Last checked: September 9, 2026
If you live inside Cary's corporate limits, one town department handles your drinking water, your sewer, and — for Cary residents — your garbage billing. If you live just outside those limits but still write "Cary, NC" on your mail, none of that is automatic. A Cary mailing address has never been proof of Cary town-limits service, and it does not tell you who your water and sewer provider is.
So the first instruction in this guide is the one that matters most: verify the exact service address against the town limits before you open an account, pay a deposit, or call anyone about a leak. Everything below reflects what the Town of Cary's official water and sewer pages showed on September 9, 2026, and every rate and fee figure carries the effective window the town published with it so you can re-check it before you budget.
Cary Utilities: The Short Answer
Water and sewer service in Cary comes from the Town of Cary. Accounts are billed monthly, and Cary residents are billed water, sewer, and garbage together on one town utility bill. Morrisville residents served by the Cary system are billed water and sewer only.
The service routes are split in a way that surprises people:
- A residential start of service can be requested through the town's online application.
- A nonresidential start and every stop request must be made by phone at 311 inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits.
The money picture, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027: base water and base sewer each move from $4.09 to $5.63, which the town describes as adding roughly $3.08 per month to a typical residential bill. The volumetric rate tiers are unchanged for the new fiscal year. The new service charge is $18, the residential deposit is $60, and the sanitation fee is $28 per month.
Two boundaries complete the short answer. First, the Town of Cary does not sell electricity or natural gas — those come from other utilities that must be confirmed for your address. Second, a Cary mailing address does not establish town-limits status, because Cary's corporate limits lie in both Wake and Chatham counties. If you remember nothing else from this page, remember to confirm the address before assuming town service.
Quick Facts — Cary Utilities at a Glance
| Item | What the official pages show |
|---|---|
| Water and sewer provider | Town of Cary, inside the town's corporate limits |
| Billing cycle | Monthly |
| What is on a Cary resident's bill | Water, sewer, and garbage together |
| What is on a Morrisville resident's bill (served by the system) | Water and sewer only |
| Residential start of service | Town's online application |
| Nonresidential start / any stop request | Phone only: 311 inside Cary, (919) 469-4000 outside |
| Rates effective | July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
| Base water and base sewer | $4.09 to $5.63 each; about $3.08 per month more on a typical bill |
| Volumetric tiers | Unchanged for the new fiscal year |
| New service charge | $18 |
| Residential deposit | $60 (non-residential $60 to $600 by meter size) |
| Sanitation fee | $28 per month |
| Weekday contact | 311 inside Cary; (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits; 7 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| After hours and holidays (leaks, sewer stoppages) | (919) 469-4012 |
| Town Hall | 316 N. Academy St., Cary, NC 27513 |
| Electricity and natural gas | Not the town — confirm the provider by address |
Local Basics — Who Serves Cary and the First Check to Run
The Town of Cary operates the water and sewer utility for addresses inside its corporate limits and runs the customer service office that goes with it. The contact block is short enough to save now: 311 if you are calling from inside Cary, (919) 469-4000 if you are calling from outside town limits, and Town Hall at 316 N. Academy St., Cary, NC 27513 for in-person business.
Cary's drinking water comes from the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility, which draws on B. Everett Jordan Reservoir. When the town expanded the facility in 2018, capacity rose to as much as 56 million gallons per day. That is the supply side. The maintenance side is split at the meter, and the split decides who you call: the town repairs leaks in the street and from the street to the water meter, while the property owner repairs the line from the dwelling to the meter and everything inside the dwelling. Tenants should still expect to route that conversation through the landlord or property manager, since the line behind the meter is the owner's responsibility.
Now run the address check before anything else. Cary's corporate limits lie in both Wake and Chatham counties, and the town has accepted citizen-initiated annexation requests from Chatham County property owners since the late 1990s rather than initiating annexation there. That history is exactly why the check matters: a property can carry a Cary mailing address, sit in Chatham County, and still be outside the town limits — in which case the Town of Cary is not automatically your water and sewer provider, and you may be served by another provider, an authority, or a private well.
