Chicago Water Utility: Pay, Log In, Call or Fix a Water Bill Problem
This guide is built for fast action: pay a Chicago water/sewer bill, open the official Utility Billing login, use Quick Pay, call customer service, set up paperless billing or AutoPay, request payment help, report leaks, and avoid phishing or wrong-payment mistakes.
Chicago Water Utility Action Board
Pick the task first. Chicago’s official billing portal separates full login from Quick Pay, Utility Billing Relief, Leak Relief, and billing information.
| Need | Official action | Prepare first | Do not miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay without signing in | Quick Pay / Pay My Bill | Account number, service ZIP code, amount due, payment method. | Start from utilitybill.chicago.gov or chipay.chicago.gov; avoid ad-looking payment pages. |
| Log in / create profile | New User Enrollment | Utility account number exactly as printed on statement, including dashes; service ZIP code. | Portal example format shows account like 123456-123456. |
| Manage account online | Utility Billing Login | Username, password, account number, service ZIP. | Portal lists paperless billing, AutoPay or SelectPay, payment plan setup and bill payment. |
| Forgot password or need login help | Use Forgot Password or call 312-744-4426 | Username, email, account number, service address. | Customer Service phone is listed directly on the official Utility Billing portal. |
| Apply for Utility Billing Relief | Check UBR eligibility | Property occupancy, household income, owner/resident details. | UBR offers no penalties/debt collection, 50% rate reduction, and possible debt forgiveness after 1 year. |
| Large bill caused by qualifying leak | Leak Relief Program | Bill, leak location, repair proof, usual usage, photos/invoices if available. | Portal describes LRP for eligible outdoor and underground leaks. |
| Report water leak, sewer backup, flooded street or water quality issue | CHI 311 or dial 311 | Exact address, cross street, photos if safe, water/sewer issue type, when it started. | Use 911 for life-safety emergencies; use 311 for city service requests. |
Phishing warning: Chicago’s Utility Billing portal tells users not to click suspicious email links and to navigate to utilitybill.chicago.gov directly when logging in.
Official Chicago Water Billing Phone, Login and Address Clues
Utility Billing Customer Service
Phone: 312-744-4426
Use for: payment questions, login help, account profile issues, payment plans, billing documents and water/sewer bill questions.
City Hall map anchor
City Hall:
121 N LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Call 312-744-4426 before visiting to confirm the correct utility billing location, room, accepted payment method and hours.
Searcher shortcut: if you only need to pay today, use Quick Pay. If you need paperless billing, AutoPay, SelectPay, a payment plan, billing history or profile changes, sign in or enroll.
Pay or Log In: Best Method by Situation
Full login
Pay, view account, set paperless billing, AutoPay or SelectPay.
Payment plan
The Utility Billing portal lists payment-plan setup under online account tools.
Need help?
Call 312-744-4426 before making a risky past-due payment.
Open the official portal directly
Type utilitybill.chicago.gov into the browser or use the official link above. Chicago warns users to watch the web address for chicago.gov.
Choose Quick Pay or full login
Use Quick Pay for a single payment. Use full login if you need paperless billing, AutoPay, SelectPay, payment plan setup or profile changes.
Enter account details exactly
For enrollment, enter the utility account number exactly as it appears on the bill, including dashes, plus the service ZIP code.
Save proof before closing
Keep the payment confirmation, date/time, amount, account number, and screenshot. If shutoff or collections risk is involved, call customer service.
| Task | Official route | Best for | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick water bill payment | Pay My Bill / CHI Pay | Single payment without managing profile. | Do not use a third-party site that is not city-linked. |
| Create online account | New User Enrollment | First-time portal users. | Account number must match the bill exactly, including dashes. |
| Forgot password | Forgot Password link from login page; call 312-744-4426 if needed. | Login access problem. | Do not create duplicate profiles before trying recovery. |
| Paperless billing | Online Account Management Login. | Users who want e-bill notices and less mail delay. | Keep email updated after moving or changing account holder. |
| AutoPay / SelectPay | Online Account Management Login. | Users who want automatic or scheduled payment tools. | Confirm the first draft date before assuming autopay is active. |
| Payment plan | Online Account Management Login or call 312-744-4426. | Past-due or catch-up accounts. | Ask whether the plan stops penalties, debt collection or shutoff risk. |
Utility Billing Relief: 50% Reduction, No Penalties and Debt Forgiveness
50% rate reduction
UBR lists a 50% rate reduction for water charges, sewer charges and water-sewer tax.
