Online Services

Online services include information on paying your utility bills and business license renewals automatically, researching a specific property for any outstanding City liens or assessments, and information about the City's EFT program for vendor payments.

Utility Bill Payments and Information

Tiered Water Rates

A tiered water rate structure for single family residential customers became effective July 1, 2009.  The City of Lake Oswego adopted new water rates effective March 1, 2012. 

For quick information about your utilities click here for the March 2012 utility bill insert.

The Utility Rate Brochure summarizes the utility rates and payment options - click here.

For our easy to use Water Bill Calculator click here.

Email Notification for Utility Bills

          Just click on the envelope to the right, fill out an easy sign
          up form, and get started with environmentally friendly
          paperless billing with your next utility bill. 

Paying Your Utility Bill   

• The easiest way to pay your utility bill is by signing up for the City's program called EasyPay.  This program automatically withdraws the amount due on your bi-monthly utility bill from your bank account. 

• Also, you may pay online with your MasterCard or VISA credit card using UtilityOnline.  This is an online program where you can review your utility account, history and consumption, as well as place service requests, and make credit card payments online from the convenience and security of your home computer. 
  
  Create Your Utility Member Profile:  You will need your account number (including dashes) and your last payment amount.   Click on UtilityOnline and proceed.
  
  Forgot your password?  If you already have a Utility Member Profile and forgot your password, you can retrieve your password through Password Recovery.  Enter your email address, click on Password Recovery and an email will be sent to you with a temporary password.  Copy and paste the temporary password online to enter your the account balance screen.  (To change your password, click on Membership Profile, then edit membership information, copy and paste the temporary password for the current password and re-create a new password to remember.)
  

• Finally, payments can be made by a check or money order mailed to the City of Lake Oswego, PO Box 589, Lake Oswego, OR 97034.  

Utility calculations

Water, sewer, surface water and the street maintenance fee are billed bi-monthly (every other month) to offset operations, maintenance and capital improvement costs for the City's utility systems. The water bill includes a fixed monthly charge and a variable charge based on meter readings.  In a typical month there are approximately 60 days between read dates. The sanitary sewer portion is based on winter water average usage for the account and are adjusted annually, effective July 1st of each year. Our Master Fees and Charges booklet is available online for additional fee information and historic data.

Checking for Water Leaks 
  

   Your water meter has a needle that turns like the second hand of a clock.
   Each time it goes around, one cubic foot of water (or 7.48 gallons) has been
   used.  All water meters also have a small triangle-shaped dial that has no
   values around it, but it will detect small water flows.  To determine if you
   have a leak, do the following steps: 

1. Turn off water sources being used in the house or any water features in your yard. 
2. Note the position of the dial on the water meter.
3. Do not use any water for 20 minutes and if the triangle-shaped-dial indicator needle has not moved, you can feel comfortable that you do not have a leak. 
4. If this indicator needle has moved, start checking your hose connections, toilets, faucets, sprinkler systems, or any water features for drips or running water.

How to Determine Gallons Used

Your water meter is read every two months for billing purposes (bi-monthly).  In most cases, the City’s utility billing department will recognize and spot above-average readings for your home or business.  When these situations occur, we request one of our maintenance crew to double-check your meter for any indications of a leak.  The water meters measure cubic feet of water used.  To convert cubic feet of water into gallons used, multiply the cubic
                        feet your meter measures by 7.48. 

                       As an example:  1,250 cubic feet (cf)  x  7.48 = 9,350 gallons

The difference between the previous and current meter readings on your utility bill is converted to cubic feet per hundred (ccf), and shown on your bill.  In order to determine
how many gallons you used during the last billing cycle, multiply the ccf usage by 748.

Maintaining the Area around your Meter

Water meters are set in the ground usually near the street on either side of the driveway.  Landscaping and fences should be maintained at an adequate distance from the meter’s protective box.  As a reminder, Lake Oswego’s city code Section LOC38.115 stipulates that reasonable meter access is a condition of obtaining water service.  So, please trim any vegetation or move other obstructions (i.e., hedges, bushes, tarps, boats, RV’s, etc.) away from your water meter. 

For Other Utility Billing Information

Contact our Utility Billing department at (503) 635-0265

Business Licenses
Business licenses are required and restrictions are imposed by the Lake Oswego City Code
(LOC 20.02).  These were enacted to ensure the public's interest by regulating businesses
to make sure they comply with applicable laws and ordinances, and conduct themselves in
a manner that does not detract from the public health, safety, and welfare.  City's Business License brochure.

Paying Your Business License Renewals   

• You may now click here to pay renewals online with your MasterCard or VISA credit card.  This is an online program where you can review your prior business licenses and make credit card payments online from the convenience and security of your home computer.  (Note:  New Business Licenses still have a section on the application for credit card payments).
  
  Forgot your password?  If you already have a Business License Member Account and forgot your password, you can retrieve your password through Password Recovery.  Enter your email address, click on Password Recovery and an email will be sent to you with a temporary password.  Copy and paste the temporary password online to enter your the account balance screen.  (To change your password, click on Membership Profile, then edit membership information, copy and paste the temporary password for the current password and re-create a new password to remember.)
  

• Also, payments can be made by a check or money order mailed to the City of Lake Oswego, PO Box 369, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. 

Liens and Assessments
All properties within the City that have outstanding liens or assessments have been listed on a Web site for instant online inquiries by title companies.

Property Taxes

Cities do not assess, bill, or collect property taxes in Oregon, but rather counties perform these functions.  Contact the County that you reside in for information about property taxes.  Most of the City of Lake Oswego is in Clackamas County (with smaller portions in Multnomah and Washington Counties).  Their websites have handy information on the following property tax subjects:

• Your Property Tax Bill
• Understanding Your Tax Statement
• Receiving your Property Tax Bill
• Payment Options

Your respective County mails out all property tax statements towards the end of October every year.  If you receive a yellow tax statement it means that your mortgage company via your impound escrow account is expected to pay your taxes.  If you receive a green tax statement it means that the property owner is expected to pay the tax.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Program for City Accounts Payable Vendors

Finance offers an electronic funds transfer (EFT) program to more efficiently process our routine accounts payable payments to City vendors. This is a fast and efficient way for our vendors to receive their payment on their due date. The EFT program eliminates the printing and processing of accounts payable checks and the vendor does not have to wait to receive their payment via mail anymore. If you would like to sign up for EFT program, please contact us at 503-675-3987 or complete an EFT application.