A Guide to Paying Your City of Huntington Beach Bills and Fees

Living in the vibrant beachside city of Huntington Beach, CA comes with great amenities, services, and activities for residents And to maintain all that the city offers, payments must be collected for utilities, permits, fines, and other municipal fees The City of Huntington Beach provides many convenient ways for community members to pay their city bills and obligations. This comprehensive guide will walk through the various payment options available.

Online Payments Via Website

The easiest and most efficient way to pay your Huntington Beach city bills is online through the city’s website. You can make secure online payments for utilities, permits, business licenses, citations, and more.

The city accepts Visa MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit/debit cards online as well as bank account e-Checks. A non-refundable 3% service fee is added to all credit/debit card transactions.

Specific types of city bills that can be paid online include:

• Water/sewer utility bills
• Building and planning permits
• Business license fees
• Code enforcement fines
• Parking citations
• False alarm fines
• Fire department fees
• Retiree medical premiums
• Police records request fees

The city website offers a quick “Pay Now” option for one-time payments. For access to your full account history and to setup recurring/automatic payments, you must register for an online account.

Pay By Phone

Huntington Beach also offers a convenient pay-by-phone option for city bills and services. Call the automated payment system at (844) 364-9966 and follow the prompts to make a payment from your banking account or credit/debit card.

The phone line is available 24/7 for easy bill payment anytime. Utility bills, permits, business licenses, parking tickets, and more can all be paid over the phone.

Pay By Mail

To pay city fees by mail, detach the payment stub from your bill or invoice and mail with a check or money order payable to “City of Huntington Beach” to:

City of Huntington Beach
Attn: City Treasurer
P.O. Box 711
Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0711

Be sure to include your relevant account number on the check or money order. Allow 3-5 business days for mailed payments to reach the city and get credited to your account. Cash payments should never be mailed.

Pay In Person

For those who prefer paying their city bills in person, simply visit Huntington Beach City Hall during business hours, Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8AM to 5PM. Multiple cashier stations are available on the 1st floor to make payments by cash, check, credit/debit card, or money order.

After hours, a secure night drop box is located outside City Hall and collected daily at 3PM. However, cash should not be left in the drop box.

Recurring AutoPay

Signing up for auto-pay through the city’s online payment system is a convenient option to eliminate late fees and avoid missing payments. Once logged into your online account, enroll in auto-pay to have your city bills paid automatically each month on their due date using your default payment method on file.

You can cancel or edit the auto-pay settings anytime. Your account will be drafted each billing cycle for the amount due.

Pay Through Your Bank

Many banks and credit unions offer bill pay services that let you setup recurring automatic payments. This can be a useful option for paying your Huntington Beach utilities, permits, and other city bills.

Provide your bank with the payment info and they will mail a check to the city on your behalf each month. Auto bill-pay ensures payments are made on time. Just note that any check not made out properly to the city may be rejected.

Payment Arrangements

If you cannot pay a city bill in full, you may be eligible for a payment plan that spreads payments out over time. Contact the relevant city department to explain your situation and see if they can work out arrangements for incremental payments.

Avoid Late Fees

To avoid late fees and disruption of city services, be sure to pay all Huntington Beach bills and obligations by their due date. The city offers multiple ways to pay including online, phone, mail, auto-payments, and in person. Find the option that fits your needs and take advantage of the city’s convenient payment methods.

Municipal Utility Bills

Paying your city water/sewer bill conveniently online through the city website is highly recommended. After registering, you can view past bills, see consumption data, set up auto-pay, and make one-time payments.

You can also pay utility bills by phone, mail, or at City Hall. Provide your 15-digit utility account number located on your bill when making payments. Setting up auto-pay helps avoid missed payments.

Building Permits and Planning Fees

For contractors and developers undertaking projects in Huntington Beach, building permits and planning fees can be paid online, by phone, mailed in, or at City Hall. Including your project address ensures proper account credit.

Business License Payments

Owners of Huntington Beach businesses must obtain an annual business license and pay the renewal fees each year. Renew your business license easily online via the city website, over the phone, by mail, or in person at City Hall each year before the expiration date.

Parking and Traffic Fines

Parking citations, traffic tickets, and related fines to the Huntington Beach Police Department can be paid conveniently online or by phone using the ticket number. Pay promptly to avoid late penalties. Note: a $3.50 service fee applies to online/phone credit card payments for parking citations.

False Alarm Fines

Any false alarm fines from the police or fire department can be paid online through the city website by searching the invoice number. Fines not paid on time accrue late fees, so pay promptly.

Methods for All City Bills

Whether owing for utilities, permits, citations, or other city fees, Huntington Beach offers online, phone, mail, automatic, and in-person payment options. Manage your city bills responsibly by utilizing these convenient payment methods. Avoid financial penalties by paying on time.

The city’s website provides quick access to pay almost any city bill online 24/7. You can also call the automated pay-by-phone line anytime or mail in check payments. Setting up auto-pay through the city or your bank simplifies bill payment further.

Customer Service Representatives

If you need help with determining what you owe to the city, making payments, or have any other questions or concerns, Huntington Beach’s friendly customer service staff is ready to assist.

Contact the appropriate city department that issued the bill, permit, or fine and they can provide customer support. City staff want to ensure paying your Huntington Beach obligations is straightforward and hassle-free.

Financial Assistance Resources

For community members facing financial hardships that make paying city fines, fees, and utility bills challenging, there are some resources available that may help. These include:

• Payment plans – Allows outstanding balances to be paid over time through installments.

• Utility tax exemption – Seniors may qualify to have their city utilities tax waived.

• Bill assistance programs – Provides qualified lower-income households with financial aid for city utility bills.

• Community action partnerships – Non-profit agencies that assist underserved families with basic needs.

Contact the City of Huntington Beach for details on these programs if you are struggling to pay city bills.

Responsible Payment Practices

As a resident or business owner in the city of Huntington Beach, it is your responsibility to pay any utility charges, permitting fees, fines, tickets, licenses, taxes, or other financial obligations you incur timely and in full. Avoid penalties by paying city bills by the due date and taking advantage of the available payment options.

Managing your Huntington Beach payments online provides the greatest convenience, transparency, and automation. Establishing automatic and recurring payments ensures you never miss a payment deadline. Support your community by being a responsible payer of city fees and services for the betterment of all in Huntington Beach.