Commercial Metered Water

Water and sewer use charges are calculated based on your water consumption for each billing period. The metered water bill you receive monthly or quarterly is based on how much water you used for that billing period. The number of days billed may vary for each billing–typically, we bill 28-30 days on a monthly billing schedule and 84-90 days on a quarterly billing schedule.

Reading is measured in cubic metres.

Your metered water bill includes water and sewer. 

The rates are presented in the following tables:

• Metered water rate schedule (monthly and quarterly)
• Metered sewer rate schedule (monthly and quarterly)

All rates shown are effective January 1, 2026

Metered water rate schedule

Metered sewer rate schedule

Metered water and sewer use

Billing schedule for quarterly accounts

Note: Rates are subject to a 5% discount if paid by the due date.

City water meters are read for billing purposes, monthly and quarterly. Please keep the area around the water meter clear so City staff can record the reading.

If we can't read the meter, we make an estimate of your consumption. Common issues include:

• meter isn't accessible due to debris
• landscaping is blocking or obscuring the meter
• there's no access to meter because it's inside locked area
• a vehicle is parked on top of the meter
• the meter is in a construction site
• the meter has stopped or is malfunctioning 

Property owners can apply for a leak adjustment for excess water consumption charges resulting from an unavoidable failure in the underground piping. To be eligible for a leak adjustment the leak must have been repaired and proof of the repairs should be submitted along with paid invoices related to the leak.

If you are applying for a leak adjustment, please complete the form below and submit to [email protected] along with all required documentation.

Your request will be forwarded to the Engineering Department for investigation and if leak adjustment request is approved, a credit will be applied to your account and an amended bill will be provided. The complete leak adjustment process may take up to 60 days. Only applications submitted with all required documentation will be processed.

Fill out the form

A special meter reading should be requested 7 days prior to required meter reading date.

A service fee will be charged to the final billing. It will be emailed to the party requesting the special meter reading.

Readings are available only Monday to Friday (weekends and statutory holidays not available).

Please complete the form below and submit to [email protected].

Having a My Property Portal profile is the easiest way to see your account balance and make payments. If you would like to make a credit card payment without creating a profile, please visit our direct payment page. A non-refundable 1.8% convenience fee will be applied to all credit card payments.

If you wish to pay in person, City Hall is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:45 pm and open Thursdays until 8 pm for your convenience.

24-hour drop boxes are located in the parking lot and at both entrances to Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way.

Please note: Drop boxes are cleared daily.

Most financial institutions offer online or phone banking services for a faster and more efficient way to make payments.

IMPORTANT:

• When paying your utility notice online, select the City of Burnaby utility notice payee name as it appears in your bank's online banking system. Use the 7-digit utility account number from the top right corner of your notice. 
• Please check with your financial institution as some banks require up to 3 business days for payment processing.
• Make your payments earlier to ensure you receive the 5% discount. If you can, we recommend making your payment at least three days prior to the due date.
  • Here’s why: Banks have cut-off times to record their transactions for the day. These cut-off times vary from bank to bank. If you make your utility payment on the day it's due, but AFTER your bank's cut-off time, the date of your payment will roll over to the next business day and be considered overdue. Then you'll be ineligible for the 5% discount.

Pay via tellers at most banks and credit unions. The City now has two different payees–City of Burnaby Utility Notice AND City of Burnaby Property Tax. Please make sure your payment is made to the correct payee!

• Keep your receipt for proof of payment. Ensure your financial institution will forward payments by the due date.
• Please check with your financial institution as some banks require up to 3 business days for payment processing.
• Make your payments earlier to ensure you receive the 5% discount. If you can, we recommend making your payment at least three days prior to the due date.
  • Here’s why: Banks have cut-off times to record their transactions for the day. These cut-off times vary from bank to bank. If you make your utility payment on the day it's due, but AFTER your bank's cut-off time, the date of your payment will roll over to the next business day and be considered overdue. Then you'll be ineligible for the 5% discount.

Mail your cheque and invoice stub well in advance to the Revenue Services address you see below.

• Please make your cheque payable to: City of Burnaby
• If you choose to mail in your cheque, please be aware that mail that is lost or delayed and not received in Revenue Services by the due date will be considered late and you won't qualify for the paying on-time discount. Postmarks are not considered as date of payment.

A new pre-authorized debit payment option will be available for quarterly commercial metered accounts. Check back in December for details.

Water meter data is read and collected from a hand held reading device every billing cycle.

The single biggest driver in determining the water rate are the costs imposed by Metro Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Water District (GVRD). Other factors include the City’s planned capital program and annual operating requirements.

There is no support from property taxes. Utility services are completely self-funded through water rates and service charges.

If your metered utility bill is higher than expected, it could be the result of one or more of the following:

• leaking toilet and/or faucets
• leaking or broken underground pipe
• leaking irrigation system
• other water-operating appliances

If the leak takes place within the private property, the owner/tenant is responsible to repair the leak as soon as possible. If the leak is on the City of Burnaby side, please call dispatch at 604-294-7200.

Adjustments can go back up to 12 months and they’ll only be considered where a failure in the piping is unavoidable and the leak has been repaired in a timely manner. Repairs for a leak may not be discovered right away if the leak is slow.

The City of Burnaby doesn't accept adjustment requests for leaky toilets, faucets, air conditioner, irrigation systems and other water-using appliances.

Fill out the Leak Adjustment Request Form and submit to [email protected] with all required documentation.

Your charges are based on water consumption. Reducing your water consumption will save you money. Here are a few ways to reduce your water consumption:

• installing high-efficiency fixtures
• regular maintenance and inspection of toilets, faucets, air condition system and other water using appliances
• reducing the amount of irrigating during the summer months

If a meter isn't operating normally, the consumption reading will decrease–not increase. A malfunctioning meter slows down until it completely stops–then it can't register consumption.

Please complete the change of address form and email it to [email protected].

• If your property is selling or your tenant is moving out, you are required to arrange for a special meter reading. This ensures that the total consumption up to closing/move-out date is billed correctly to the current account holder.
• A request for a special meter reading must be provided in writing 7 days before the closing/move-out date.
• Fill out the special meter reading request form and submit to [email protected]. A service fee will be added to the final bill.