Notice and timing
How delinquency is handled
Grace period after the due date
Raleigh bills are due 20 days from the bill date. A $5 late charge is applied to any account with a past-due balance when payment was not received by the due date. A past-due account may also be subject to water or wastewater disconnection; a service-disconnection notice is a courtesy notice, and a door hanger may be left when a field trip has been made for nonpayment.
Late-fee calculation
Raleigh applies a fixed $5 late charge each month when payment is not received on or before the due date. A delinquent account that is past due and has been disconnected or received a hang tag is assessed a $50 Delinquent Trip Charge. Returned payments are canceled from the account and a returned-payment fee is placed on the next bill; the City lists a $35 processing fee for returned checks. Multiple returned payments can restrict future payments to secured methods such as card, certified check, money order, or cash.
Disconnection timeline
Day 0 is the monthly bill date; payment is due on day 20. After the due date, the $5 late charge applies and the account may enter collections. A courtesy disconnection notice can be issued for a past-due or delinquent account, and a door hanger may be left after a field trip. If water or sewer is disconnected for nonpayment, the customer must pay the full past-due balance before automatic restoration; the $50 delinquent trip charge applies once a disconnection or hang-tag action has occurred. Raleigh says restoration occurs as quickly as possible after full payment, although a public-utility emergency can delay it up to 24 hours.