Before you apply for anything, confirm two separate things with the town: that the address sits inside the corporate limits, and that the town utility serves that specific property. If you are renting, also ask the landlord whether water is included in the lease, because multi-family, apartment, and HOA communities can handle utilities differently from single-family homes. This guide does not assume a single rule for those buildings — the property manager or 311 can confirm the arrangement for a specific unit.
Step by Step — Start, Stop, or Transfer Service
Step 1 — Confirm jurisdiction. Check that the service address is inside Cary's corporate limits and served by the town utility. Do this before you fill in any form, because an application filed with the wrong office costs you days.
Step 2 — Pick the right channel for your request. A residential start goes through the town's online application. A nonresidential start and any stop request must be made by phone at 311 inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits. Do not assume the online form covers a stop — the published routing says it does not.
Step 3 — Plan for the deposit and the new service charge. A deposit may be required to establish service. For the published July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 window, the residential deposit is $60 and the new service charge is $18; non-residential deposits run from $60 to $600 depending on meter size. Confirm the current amounts with the town before you pay, since these figures are published with an effective date.
Step 4 — Set up a payment method, because billing is monthly. Choose the channel that fits your household — online through the town's payment system, by phone, by mail, in person, or at a cash location — and see the payment section below for the details and one time-sensitive enrollment cutoff.
Step 5 — If you are stopping service, call and settle the balance. Every stop request is handled by phone, and any outstanding balance should be cleared. Accounts more than 10 days past due may be disconnected, and restoring service requires paying the full past-due balance during 311 hours (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.) and then confirming the restoration by phone. If you are selling a home or ending a lease, build that call in before your move-out date rather than after.
Step 6 — Note the emergency number now, not later. Save (919) 469-4012 for after-hours and holiday water leaks and sewer stoppages while you are still setting the account up.
A simple order of operations for a move:
- Confirm the address is inside the town limits and served by the town utility.
- Start service — online for a residential start, by phone for anything else.
- Confirm the deposit, the new service charge, and the monthly billing date.
- Set up a payment method that will not lapse.
- Save the weekday and after-hours phone numbers.
- For a stop or transfer, call ahead of the move-out or closing date.
What You Pay in 2026 — Rates, Deposits, and Fees
Every figure in this section comes from the town's published utility rates and fees page and is tied to its stated effective window: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Treat each one as a snapshot you re-confirm before paying, not a standing price.
Rate movement. Base water and base sewer each move from $4.09 to $5.63 between FY26 and FY27. The town describes the change as adding roughly $3.08 per month to a typical residential bill. The volumetric rate tiers are unchanged for the new fiscal year, which means the change lands in the base charges rather than in the consumption steps.
Charges published alongside the rates:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| New service charge | $18 |
| Residential deposit | $60 |
| Non-residential deposit | $60 to $600, depending on meter size |
| Late payment charge | 1% per month, with a $5 minimum |
| Returned check fee | $35 |
| Non-payment fee | $33 |
| Repeat call fee | $100 |
| Sanitation fee | $28 per month |
| Additional solid waste cart | $4 per month |
Two things are worth reading twice here. First, the sanitation fee is the garbage side of a Cary resident's bill — that is why a Cary household sees water, sewer, and garbage together while a Morrisville household on the system sees only water and sewer. Second, because every figure carries the same effective window, a number you were quoted last year or read on a third-party site may already be out of date. Open the town's utility rates page, or look at your own bill, and confirm the current amount before you budget or pay.
What a new account typically costs to start. Between the $18 new service charge and the $60 residential deposit, plan for those two items before the first monthly bill arrives. The first bill itself covers water, sewer, and the $28 sanitation fee for a Cary household — so it is not a water-only bill. Deposits and fees are subject to change with the town's published effective dates.
