Surrey Utility Bill Explained: Water and Sewer Rates, Payments and High Water Bills

This guide explains what is on a Surrey utility bill, the 2026 rates, how to pay, and what to do if your water bill suddenly jumps.

All rates and rules come from surrey.ca and were checked on September 25, 2026. Rates change every year, so check the City's pages before you budget.

What is on your Surrey utility bill

The City says your utility payments cover water, sewer, drainage and waste services. They are billed in two places:

• Utility bill: water and sewer (plus a meter base charge if you have a meter).
• Property tax notice: garbage, recycling and organics collection, and the drainage parcel tax. These are flat yearly charges due July 2.

Metro Vancouver sets the rates for bulk water and wastewater treatment. The City says that for an average single-family home, 75% of the water bill and 86% of the sewer bill are Metro Vancouver costs.

Flat rate or metered: which one are you?

An easy way to tell: if you get more than one utility bill a year, your home has a water meter.

• Annual (flat-rate) utilities: no water meter. One bill a year, sent at the end of February, due April 2. It covers January 1 to December 31.
• Metered utilities: you have a water meter. A bill every 4 months, based on the water you used. Your due dates depend on your billing area (shown at the top right of your metered bill).

2026 Surrey water and sewer rates

Annual flat rates (2026):

• Single-family house: water $1,195 + sewer $1,661 = $2,856 (2025 was $2,777)
• Secondary suite, charged on top of the house rate: water $454.00 + sewer $821.71 = $1,275.71
• Strata (multi-family) unit: water $454 + sewer $571 = $1,025

Metered rates (2026):

• Water: $1.4116 per cubic metre (1,000 litres)
• Sewer: $2.3593 per cubic metre, charged on 88% of the water you use
• Meter base charge: for a 3/4-inch residential meter, $96 a year, split across your 3 bills

Example: a metered home that uses 100 cubic metres in one 4-month period pays about $141.16 for water, $207.62 for sewer (100 × 0.88 × $2.3593), and $32 base charge. That is about $380.78 for that bill.

Charged on the property tax notice (2026): garbage, recycling and organics for a single-family home $344.08 (secondary suite $172.04), and drainage parcel tax for Class 1 residential $250.71.

How to pay your Surrey utility bill

1. Online or telephone banking: add the City of Surrey utility account as a payee. Use your 6-digit utility account number. Pay at least 3 days before the due date.
2. Auto-debit (metered homes): the City takes each metered bill from your bank account, 3 times a year. Apply with the form on surrey.ca and a void cheque.
3. Pre-Authorized Pre-Payment Plan (flat-rate homes): 10 monthly payments, August to May, toward next year's annual utilities and property tax. It does not cover metered bills.
4. At your bank or ABM: service charges may apply. Allow at least 3 days for ABM payments.
5. By mail: cheque payable to "City of Surrey" with your utility account number, to Property and Payment Services, 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3T 1V8.
6. In person: City Hall (8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday), the Surrey Operations Centre at 6651 148 Street (8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday), or the 24-hour drop slot at City Hall's south entrance.

Late payment penalties

• Annual utilities: 5% penalty if not paid by April 2, and a further 5% if not paid by July 2.
• Metered utilities: 5% penalty on unpaid balances after the due date.
• Utility balances still unpaid on December 31 are moved to your property tax account. For annual utilities, the City says daily interest is then charged.
• If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, you can pay the next business day without penalty.

Did not get your bill 10 days before the due date? Call Property & Payment Services at 604-591-4181 for a copy. You can also see past and current bills in MyPropertyAccount, using the account number and access code from a previous bill.

Unusually high water bill? Check for leaks

The City says leaks can happen in toilets, pipes, taps, hot water tanks and irrigation systems. On a metered bill, a leak means you pay for water you never used.

Toilets are the most common big leak. The City says a toilet that keeps running after flushing may waste 20 to 40 litres an hour. It estimates this adds about $192 to $216 to each 4-month bill. To test your toilet:

1. Without flushing, listen for running water.
2. If you hear nothing, put a dye tablet or a few drops of food colouring in the tank.
3. Wait 15 minutes. If colour shows up in the bowl, the toilet is leaking.
4. The usual cause is a worn flapper. Flappers are sold at hardware and plumbing stores. Call a plumber if you need help.

Other places to check:

• Dripping taps and pipes. Replace worn parts.
• Water around the hot water tank or its floor drain.
• Wet patches in the lawn that do not dry. This can mean an underground sprinkler leak. Turning the sprinklers off does not stop the leak. It must be repaired.

Use your water meter. The City has short videos on how to read your meter and use it to find leaks. The basic idea is to turn off all water in the home, then see if the meter still shows water moving. Find your meter with the City's online Water Meter Locator tool. Keep the meter clear. The City needs access to it at all times.

How to apply for a leak adjustment

If you fixed a leak that raised your utility bill, you can ask the City for a leak adjustment:

1. Find and repair the leak.
2. Read your meter to confirm your water use is back to normal.
3. Fill out the City's Leak Adjustment Request Form.
4. Send it with your repair receipts by email (address on the City's leak page), by mail, or in person at City Hall or the Surrey Operations Centre.
5. Pay at least half of your bill by the due date.

Missing receipts or an incomplete form will slow down your request.

Moving in or out: account changes

• Utility accounts belong to the property, not the owner. After you buy or sell, update the account number saved in your online banking.
• Selling or buying a metered home: your lawyer or notary should request a special meter reading at least 2 weeks before the reading date. The 2026 fee is $106.09. The final bill is due 30 days after the reading.
• Pre-payment plans do not move with you. You must sign up again for your new property.
• Change your mailing address online through BC Assessment, or with the City's change-of-address form.
• Renters: the property owner is responsible for the City utility bill. If your lease says you pay utilities, sort out payment with your landlord.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources

• Understanding Your Utility Bill (rates) — City of Surrey
• Annual Utilities — City of Surrey
• Metered Utilities — City of Surrey
• Paying Your Utility Bill — City of Surrey
• Understanding Your Water Meter — City of Surrey
• Detecting Water Leaks — City of Surrey
• Special Meter Reading Requests — City of Surrey
• Voluntary Water Meter Program — City of Surrey
• Changing Your Address Information — City of Surrey

General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.