No penalties / collection
UBR lists no penalties or debt collection on past-due City of Chicago utility bill debt.
Debt forgiveness
UBR lists forgiveness of previous unpaid balance after successfully completing one year in the program.
| UBR question | Direct answer | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Who should check UBR? | Chicago residents struggling with water/sewer affordability, including qualifying owner-occupants. | Property address, household details, income documents, owner/resident proof. |
| Does the applicant need to live there? | The UBR page says you must reside at the property to be eligible. | Prepare proof that the utility account property is your residence. |
| Are 3-flats included? | The UBR page says eligible homeowners of 3-flats can now access Utility Billing Relief. | Check property and income requirements before applying. |
| Can existing UBR customers re-enroll? | The UBR page notes application paths for new applicants may also be used by existing UBR customers to re-enroll. | Use eligibility path and updated documents. |
Leak Relief Program: When a Leak Causes a Big Bill
Eligible leak type
The billing portal describes Leak Relief as help with bills from eligible outdoor and underground leaks.
How it helps
The portal says it reduces impacted bills to an average of usual usage.
Where benefit goes
The portal says benefits are applied to the utility account.
| Leak situation | What to collect | Action path |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor supply leak | Repair invoice, photos, plumber statement, dates, affected bill. | Apply through Leak Relief Program if leak fits eligibility. |
| Underground private-side leak | Location, repair proof, before/after meter usage, bills from normal months. | Ask how the impacted bill will be averaged. |
| Indoor toilet/faucet leak | Repair proof and meter/billing history. | Call before assuming LRP covers it; the portal highlights outdoor/underground leaks. |
| Bill already due | Due date, balance, payment proof, LRP application status. | Ask whether payment plan or temporary account note is available. |
Report a Chicago Water Leak, Sewer Backup, Basement Flooding or Water Quality Issue
Life-safety emergency
Call 911 if someone is in danger, electricity is involved, a road is unsafe, or there is immediate life/property danger.
Exact location wins
For water/sewer requests, include exact address, cross street, side of street, nearest building, photos if safe, and time started.
| Problem | Best route | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Water leaking in street or parkway | CHI 311 / dial 311 | “Water is leaking at [exact address/cross street]. It started [time]. Flow is [small/large].” |
| No water or low pressure | CHI 311 / call Utility Billing if tied to bill/shutoff | “The property at [address] has [no water/low pressure]. Neighbors [are/are not] affected.” |
| Sewer backup / basement water | CHI 311; 911 if hazardous or electrical danger | “Sewage/water is backing up at [location]. It started [time]. I stopped using fixtures.” |
| Brown water, odor or taste | CHI 311 / water-quality request | “Water changed [color/odor/taste] at [time]. It affects [one tap/all taps/hot/cold].” |
| Open hydrant / hydrant leak | CHI 311 | “Hydrant at [location] is [open/leaking/damaged]. Water is flowing toward [direction].” |
| Catch basin / street flooding | CHI 311 | “Street flooding or catch basin issue at [location]. Drain is [blocked/covered/unknown].” |
Do not wait on billing support for field emergencies: payment/account questions go to 312-744-4426; active leaks, sewer backups, flooding, hydrants and water-quality concerns should be routed through CHI 311 unless it is a life-safety emergency.
High Bill, No Bill, Login Error or Payment Posting Problem
Billing issue checklist
- Account number exactly as printed on the bill.
- Service ZIP code.
- Previous and current bill amount.
- Payment confirmation number.
- Screenshot of portal error, if any.
- Leak repair proof, if bill spiked.
Questions that get faster answers
- “Did my payment post?”
- “Is my account in collection or penalty status?”
- “Can I set up a payment plan online?”
- “Do I qualify for UBR?”
- “Does this leak qualify for LRP?”
- “What account number format should I enter?”
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Portal cannot find account | Account number not entered exactly, missing dash, wrong service ZIP, outdated bill. | Use account format from statement; call 312-744-4426 if still not found. |
| Forgot password | Login credential issue. | Use Forgot Password link; call customer service if recovery fails. |
| Payment made but still shows due | Posting delay, wrong account, failed transaction or third-party payment issue. | Call with confirmation number, amount, date/time and payment method. |
| Bill suddenly high | Leak, outdoor use, estimated/changed reading, seasonality, missed prior balance. | Compare usage, check for leaks, collect repair proof, ask about LRP if eligible. |
| Past due / collection worry | Unpaid balance, late charges or payment plan missed. | Ask about payment plan and UBR before making partial payment. |
Chicago Locality and Service-Area Clues
This guide is for City of Chicago water/sewer utility billing. If the address is outside Chicago or billed by another municipality, use the provider printed on the bill.