How to Pay Your Cary Utility Bill
The town publishes several payment channels, and they suit different situations. Payments are applied to the account, so keep your account number handy whichever route you use.
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| Online | DigiPay/Aquastar system on Paymentus, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week |
| By phone | Available 24/7; a Citizen Advocate can take payment Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. through 311 |
| By mail | PO Box 71090, Charlotte, NC 28272-1090; overnight delivery to 6125 Lakeview Rd., Charlotte, NC 28269 |
| Cash in person | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. at Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St., Cary, NC 27513, south entrance on Ambassador Loop Road |
| Cash at a Walmart customer-service desk | Accepted with a $2 fee |
| Check-only drop boxes | Town Hall south lot and the Bond Park Senior Center (checks, not cash) |
One time-sensitive item. The town states that no new bank-draft enrollments are accepted after August 1, 2026. If you are enrolling now and were planning to use bank draft, do not guess at a replacement — confirm the currently available payment-enrollment options directly with the town before you commit to a method. If you are already enrolled, confirm whether your arrangement is affected.
If the bill is more than you can cover. Cary's Oasis program provides hardship assistance for utility customers. Ask about it through 311 rather than waiting for a past-due balance to grow, because accounts more than 10 days past due may be disconnected.
Leaks, Sewer Stoppages, and After-Hours Contact
This is the section to save to your phone before you need it.
Water leaks and sewer stoppages must be reported by phone, not through the online form. The online form is not an emergency path. Call 311 if you are inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits during weekday hours, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Outside those hours — weekends, nights, and holidays — call (919) 469-4012. The town's Public Works FAQ lists 311, or (919) 469-4090 from outside town limits, as its weekday staff line for the same 7 a.m.–7 p.m. window, so keep both outside numbers in mind.
Who fixes what. The town repairs leaks in the street and from the street to the water meter. The owner repairs the line from the dwelling to the meter and everything inside the dwelling. That split decides whether the call you are making is a town work order or a plumber's job, and it is the first question the town will ask.
Street lights are not a water department issue. Street lights are maintained by Duke Energy (formerly Progress Energy), and new street light requests go to (919) 469-4030.
If you have already been disconnected. Restoring service requires paying the full past-due balance during 311 hours (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.) and then confirming the restoration — paying is the first half of the job, not the whole of it.
Electricity and Natural Gas in Cary — What This Guide Can and Cannot Confirm
The Town of Cary provides water and sewer. It does not provide electricity or natural gas, so those accounts belong to separate utilities, and the provider for a specific address has to be confirmed with the provider itself. Utility territories do not follow the town name on an envelope.
Here is the honest state of it. Names you will see connected with the Cary area include Duke Energy Progress for electricity and Dominion Energy North Carolina, now associated with Enbridge Gas North Carolina, for natural gas. Neither could be confirmed from an official provider territory page for this guide, so treat both as names to verify rather than answers to rely on.
What that means for you: confirm the electric and natural gas supplier for your exact address directly with the provider before opening any account. Territory maps carry caveats about portions served by other utilities. If a provider tells you the address is outside its territory, ask who serves it and start there. Internet and cable are outside the scope of this page and should be checked separately.
Water and Sewer Work That Needs a Permit
If your plan involves digging, replacing a line, or connecting a new water or sewer service, do not start work before checking the permit side.
Water and sewer line replacement is among the residential work types eligible for the town's online Building Permits Online (Click2Gov) administrative path. For eligible projects, applications are submitted online, with no paper applications accepted, and applications submitted before 8 a.m. are processed the same business day. The town's permits FAQ confirms that a permit is required for building and system work under the NC State Building Code, so the split is not between "big" and "small" jobs — it is between work that needs a permit and work that does not.
