Finance Department > Utility Billing
The City of Poulsbo services water, sewer, solid waste (garbage) and storm drainage within the city limits. Rates are comprised of fixed charges and commodity charges. It is important to note that rates will fluctuate, particularly in the summer months, due to increased outdoor water use. If you need to begin a service or have recently moved into the City, please call the Finance Department at (360) 394-9881. Listed below is information about rates, billing, policies and other services such as dumpsters and irrigation.
The City issues utility bills on the last day of each month for services which have already been provided, and the billing period runs from the first through the last day of the month. Meter readings for consumption are collected mid-month; depending on the actual read dates, monthly statements are billed for approximately 30 days of consumption.
For example, a December bill is dated 12/31/xx for services provided December 1-31. The read dates for a December bill run from approximately 11/15-12/15.
The utility bills are due upon receipt and considered past due if not paid by the 20th of the following month.
Electronic payments in the form of debit/credit cards and electronic checks can be made on-line with no additional fees. We strongly encourage using one of the following options to make payments on your account to reduce the numbers of visitors to City Hall:
- On-line at CityofPoulsbo.com
- Two outside payment drop boxes located at City Hall; a drive-up box located on Third Avenue or a walk-up box located at the top of the stairs outside the main entrance off Moe Street. These boxes are checked daily for payments.
- By telephone 360-394-9881 (callers will be assessed a $3.00 convenience fee for all phone payments.)
- Mail to: City of Poulsbo, 200 NE Moe Street, Poulsbo, WA 98370
- Call to set up automatic withdrawal, however this does take some processing time.
Electronic Billing is here! Starting with our October 2023 utility bills you will see a new message in red ink under your meter reading information. Follow this link and reference the E-Statement Access Code and Account Number from the paper copy of your utility bill: https://www.dbviewpoint.com/register.aspx?uID=YLTQKZU4EW
Once registered you will receive a monthly email to alert you to a new PDF statement through our billing partner, Viewpoint by Databar. Our online payment options have not changed, so please continue to log in to eGov to make payments, or use our one-time payment option through the City of Poulsbo website at https://cityofpoulsbo.com/pay-a-bill/
- Messages will come from stmts@dbviewpoint.com, NOT the City of Poulsbo. Please check your spam folders and make this a recognized email address.
- To opt out of paper bills, contact the Finance Department.
- If you have multiple City of Poulsbo utility accounts, contact the Finance Department once you have registered with Viewpoint to add all accounts to one profile.
See our E-Billing FAQs, and for additional questions, troubleshooting, to add multiple accounts, and to opt out of paper bills, contact the Finance Department at utilitybilling@cityofpoulsbo.com or call us M-F 8:00am-4:30pm (closed for lunch 12:15pm-1:15pm).
ATTENTION – NONPAYMENT SHUTOFFS DURING EXTREME HEAT
The City of Poulsbo may delay water shutoffs due to nonpayment if the National Weather Service issues a heat-related alert for the Poulsbo area. Qualifying events include an Excessive Heat Warning, a Heat Advisory, an Excessive Heat Watch, or similar alert.
If your water has already been shut off due to nonpayment and a heat alert is issued, upon your request the City will promptly make a reasonable attempt to reconnect service for the duration of the heat event. Once the heat event has passed your water may be turned off again if the account is still delinquent and full payment of the past-due balance has not been paid.
Please contact the Finance Department at 360-394-9881 for questions or more information.
ATTENTION – COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Kitsap Community Resources offers various assistance programs, for more information call 360-473-2035.
For additional resources available through Kitsap County, please click here.
Residential Rates
Residential Water Rates
2024 Monthly rates for residences with a 3/4″ meter are as follows:
| Base rate per unit: | $18.79 (inside city limits) |
| $28.17 (outside city limits) |
Plus: Commodity charge of:
Winter rate: November to May
$2.63 per 100 cubic feet (inside city limits)
$3.35 per 100 cubic feet (outside city limits)
Summer rate: June to October
001-1000 cu ft* $2.63 per 100 cubic feet , and 1001 & Over cu ft $4.10 per 100 cubic feet (inside city limits)
$4.88 per 100 cubic feet (outside city limits)
* cu ft = cubic feet; 100 cubic feet = 748.5 gallons
Reduced Rates:
The City does have a program for reduced water/sewer rates for “Low Income Senior Citizens and/or Disabled Citizens.” Please refer to the section below for additional information, and if you think you may qualify, please contact Utility Billing at (360) 394-9724.
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the water utility.
Residential Wastewater (Sewer) Rates
Poulsbo’s sewage is pumped under Liberty Bay to the Kitsap County Treatment Plant at Brownsville.
