Title
Amending Section 19-1606 of The Philadelphia Code Entitled “Penalties and Interest for Late Payment,” by exempting certain residential customers from penalties and interest for late payment of water and sewer rent charges; all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 19. FINANCE, TAXES AND COLLECTIONS
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CHAPTER 19-1600. WATER AND SEWER RENTS
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§ 19-1606. Penalties and Interest for Late Payment.
(2) This subsection shall apply to water and sewer rent charges which accrue on and after January 1, 1960.
(a) If current water or sewer rent charges are not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date of any bill, a penalty of five percent (5%) shall be imposed.
(b) Additional penalties shall be imposed and added to unpaid water or sewer rent charges, and their penalties, on the due date of the bill of each succeeding cycle, as follows: On unpaid water or sewer rent charges of:
(.1) semi-annual cycles - three percent (3%).
(.2) quarterly cycles - one and one-half percent (1.5%).
(.3) monthly cycles - one-half of one percent (0.5%), except that a period of thirty (30) days shall elapse before the first additional penalty shall be imposed.
(c) If any water or sewer rent charge remains unpaid for two cycles after the bill has been rendered, the Department shall serve a notice upon the delinquent property owner and if the charge, with penalties thereon, is not paid within 10 days after such service, the Department may, in its discretion, deprive the premises of water until the charge with penalties is paid.
(d) This subsection § 19-1606(2) shall not apply to water and sewer rent charges to residential customers which accrue on and after July 1, 2026.
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SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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