One thing this page cannot give you: a dollar amount. Water/sewer development fee amounts and utility connection permit fee amounts are not published on the permits page; they appear in the town's annual budget document. Rather than quoting a figure that may be wrong, get the current number directly from the town before you apply. For the broader permit picture in Cary, including the residential exemption list and the review paths, see our Cary building permits guide.
Cary Town Limits vs Wake and Chatham County
Everything described on this page is Town of Cary water and sewer service inside the town's municipal or corporate limits. Those limits lie in both Wake and Chatham counties.
That single fact creates the most common Cary utility mistake. A property with a Cary mailing address but no town-limits status is not automatically served by the town utility and may be served by another provider, an authority, or a private well. The town's own materials note that its limits have spanned Wake and Chatham for years and that Chatham annexations have been citizen-initiated since the late 1990s — meaning the boundary is not something you can infer from a ZIP code or a mailing address.
County services operate for their own residents, and the rules differ. Chatham County does not operate curbside pickup; town-limit residents contact their town, and non-town residents contact their private hauler. Wake County operates solid waste facilities for county residents that the town references as alternatives. For household garbage inside the town, the sanitation fee on your Cary utility bill is the town-side piece, and the pickup details live in our Cary trash pickup guide.
One point deserves a direct answer rather than a guess: whether a Cary address inside the Chatham County portion is served by the town utility depends on the specific property, so confirm eligibility and provider for that address with the town before you act. The same applies if the property is a multi-family, apartment, or HOA community, where arrangements can differ from a single-family home. Property owners will also want the town's tax and assessment information, which is a separate office and process from utility billing: see our Cary property tax guide.
Quick Answers to Common Cary Utility Questions
Where can I find Town of Cary water and sewer information? The town's Water & Sewer pages on carync.gov cover service, account, payment, and rate details, and 311 or (919) 469-4000 will answer address-specific questions.
What is the Town of Cary utility customer service phone number? 311 inside Cary, or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits, weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m., with (919) 469-4012 for after-hours leaks and sewer stoppages.
How do I start water service in Cary NC? Submit the town's online application for a residential start. Nonresidential starts and all stops are handled by phone at 311 or (919) 469-4000.
Where do I pay a Cary NC water bill online? Online payment runs through the DigiPay/Aquastar system on Paymentus and is available around the clock. You can also pay by phone, by mail, in person, or at a Walmart customer-service desk.
How much is the Cary NC utility deposit? The published residential deposit is $60, with an $18 new service charge. Non-residential deposits run $60 to $600 by meter size. Confirm the current figures with the town.
Who do I call about a Cary NC water leak? Call 311 or (919) 469-4000 on weekdays, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. After hours and on holidays, call (919) 469-4012. Never route a leak or sewer stoppage through the online form.
Who provides electricity in Cary NC? The Town of Cary does not. Confirm the supplier for your exact address with the provider before opening an account — this guide does not name one, because no provider could be confirmed for the town as a whole.
Who provides natural gas in Cary NC? Again, not the town. The natural gas provider has to be verified directly for your address.
What is the Cary NC sanitation fee? The town's published rates page lists a sanitation fee of $28 per month within the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 effective window. Confirm the current amount on your bill or with the town.
How much is an extra trash cart in Cary? An additional solid waste cart is $4 per month. Check with 311 if you need to add one or resize the cart.
What This Looks Like in Practice — Resident Scenarios
The renter moving into an apartment. Water may be included in your lease or handled by the building, so ask the property manager before you apply for an account. If the unit has its own account, use the online application for a residential start and keep the $60 deposit and $18 new service charge in your first-month budget.
The new homeowner inside town limits. Start with the online residential application, then set up a monthly payment method the same week. Because the bill carries water, sewer, and garbage together, the first bill is not just a water bill — plan for the sanitation line too.
The buyer whose address says Cary but is not in the town limits. Call 311 or (919) 469-4000 before closing and ask directly whether the address is inside the corporate limits and served by the town utility. If the answer is no, ask who the provider is and whether a private well is involved. Do not open an account with the wrong office.