2024 Monthly rates are as follows:
| Base rate per unit: | $65.76 (inside city limits) |
| $98.10 (outside city limits) |
Base charge includes 400 cubic feet of water flow, plus:
Winter rate: November to May
$8.63 per 100 cubic feet of water flow over the base (inside city limits)
$12.86 per 100 cubic feet of water flow over the base (outside city limits)
Summer rate: June to October
Rates are the same per 100 cubic feet as winter with the cubic feet calculated on the average water flow of the previous seven months. See “Seasonal Averaging” below.
NOTE: Sewer Penalty
A monthly penalty charge of $57.26 shall be assessed to properties:
• located within 200 feet of the City sewer system; and
• not connected to the system
• Fee may be waived if septic meets State Health Requirements
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the wastewater (sewer) utility.
Seasonal Averaging
The sewer (wastewater) portion of your utility bill is based on the amount of gallons of metered water used. However, for all residential accounts the City takes into consideration that in the summer months there could be additional irrigation that won’t flow into the City’s sewer system. This consideration is called “seasonal averaging”.
It works in the following way: The City takes the winter season’s (November to May) monthly average of water usage and this “seasonal averaging” is used to calculate the sewer portion of your bill from June to October each year. Please remember that you are still billed for all actual water usage.
Seasonal averaging watering can begin around Memorial Day and end around Leif Erikson/Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Stormwater
The city maintains an extensive storm drain system. The maintenance cost for this system is shared by each City residence and business.
For residential accounts, the 2024 monthly rate is $21.84 per month (inside city limits only.)
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the stormwater utility.
Vacation Rates
If your property is connected to the City’s water system, you may elect to have the Public Works Department lock off your meter while your home is temporarily vacant. The Water, Sewer and Garbage charges will be suspended. Monthly charges will continue for Storm Water Service. There is a $40 turn on/off fee. The form for Suspension Request for Utility Services is located on the Finance Forms and Resources Page.
Commercial/Multi-Family Rates
Click here for the 2024 Commercial/Multi Family Rate Brochure
Commercial Water
Base Rate per unit for commercial accounts:
| Meter Size | 2024 Monthly Charge |
| 3/4-inch | $20.01 |
| 1-inch | $44.93 |
| 1 1/2-inch | $86.05 |
| 2-inch | $136.33 |
| 3-inch | $278.47 |
| 4-inch | $428.95 |
| 6-inch | $844.71 |
| 8-inch | $1,342.96 |
Plus: Consumption rate of:
Winter rate: November to May
$2.21 per 100 cubic feet
Summer rate: June to October
$3.35 per 100 cubic feet
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the water utility.
Multi-Family Water
| Meter Size | 2024 Monthly Charge |
| 3/4-inch | $19.30 |
| 1-inch | $43.17 |
| 1 ½-inch | $82.49 |
| 2-inch | $130.67 |
| 3-inch | $267.25 |
| 4-inch | $411.33 |
| 6-inch | $809.52 |
| 8-inch | $1,286.68 |
Plus: Consumption rate of:
Winter rate: November to May
$2.21 per 100 cubic feet
Summer rate: June to October
$3.35 per 100 cubic feet
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the water utility.
Commercial Stormwater (inside city limits only)
The City maintains an extensive storm drain system. The maintenance costs for this system are shared by each City residence and business.
The 2024 monthly rate is $21.84 per each impervious surface unit (ISU). 3,000 square feet of an impervious area shall be equal to one impervious surface unit. (Inside city limits only)
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the stormwater utility.
Commercial Wastewater (Sewer)
Poulsbo does not operate a sewage treatment plant. Sewage is pumped under Liberty Bay to the treatment plant at Brownsville, which is operated by Kitsap County. 2023 Base Rate per unit for commercial accounts:
| Meter Size | 2024 Monthly Charge |
| 3/4-inch | $69.61 |
| 1-inch | $105.86 |
| 1 ½-inch | $165.21 |
| 2-inch | $238.73 |
| 3-inch | $454.24 |
| 4-inch | $673.76 |
| 6-inch | $1,278.47 |
| 8-inch | $2,002.67 |
Plus: Consumption rate of: $9.58 per 100 cu ft of water more than 400 cu ft. Base charge shall include 400 cubic feet of consumption.
NOTE: Sewer Penalty
Failure to physically hook up to the city sewer system when service is within two hundred feet of the property line and when service is available to the owner shall result in a monthly charge of $57.26.
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 12% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the wastewater (sewer) utility.
Bulk Transport
The bulk transport rate for 2024 is established as $327.65 per 1,000 gallons.
Call Public Works for details.
