Account Opening
When you open a utility account, you will receive water service through one of the two water service providers - the City of Stockton or the California Water Company (Cal Water). The City provides sewer and stormwater services to all Stockton residents. To verify your water service provider, please visit About Your Address
City of Stockton Water Service Area
In the City's water service area, the City bills residential customers for water, sewer, stormwater, garbage and recycling on one bill. Commercial and industrial customers receive a bill from the City for sewer and stormwater, and a solid waste bill directly from Republic or Waste Management for garbage and recycling services.
- Utility accounts for addresses in the City of Stockton water service area are established only for property owners. (See "Changes to Utility Billing - Owner-only Billing")
- Please be prepared to provide proof of ownership.
Changes to Utility Billing - Owner-only Billing
Starting August 15, 2020, utility bills for the City's water service area will begin conversion to property-owner billed accounts:
- All new accounts will be opened in the name of the property owner of record (owner-only billed).
- Existing accounts billed to tenants can be converted upon request of the property owner or authorized property manager/agent.
- When tenant accounts are closed, all existing tenant-billed accounts will be converted to owner-only accounts.
- Beginning January 1, 2021, all existing tenant-billed accounts will be converted to owner-only accounts.
Owner-only Billing Notice
A notice to all City of Stockton water service area customers was sent July 6, 2020, providing information to property owners about owner-only billing. A reminder letter was sent November 16, 2020. Customers who received the second letter and are not rental property owners, may disregard the November letter. We apologize for the error.
For questions, please contact Utility Billing Customer Service.
New accounts - Owner-only Billing
- The property owner of record must be the account holder.
- The property owner can request that bills are mailed care-of tenant or sent to any other address, however, the property owner is still ultimately responsible for payment.
Existing Tenant Accounts
- As the account holder, the tenant is responsible for all charges billed in the tenant's name.
- The property owner is not responsible for delinquent service charges and penalties billed in the tenant's name.
- Change to owner-only billing may be initiated upon owner request or when the City converts to an owner account.
Closed Tenant Accounts
- Tenant is responsible for all charges billed to the tenant as the account holder.
- The property owner is not responsible for charges billed to the tenant account holder.
Utility Bill Mailing Address
When tenant accounts are closed, a new account will be opened in the name of the property owner of record.
- The bill will be mailed to the address on the San Joaquin County tax roll until/unless the property owner or authorized manager/agent requests a change in the mailing address.
- The property owner is responsible for all owner-only account charges, regardless of the mailing address.
For questions, please contact Utility Billing Customer Service.
California Water Company (Cal Water) Service Area
If your address is served by the California Water Company (Cal Water):
- Cal Water will send a bill for water service.
- The City of Stockton will send a bill for sewer and stormwater; residential bills will include a charge for garbage and recycling services.
Changes to Utility Billing - Owner-only Billing
Starting March 7, 2019, City utility bills that do not include water service (non-water accounts) will begin the conversion to property owner-only billed accounts.
- All new accounts will be owner-only billed.
- Existing accounts billed to tenants can be converted upon request of the property owner or authorized property manager/agent.
- When tenant accounts are closed, new accounts will be opened as owner-only accounts.
- All existing tenant-billed accounts will be converted to owner-only accounts by December 31, 2020.
New Accounts - Owner-only Billing
- The property owner of record must be the account holder.
- The property owner can request that bills are mailed care-of tenant or sent to any other address.
- The property owner is responsible for payment.
Existing Tenant Accounts
- As the account holder, the tenant is responsible for all charges billed in the tenant's name.
- The property owner is not responsible for delinquent service charges and penalties billed in the tenant's name.
- Change to owner-only initiated upon owner request or when City converts to an owner account.
Closed Tenant Accounts
- Tenant is responsible for all charges billed to the tenant as the account holder.
- The property owner is not responsible for charges billed to the tenant account holder.
Utility Bill Mailing Address
When tenant accounts are closed, a new account will be opened in the name of the property owner of record.
- The bill will be mailed to the address on the San Joaquin County tax roll until/unless the property owner or authorized manager/agent requests a change in the mailing address.
- The property owner is responsible for all owner-only account charges, regardless of the mailing address.
For questions, please contact Utility Billing Customer Service.
External Links
This City of Stockton web page last reviewed on --- 4/6/2023