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1. How do I start/stop my sewer services?

Contact the City of Missoula Sewer Utility Billing Department ASAP (406)552-6119/6111

2. Are new sewer accounts pro-rated?

Sewer use fees will be prorated for new accounts opened during a regular billing period. Because sewer use fees for commercial accounts are billed based on water consumption, an average of a similar use of similar size will be used to estimate the sewer use fees until a full six months of water consumption is available.

3. When is my sewer utility payment due?

Payments are due 30 calendar days after the billing date

4. What is the Administrative Charge on my sewer bill?

The administrative charge is for the fixed costs for billing the sewer accounts, account maintenance, and the ongoing fixed costs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
For further information, please call 406-552-6119 or refer to City of Missoula Resolution Number 7622.

5. Can I request my sewer bill for a specific date or cycle?

Contact the Utility Billing Department at 406-552-6119 or 406-552-6113.

6. How often am I billed for sewer?

Accounts are billed semi-annually on January 1st (for the months of January through June) and on July 1st (for the months of July through December) of every year. Property owners whose annual bill exceeds $1,000.00 may request in writing to the City of Missoula Finance Department-Sewer Billing that they be billed on a quarterly basis, and must be received at least two months prior to the next semi-annual billing date of either January 1 or July 1.
Water consumption records shall continue to be updated on an annual basis as is the current practice. The bill shall be divided into four equal bills rather than the current two semi-annual bills with the exception that the fixed charge per billing will be included on each of the two additional bills to be invoiced. The billing dates for the quarterly billing shall be January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each calendar year.

7. Why are sewer use fees assessed? Who pays for it?

The City of Missoula bears the responsibility of maintaining all the public sewer mains, which is why sewer use fees are assessed to property owners throughout Missoula. The City is also responsible for keeping the treatment plant repaired, improved and operating properly for all current and future users. The sewer use fees are paid by property owners and is the funding source that secures its portion of the sewer main and assures that your property has sufficient properly functioning capacity at the treatment plant.

8. My property is not connected to the public sanitary sewer system, why am I assessed a sewer use fee?

In accordance with City of Missoula Ordinance No. 2644, Section 13.08.050-
The City is obligated to maintain your property’s portion of the main and treatment plant whether the property has made a physical connection or not. It costs the same amount to maintain the main and treatment plant for each property, whether its buildings are connected or not. Not only does every citizen directly benefit from the installation and existence of a municipal public sanitary sewer, but it would not be practical to install a municipal sanitary sewer system for only those who chose to tap into it and exclude those who had not yet actually tapped into it. In the early 1980’s, the Montana Public Service Commission unanimously ruled in favor of the City of Missoula being able to assess sanitary sewer use fees against unconnected properties that have water service or a well connecting to a building and thus are capable of producing sewage and are adjacent to or abutting the municipal sewer lateral line, but are not yet connected to the sewage system

9. My property is vacant, are sewer use fees still assessed?

Sewer use fees will be assessed on vacant property because the City is responsible for maintaining the sewer main and treatment plant to assure that sewer service is always ready and available whenever you need it. The only exceptions are: (1) if the sewer is capped off or (2) if the sewer producing building is demolished then sewer use fees are cancelled.

10. I thought I was already paying for sewer services through my SID?

No, your Special Improvement District (SID) pays for costs to install the sewer main adjacent to your property. Sewer connection fees pay to have the building connected to the sewer main and are paid at the time of connection. The sewer use fee (billed separately) pays for the use and maintenance of the sewer lines.

11. Where do I pay my sewer bill?

• In-Person
  • City Hall, 435 Ryman Street, Finance Dept., second floor, downtown Missoula. 
  • Cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards. No additional fee for credit/debit cards.
• US Mail
  • City of Missoula, Utility Billing Department, PO BOX 5388, Missoula, MT 59806. 
  • Make checks payable to City of Missoula. 
• Over the Phone - Credit/Debit Cards
  • Call 406-552-6125 during normal business hours Monday-Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM Mountain Time.
• Online - Checks and ACH/Debit payments 
  • Visit http://billpay.ci.missoula.mt.us/.

12. Does the City have a service that will automatically charge my credit card each month for payment on my utility account?

No, Not at this time.

13. What happens if my account goes past due?

Payments are due 30 calendar days after the billing date. A 1% penalty will be applied to all past due balances the first of each month. Late notices are not mailed. Pursuant to Section 7-13-4309 M.C.A. sewer use fees prior to July 1 each year, if not paid by August 15, will be levied as a tax against the property to which sewer service is furnished. Pursuant to state law, a city may, in addition to pursuing the collection of sewer assessments as a tax, bring suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to collect the amount.

14. Can my account be transferred if I move from one home to another within the City?

No, you will need to close out one account and reopen another account with your new property address.