Customer Billing
Charges for all services are billed to the property owner at the end of each month of service. The property owner may request the billing be mailed in care of a tenant by completing a Utility Billing Authorization Form. You will find this form on the Finance Forms and Resources Page.
Solid Waste/Dumpster Rates (Residential and Commercial)
Solid Waste Rates
The City operates its own garbage service and provides customers a can based on their service choice; either 64 gallon, 32 gallon or 20 gallon can size service. (inside city limits only)
- Can must be curbside by 7:00 am
- Maximum weight of 65 lbs
- Garbage should be tied off inside can
2024 Monthly rates based on CAN size:
|
64 Gallon Size
|
32 Gallon Size
|
20 Gallon Size
|
|
$54.97
|
$32.29
|
$28.10
|
Each additional can requested by resident will be charged at the single can rate shown above. If you occasionally have extra garbage, prepaid tags can be purchased at City Hall or online for $12.10, one tag per can, box or bag. For online purchases, please print and attached your receipt to the can, box, or bag. Untagged extra garbage will not be collected. GARBAGE IS PICKED UP WEEKLY, INCLUDING HOLIDAYS
For more information, click here to be directed to Public Works – Solid Waste.
Utility Tax Rate:
The amount billed includes a 6% tax calculated on the gross revenue of the solid waste utility.
Dumpster Service
You may choose to apply for regular dumpster service for your solid waste. For more information, click here to be directed to Public Works – Solid Waste.
Commercial Recycling
Bainbridge Island Disposal provides a recycling program directly to our commercial customers. Call them direct for questions regarding business needs. (800) 531-1918.
Temporary Dumpsters
For temporary dumpster rentals please contact our Public Works Department. For more information, click here to be directed to Public Works – Solid Waste.
Neighborhood Residential Cleanup Program
The neighborhood cleanup program is designed to allow the Citizens of Poulsbo, on an annual basis to remove unwanted debris and waste from their properties in order to improve the public health and safety of the community, and to improve the aesthetics and quality of life enjoyed by the community and its citizens. The City of Poulsbo neighborhood cleanup program is available and limited to those residential customers receiving utility service from the City of Poulsbo’s Solid waste Utility. Neighborhood Residential Cleanup Program Application (PDF).
Irrigation Rates
Irrigation Accounts
| Meter Size | 2024 Monthly Charge |
| 3/4-inch | $15.57 |
| 1-inch | $33.87 |
| 1 1/2-inch | $73.42 |
| 2-inch | $100.93 |
| 3-inch | $207.71 |
| 4-inch | $318.29 |
| 6-inch | $623.48 |
| 8-inch | $989.02 |
Plus: Consumption rate of:
Winter rate: November to May
$2.21 per 100 cubic feet*
Summer rate: June to October
$3.35 per 100 cubic feet*
*100 cubic feet = 748.5 gallons
Irrigation During Fall & Winter Months
Customers with irrigation accounts may choose to lock off irrigation meters after the summer months. There is a $40.00 lock off/on fee. All irrigation services require a double check valve backflow preventer to protect public health. The valve requires an annual inspection. Please contact Public Works for more information.
Low-Income Senior and Low-Income Disabled Rates
Low-Income Senior and Low-Income Disabled Rates
Senior and disabled citizens may be eligible to receive a reduction of their water and sewer rates if they meet established income requirements. Download the Application for Senior/Disabled Citizen Rate Discount or contact Utility Billing at (360) 394-9724 for more information.
Pay Your Bill
Bill Payment Options
Utility Accounts are billed monthly and are due on the 20th day of every month.
In Person: You may pay in person at Poulsbo City Hall with the 3rd Floor Cashier during City Hall Hours: Monday – Friday (8:00am – 4:30pm), excluding holidays. Please note the front counter is closed each weekday from 12:15pm-1:15pm for lunch.
Drop Box: You may drop off your payment either in the drive-up drop box located on 3rd Avenue or the walk-up drop box located at the top of the stairs just outside of the main entrance to City Hall located off of Moe Street. These boxes are checked daily for payments.
Phone: You may call directly to the Finance Department at (360) 394-9881 during City Hall Hours: Monday – Friday (8:00am – 4:30pm), excluding holidays. **Note there is a $3.00 processing fee for any payments processed over the phone
Online: You may make your payment on-line by accessing this link: City of Poulsbo Online Utility Bill Payment
Mail: You may mail your payment to: City of Poulsbo – Cashier 200 NE Moe St Poulsbo, WA 98370
Automatic Withdrawal: You may sign up to have your payment automatically deducted from your bank account every month. Follow this link for more information: Automatic Utility Bill Payments