Pay Your Utility Bill by ACH to Avoid Processing Fees
On June 1, 2025, the City of Santa Barbara transitioned to a new fee structure for all credit card and debit card payments. Customers paying their utility bills online, in-office, and by AutoPay (recurring payments) with a credit or debit card will also pay the processing fee of 2.95% or a minimum processing fee of $2.95.
To avoid the credit card processing fee, City of Santa Barbara utility bill customers can pay their water, sewer, and trash and recycling bills via ACH (Automated Clearing House) by providing a bank routing and account number. ACH is the primary system that agencies use for electronic funds transfer (EFT). With ACH, funds are electronically deposited in financial institutions, and payments are made online.
Water, sewer, and trash and recycling customers have 24/7 access to pay utility bills online, utilize tools, data, and information to help monitor and manage their water use, and receive leak alerts through WaterSmart, the City's online customer portal. To add or change a payment method, sign up or sign in to WaterSmart at SantaBarbara.WaterSmart.com.