The household that just received a disconnect notice. Accounts more than 10 days past due may be disconnected, and restoration requires the full past-due balance to be paid during 311 hours plus a follow-up confirmation. Call during the weekday window and ask about the Oasis hardship program at the same time.
The resident who smells water in the yard at 9 p.m. That is an after-hours call: (919) 469-4012. Note where the leak is — if it is past the meter toward the house, it is the owner's line and you will need a plumber.
The business owner opening a commercial space. Nonresidential starts are phone-only, and non-residential deposits range from $60 to $600 by meter size, so call early and confirm both the deposit and the connection timing before your opening date.
The resident replacing a water line. Check the online Building Permits Online (Click2Gov) administrative path for eligibility, submit online, and get the connection fee figure from the town rather than from a dated document.
The customer who usually paid by bank draft. No new bank-draft enrollments are accepted after August 1, 2026, so if you are enrolling now, confirm the available options with the town before your first bill is due.
Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1 — Treating a Cary mailing address as proof of town-limits service. The corporate limits span Wake and Chatham counties. Confirm jurisdiction first.
Mistake 2 — Using the online form for a stop request. All stops are phone-only. A form that never gets processed can leave you paying for a service you no longer use.
Mistake 3 — Using the online form to report a leak or sewer stoppage. Those are phone calls, and after hours they go to (919) 469-4012.
Mistake 4 — Budgeting from a rate you found somewhere else. Every figure here carries a July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 window. Re-check the town's rates page or your bill.
Mistake 5 — Assuming the town sells electricity or gas. It does not. Confirm the supplier for your exact address before you sign anything.
Mistake 6 — Blaming the town for a line past the meter. The owner repairs from the dwelling to the meter and everything inside.
Mistake 7 — Ignoring the bank-draft cutoff. No new bank-draft enrollments are accepted after August 1, 2026. Confirm the current options with the town instead of assuming the old ones apply.
Mistake 8 — Assuming the same utility setup applies in multi-family or HOA housing. Those arrangements vary. Ask the property manager or 311 rather than applying a rule from a single-family home.
Mistake 9 — Expecting a published connection or development fee amount. Those figures are not on the permits page; they live in the annual budget document. Ask the town.
Mistake 10 — Paying past-due and stopping there. After disconnection, paying the balance and skipping the confirmation call can leave the account unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who provides water and sewer in Cary NC? The Town of Cary provides water and sewer for addresses inside its corporate limits. Cary residents are billed water, sewer, and garbage together on one monthly town utility bill; Morrisville residents served by the system are billed water and sewer only. Contact Utility Customer Service at 311 or (919) 469-4000.
2. How do I start water service in Cary? A residential start can be requested through the town's online application. Nonresidential starts and all stop requests must be made by phone at 311 inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits. A deposit may be required, and billing is monthly.
3. How much is the Cary water and sewer deposit? The residential deposit is $60, and the new service charge is $18. Non-residential deposits run from $60 to $600 depending on meter size. Confirm the current amount with the town, since deposits and fees carry an effective date.
4. How much are Cary water and sewer rates in 2026? Rates effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 move base water and base sewer each from $4.09 to $5.63, adding roughly $3.08 per month to a typical bill, with the volumetric tiers unchanged. Confirm the current figures on the town's Utility Rates page before budgeting.
5. How do I pay my Cary utility bill? Pay 24/7 online through the DigiPay/Aquastar system on Paymentus; by phone 24/7 or through a Citizen Advocate Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. via 311; by mail to PO Box 71090, Charlotte, NC 28272-1090; in person with cash Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. at Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St.; or at a Walmart customer-service desk for a $2 fee. Check-only drop boxes are at the Town Hall south lot and the Bond Park Senior Center.
6. Who do I call about a Cary water leak or sewer stoppage? Report water leaks and sewer stoppages by phone, not through the online form. Call 311 inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits on weekdays, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; after hours and on holidays call (919) 469-4012.
