistance – Reduced rates and bill help for qualifying households.

Don’t hesitate to call Montclair Utility Billing at (909) 625-9472 if you need bill assistance. They can explain the policies and support available.

Key Takeaways

Paying your bi-monthly Montclair utility bill is quick and painless when you use one of these convenient methods:

• City Hall payment counter

• Drop box by 7am

• Online bill pay before 7pm

• Mail check/money order

• Auto-pay deduction

Avoid late fees by paying a few days early each month. And contact Utility Billing if you ever need bill help or an extended due date.