New and Improved Features - Now Live!
Paying in Person
You may pay your City of Charlottesville utility bill in the lobby of City Hall. The City accepts cash, checks, debit, and credit cards for payment. City Hall is located on the corner of 7th Street NE and E Main at 605 E Main Street. City Hall is open Monday through Thursday, from 9 am until 4 pm, except on City holidays.
Paying Online
Payment is just a click away! Our online payment options have expanded with new customer-friendly features. There are still no fees to pay your bill online, and all major credit and debit cards are accepted. You will need your Utility Billing account number to complete your transaction. Visit the updated payment portal to make a quick and secure payment, and to access your account information. For answers to frequently asked questions, please access the Invoice Cloud FAQs (PDF)
Automatic Payments
Gain peace of mind that your utility bill is paid in full and on time with your choice of two automatic bill payment options. Pay your utility bill automatically with the Easy Pay Plan to have your checking account directly debited, or register your utility account with Invoice Cloud, and automatically pay your bill via debit, credit, or checking account information on file. If you are already enrolled in Easy Pay, you do not need to re-enroll in Invoice Cloud. Both payment options offer a safe, reliable, and convenient way to automatically pay your monthly utility bill.
Pay by Text
Pay your bill in the palm of your hand! Receive text notification as soon as your monthly utility bill is available with Pay by Text. We text you your bill, and you reply "OK" to pay with your saved payment method. Register with easy step-by-step instructions for Pay by Text to conveniently and securely pay your utility bill.
Paperless Billing
Go paperless to save time and money. Signing up for Paperless Billing is easy, and eliminates paper printing and mailing of bills and payments. This secure feature sends an email confirmation that payment was made, and allows you to access your account activity and information online.
Drop Boxes
Three drop boxes are available 24 hours a day to deposit checks and money order payments. Drop boxes are located:
- Beside the 6th and 7th Street entrances of City Hall (pedestrian access only)
- Between the Downtown Recreation Center and the City Hall Annex (vehicular access available)
- In the vestibule of the 605 East Market Street entrance to City Hall (during business hours)
Mailing Payments
You may send your payment via mail using the return envelope included in your bill. Please allow five days for the posting of payments.
Pay by Phone
You can pay your utility bill over the phone with our easy to use automated service by calling Utility Billing at 434-970-3211. There are no fees to use this service, and all major credit and debit cards are accepted. You will need your Utility Billing account number to complete your payment.
Budget Plan
Take the guess work out of your monthly bill with the Budget Plan. This free and easy way to help manage your monthly expenses allows you to know exactly what you will owe each month. This plan estimates your yearly cost for utilities, and divides that total into 12 equal installments. These installments become the "level payment amount" for your billing each month. Every six months, your account is reviewed to determine if your level payment amount needs to change to achieve a zero balance at the end of your budget year. There may also be other times that we readjust your budget amount due to usage pattern changes, unusual weather conditions, or utility rate changes.
If you are interested in taking advantage of the Budget Plan, please call us at 434-970-3211 to receive an application, or complete and submit the Budget Plan online application. Please carefully read the Budget Plan Rules before submitting your request.
Payment Arrangements
The Collections Office of the Utility Billing Office is responsible for administering payment plans on utility accounts where customers are experiencing difficulty in paying their utility bills. Such conditions may result from unusually high winter bills or loss of household income. Payment options, including installment plans and payment deferrals, may be discussed by calling (434) 970-3211.
The Utility Billing Office manages the Water and Wastewater Assistance Programs and the Gas Assistance Programto provide eligible households to help in paying utility bills. For more information on these programs, call (434) 970-3211.
Water Leak Credit Policy
The City has a leak credit policy designed to offer customers some relief from the financial impact of undetected water leaks while maintaining a financial incentive for them to be concerned about and fix water leaks. For more information, call customer service at (434) 970-3211, or visit our water leaks page.