7. Does Cary provide electricity and natural gas? No. Electricity and natural gas in the Cary area come from other utilities, not the Town of Cary. Confirm the electric and natural gas supplier for your exact address directly with the provider before opening any account.
8. Is my Cary address inside the town limits for water service? If the address is inside Cary's corporate limits, the Town of Cary provides water and sewer. Cary's limits lie in both Wake and Chatham counties, and a Cary mailing address does not by itself establish town-limits status, so confirm the address's jurisdiction and provider with the town before assuming service.
9. What fees can I be charged on a Cary utility account? Published charges include an $18 new service charge, a 1% per month late payment charge with a $5 minimum, a $35 returned check fee, a $33 non-payment fee, a $100 repeat call fee, and a $28 per month sanitation fee for Cary residents. An additional solid waste cart is $4 per month. Confirm current amounts with the town.
10. How do I stop or transfer Cary water service? Stop requests are phone-only: call 311 inside Cary or (919) 469-4000 from outside town limits and settle any outstanding balance. Accounts more than 10 days past due may be disconnected, and restoring service means paying the full past-due balance during 311 hours and then confirming the restoration.
11. Does Cary water and sewer work need a permit? Water and sewer line replacement is among the residential work types eligible for the town's online Building Permits Online (Click2Gov) path, and the town's permits FAQ states a permit is required for building and system work under the NC State Building Code. Fee amounts are not published on the permits page, so ask the town for the current figure.
Verify Before You Act
Before you open, transfer, or pay anything, confirm four things with the Town of Cary:
- That the address is inside the corporate limits and served by the town utility — not unincorporated Wake or Chatham County, and not a private well or another provider.
- That the current rate, deposit, new service charge, and applicable fees match what you were quoted. The figures on this page carry a July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 effective window and can change.
- Which payment channel still applies to you after the August 1, 2026 bank-draft cutoff.
- The after-hours contact for a water leak or sewer stoppage, saved before you need it.
Concrete steps: call 311 or (919) 469-4000; use the town's online application for a residential start; save (919) 469-4012 for after-hours emergencies; and keep your account number handy for payment and billing questions.
This guide reflects a source check on September 9, 2026. Rates, fees, payment-enrollment rules, and provider territories change, so treat this page as a starting point and re-confirm with the town before you pay a deposit or schedule service.
Sources
The following official sources were used to compile this guide. This is a starting point — confirm the current details with the official source before acting.
| Source | Type | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Cary — Water & Sewer (department hub) | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer |
| Town of Cary — Utility Customer Service / Utility Account Services | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer/utility-customer-service |
| Town of Cary — Start or Stop Service | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer/utility-customer-service/start-or-stop-service |
| Town of Cary — Utility Payment Options | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer/utility-customer-service/utility-payment-options |
| Town of Cary — Utility Rates and Fees (effective July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/water-sewer/utility-customer-service/utility-payment-options/utility-rates-and-fees |
| Town of Cary — Public Works FAQ (after-hours and street light contacts) | Official | https://www.carync.gov/connect-engage/town-departments-offices/public-works/faq |
| Town of Cary — Inspections & Permits | Official | https://www.carync.gov/services-publications/inspections-permits-6156 |
| Town of Cary — Corporate limits span Wake and Chatham counties | Official | https://www.carync.gov/Home/Components/News/News/4379 |
| Wake County — Solid Waste Management (county context for the limits check) | Official | https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/solid-waste-management |
| Chatham County — Solid Waste Collection Centers (county context for the limits check) | Official | https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/solid-waste-recycling/collection-centers |
Disclaimer: TownManual provides a starting point for your research. Local utility services, rates, provider territories, and application processes change. This guide was last checked on September 9, 2026. Always confirm current details with the official town, county, or provider source before paying a deposit, scheduling service, or signing a contract. TownManual does not replace official sources.