How to Pay

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

For your convenience, here are the most commonly used banks and credit unions where you can submit your online payment(s).

IMPORTANT:

• When paying your utility notice online, the payee account name should be Burnaby UTILITY as a payee. The 7 digit account number located in the top right corner of your current 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.

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 1.75% convenience fee will be applied to all credit card payments.

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 tax office address you see below.

• Please make your cheque payable to: City of Burnaby
• Postdated cheques are accepted to the March utility fees due date.
• If you choose to mail in your cheque, please be aware that mail that is lost or delayed and not received in the Burnaby tax office 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. 

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.

To qualify for the Pre-Authorized Debit Plan (PAD), you must register BOTH your utility charges and property tax–not one or the other.

The City has two plans available for automated payments from your bank account:

• Variable: 10 equal payments + 1 variable payment for the outstanding balance amount on July 1, or
• Fixed: 10 equal payments. Any outstanding balance amount will need to be paid separately using any method of payment described on this page.

Enrolment

To enroll in PAD, download the fillable Pre-Authorized Debit Application Form below. Please complete and return the form in full with your signature and initials where indicated, along with a copy of a void cheque for your bank account.

Please note:

• Your application must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect the following month.
• PAD monthly payments collected up to January 1 are applied to the utility fee notice. Any remaining payments collected during the year will be applied to your property tax. If your utility notice has a balance outstanding, it must be paid before the utility due date in order to qualify for the discount. 

Prepayment interest

The tax and utility instalment payments we collect from you through the pre-authorized debit plan will earn simple interest on your property account’s daily balance. The rate of interest payable to you will be equivalent to the prime rate less 2.5 percent, subject to a minimum interest rate of 0.5 percent. Note: interest isn’t payable between May 1 and the tax due date.

How to change or cancel your PAD plan

To change or cancel Pre-Authorized Debit, please complete and return the PAD form in full with signature and initials where indicated:

• Tick the box that applies to you in section 3 of the form–new, change or cancel.
• If you ticked 'change' for a change of bank accounts, please include a copy of a VOID cheque from the new bank account.

Please note:

• Changes or cancellations must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect the following month. Please send the PAD form and/or the void cheques to the tax office (contact information is at bottom of this page).
• If you sell your property, it's your responsibility as the property owner to instruct the City of Burnaby to discontinue the prepayment plan BEFORE the property is sold. This is important since we may continue to draw payments from your bank account until advised.
  • IMPORTANT: Any overpayment will be applied to the new owners. There will be NO refunds on any prepayments, even after the sale of a property. Credits must be adjusted between purchasers and vendors on the Statement of Adjustments.
• Maximum annual prepayments are based on the previous year’s net taxes and utilities
• Your Pre-Authorized Debit plan will be cancelled by the City and your account will be closed after two payments are dishonoured. Service charges may apply. Homeowners MUST re-apply in writing to start the PAD deductions again.

For information on the Pre-Authorized Debit plan, phone the tax office at 604-294-7350.