Your bill is due upon receipt. The City allows 23 days from the billing date for you to make timely payment. A payment is considered late after the date printed on your bill, and late fees will apply.
Billing cycles are based on service zones throughout the city. Billing for Zone 1 (North) is generated on the first Monday of the month; Zone 2 (East/Core) generates on the second Monday; Zone 3 (South) generates on the third Monday, and Zone 4 (West/Garbage Only) generates on the fourth Monday. No bills are generated on the fifth Monday in any month.
Non-metered services are utility services not based on meter readings. These may include:
- Environmental charges or surcharges
- Residential garbage collection, disposal, and sales tax
- Penalties, such as late fees, or service charges
- Other charges like service call charges or after-hour service fees.
Landfill disposal coupons can be requested through online at forms.rcgov.org/coupons or by emailing your request to PW.CitizenSupport@rcgov.org. Please include the name of the account holder, the account number, the address where you receive service and an email address we can use to contact you. Coupons will be mailed to the billing address on your account.
A full list of acceptable recyclable materials is available on the Solid Waste Division’s website at rapidcityrecycles.org
Garbage collection days vary by neighborhood. Visit the Solid Waste Division’s website for the collection schedule at rapidcityrecycles.org
Equipment Fees
If a water meter or remote read device is damaged due to misuse or negligence, it will be replaced at the customer’s expense and the appropriate fee will be added to your account.
Late Fees
If payment is not received by the delinquency date on the bill, a late fee of 6.5% is added to the account.
Service Fee
If an account is more than 45 days delinquent, a service fee will be added and your service may be discontinued.
Returned Payment Fee
A fee is assessed for returned checks or rejected electronic payments.
Rapid City uses a remote-read meter system, which electronically records water usage and transmits the reading to Utility Billing. You are only billed for water that registered as passing through your meter.
Rates for City Utility Services are set by City Resolution, which can be found on the City’s website at https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html. Water Rates are also codified in City ordinance 13.08.400, which can be viewed online at https://rapidcity.municipal.codes/RCMC/13.08.400
Most surcharges are state-mandated and fund compliance with environmental standards. These charges are required to support state and federal regulations related to water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and environmental protection. Surcharges may also be added to repay loans for capital improvements, like building a new treatment facility or well.
Refundable Deposits
A water meter deposit is required when establishing water service. An additional deposit is billed for the container issued for City garbage collection services. These deposits will be applied to your final bill and any remaining credit will be refunded to
you.
New Account Setup Fee
A one-time fee is charged when creating a new utility account.
The amount for specific fees can be found in the City’s Fee Resolution, which can be found on the City’s website at https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html.
The City of Rapid City offers several options to pay your bill:
Cash is accepted at the Finance Office located at 300 Sixth Street, Monday through Friday, 7:30AM to 5:00PM.
Checks are accepted at the Finance Office during normal business hours, by mail, and by Night Drop. *Payments left in the Night Drop after 7AM will not be processed until the next business day.
Bill Pay payments from customers' bank accounts. Please ensure this is set up with your bank using the correct account number found on bill.
Credit & Debit Cards are accepted at the Finance Office and online. A 3% ($2.50 minimum), non-refundable fee will apply to all credit and debit card transactions.
eChecks are accepted online. A $1.95 fee will apply to all eCheck transactions.
Pay by Phone (IVR) 605-453-1213 An additional $0.50 is added to credit, debit, or eCheck fees for this service.
A unit of water equals 100 cubic feet, which is 748 gallons.
Your sewer rate is based on your Winter Average, which reflects your water usage during the winter months of December, January, and February when outdoor watering is typically minimal. This method gives the most accurate reflection of your typical wastewater use.
High bills can result from increased seasonal water use, leaks, rate changes, or billing cycle length.
If you have questions about your bill, please contact Utility Billing for assistance.
Option 1:
Click on Transactions found on the navigation menu. A list of payments and bills will display. Click on "Bill" for the desired date to view and download a PDF of your bill.
Option 2:
Click on Account Detail found on the navigation menu. Locate section labeled Recent Bills. Click "View bill" on the desired billing date. Older bills will display by clicking on "View all."
If you experienced a leak in your plumbing system, contact Utility Billing as soon as possible. You may qualify for a review or adjustment depending on the circumstances and documentation.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to adjust for leaks in fixtures or appliances, such as toilets, water heaters, water softeners, faucets, etc.