| Local clue | What it means | Correct action |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago address with City utility account | Use City of Chicago Utility Billing and CHI Pay. | Open utilitybill.chicago.gov or call 312-744-4426. |
| Suburban Cook County address | May not be a direct City of Chicago water-bill customer. | Check provider name/logo on the bill before paying. |
| Landlord / condo / HOA bill | Water may be included in assessment or rent. | Ask property manager whether you have a direct City account. |
| Vacant property / sale closing | Utility documents and full payment certificate may matter. | Use Billing Information section in official portal or call customer service. |
| Neighborhood water issue | May need a 311 service request, not a billing call. | Submit CHI 311 with exact location and photo if safe. |
Map: Chicago City Hall and Utility Billing Contact Point
Use this map for Chicago City Hall. Before visiting for a utility-billing issue, call 312-744-4426 to confirm the correct room, hours, accepted payment method and whether the issue can be handled online.
| Place | Address / route | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Utility Billing Portal | utilitybill.chicago.gov | Login, enrollment, paperless billing, AutoPay, SelectPay, payment plans, billing help links. |
| CHI Pay / Quick Pay | chipay.chicago.gov | Pay bill without full account management. |
| Utility Billing Customer Service | 312-744-4426 | Billing, account lookup, login help, payments, plans, UBR/LRP direction. |
| Chicago City Hall | 121 N LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60602 | General city government location; confirm utility-billing room before visiting. |
| CHI 311 | 311.chicago.gov / dial 311 | Water leaks, sewer backup, hydrant issues, catch basin/street flooding, non-emergency city service requests. |
Chicago Water Utility FAQ
What is the Chicago water bill phone number?
The official Utility Billing portal lists customer-service phone number 312-744-4426 for questions and assistance.
Where do I pay my Chicago water bill online?
Use the official City of Chicago Utility Billing portal at utilitybill.chicago.gov or the Quick Pay route at chipay.chicago.gov.
Can I pay a Chicago water bill without logging in?
Yes. Use Quick Pay / Pay My Bill through CHI Pay if you only need to submit a payment without account management.
How do I create a Chicago Utility Billing account?
Use New User Enrollment on utilitybill.chicago.gov. Enter the account number exactly as it appears on the bill, including dashes, and enter the service ZIP code.
What can I do after logging into Chicago Utility Billing?
The portal lists bill payment, paperless billing, AutoPay or SelectPay, payment plan setup and online account management.
What should I do if I forgot my password?
Use the Forgot Password link from the login screen. The portal FAQ says to contact Customer Service at 312-744-4426 if additional help is needed.
What is Utility Billing Relief?
UBR is a City of Chicago program intended to make water and sewer bills more affordable for qualifying residents. The portal lists no penalties or debt collection, a 50% rate reduction and possible debt forgiveness after one year.
Does Chicago offer leak relief for high water bills?
Yes. The Utility Billing portal links to the Leak Relief Program, which is described as help with bills from eligible outdoor and underground leaks.
What number do I call for a water leak in Chicago?
Use CHI 311 online or dial 311 for non-emergency water leak, sewer, hydrant, water quality or flooding service requests. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.
Why can’t the portal find my Chicago water account?
Common reasons include entering the account number without dashes, using the wrong service ZIP code, using an old statement or mistyping the number. Try the exact account format shown on the bill, then call 312-744-4426 if needed.
Is Utility Billing Relief available for 3-flats?
The UBR page states that Utility Billing Relief is now available to eligible homeowners of 3-flats, but you must check property and income requirements.
Where is Chicago City Hall?
Chicago City Hall is at 121 N LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Call 312-744-4426 before visiting for water-billing help to confirm the correct room and current handling method.
Is this the official City of Chicago website?
No. This is an informational guide. Confirm live balance, payment posting, account status, eligibility, forms, service requests and deadlines with official City of Chicago sources.
30-Second Chicago Water Checklist
Pay now: use utilitybill.chicago.gov or chipay.chicago.gov, then save confirmation.
Login/enroll: use account number exactly as printed, including dashes, plus service ZIP code.
Call billing: 312-744-4426 for account, login, payment, plan, UBR or LRP questions.
Need help: check Utility Billing Relief for 50% reduction, no penalties/debt collection and possible debt forgiveness.
Leak bill: gather repair proof and apply through Leak Relief if eligible.
Water/sewer problem: use CHI 311 or dial 311; use 911 only for life-safety emergencies.