Delinquency research · dataset 2026.08
Shut-off and delinquency information for City of Baltimore Department of Public Works – Bureau of Water and Wastewater
Only provider-specific public findings are stated as policy. A missing field is not replaced with a rule borrowed from another utility.
Provider-specific findings
Delinquency research for this provider
The notes below may document a rule or explain a specific public-information limit. Any active notice and direct provider confirmation remain controlling.
- Grace period
- 20 days after the issue date of a metered bill. Baltimore City Code §4-2 states that metered water charges unpaid 20 days after issuance become delinquent and are subject to the penalty and collection process.
- Late-fee rules
- A 1.64% penalty is added to each metered water and fire-supply inspection charge when it becomes delinquent. A further 1.64% penalty is imposed on charges, including accrued penalties, that remain unpaid and are forwarded as arrears on later bills. Customers enrolled in the Water-for-All Discount Program are not liable for these penalties while enrolled. The current City bill flyer tells customers to pay by the printed due date to avoid the 1.64% penalty.
- Shut-off timeline
- Baltimore City Code §4-3 allows a shutoff notice when an account balance of at least $250 is two billing cycles past due. DPW must provide the required notice at least 45 days before the earliest possible cutoff date. Residential and multifamily cutoffs may occur only March 1 through October 31, Monday through Thursday, and not during a City Health Department heat or cold advisory. A cutoff cannot occur more than 90 calendar days after the notice unless a new notice is issued. Service must not be cut off when the customer pays the demanded amount, requests assistance in good faith, enters an installment agreement, qualifies for Water-for-All, presents proof of payment, or invokes specified medical, tenant, or other statutory protections.
- Warning and notice protocol
- The City’s required cutoff notice must be provided at least 45 days before the earliest cutoff date and must describe the delinquent charges, payment and installment-plan options, Water-for-All, assistance contacts, and protections such as medical conditions or a good-faith assistance request. The public code limits residential cutoffs to March–October, Monday–Thursday, and prohibits work during heat/cold advisories. Baltimore’s billing materials do not establish an SMS sequence or colored-door-hanger series, but the City’s bill/notice and the DPW customer-service line are the authoritative warning channels. The Department may not cut off more than 90 days after a notice without issuing a new one.
- Reconnection costs
- A service-restoration fee is required before water is turned back on after nonpayment, with the amount set by the Board of Estimates; current Baltimore public guidance commonly identifies a $100 restoration charge, while Water-for-All recipients are exempt from the restoration fee while enrolled. The public 2026 materials do not publish a separate standard-hours versus after-hours/weekend restoration price. Exact charges should be confirmed with DPW at 410-396-5398 before payment.
Documentation context
5 of 5 fields found
This is a record-completeness measure, not a customer-protection grade.
Maryland
41%
records with any shut-off detail
National
34%
records with any shut-off detail
Research record
Broad public detail found
5 of 5 fields in this section contain provider-specific public detail in dataset August 1, 2026.
Documented
100%
Primary verification routes
- City of Baltimore Department of Public Works – Bureau of Water and Wastewater public website ↗
Provider-controlled destination used to confirm current customer instructions.
- EPA SDWIS / ECHO lookup (MD0300002) ↗
Search the federal drinking-water database using public water system ID MD0300002.