The City of Boca Raton Utility Services supplies most homes and apartments within city limits, while the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department covers many surrounding unincorporated areas. To start service, apply through the City’s Customer Portal at least 24 hours before move-in with a copy of your lease or settlement statement. The 2025 Annual Water Quality Report confirms the city’s drinking water met or exceeded every state and federal safety standard.
TL;DR:
- Boca Raton residents inside city limits must apply through the Customer Portal at least 24 hours before move-in, while county residents can often sign up by phone for quicker service.
- Deposits are generally $300 to $375 for renters and $100 to $125 for homeowners, and these are refunded with interest after account closure if bills are paid on time.
- The city’s drinking water had no exceedances in over 16,500 tests in 2025, with trace levels of PFAS compounds under current safety thresholds.
- Watering restrictions are in place year-round, allowing odd or even addresses to water on specific days from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m., with a maximum of four hours on permitted days.
- In emergencies, contact utility crews immediately with clear details, and always boil water for at least one minute if a boil notice is issued.
Table of Contents
- How to Set Up Water Service in Boca Raton
- What Shows Up on Your Water Bill and Deposits
- Boca Raton’s Water Quality and Testing Standards
- Boca Raton’s Irrigation Schedule and Water Conservation
- Water and Sewer Emergencies: Who to Call
- What Renters Need to Handle Before Move-In
- Why the Fine Print on Utilities Actually Matters
- Cynthia Gardens Handles the Move-In Details So You Don’t Have To
- Sources
- FAQ
How to Set Up Water Service in Boca Raton
Figuring out who actually serves your address is step one, and it trips up more new residents than you’d think. Boca Raton’s city limits don’t follow a clean, obvious boundary, so a house a few blocks from another can fall under a different utility entirely.
Here’s the process, start to finish:
- Confirm your provider. Check whether your address falls inside city limits (served by Boca Raton Utility Services) or an unincorporated pocket of the county (served by Palm Beach County Water Utilities). The county’s Find Your Provider tool settles the question in seconds.
- Gather your documents. You’ll need a copy of your signed lease if you’re renting, or a settlement statement if you bought the home.
- Submit the application. City residents apply through the Customer Portal, and applications must go in at least 24 hours before your move-in date. Palm Beach County allows phone sign-up for many accounts, which can be faster if you’re outside city limits.
- Prepare for meter access. Crews need a clear path to the meter, so trim overgrown landscaping or move parked cars beforehand. Blocked access is the single most common reason installations get delayed.
- Call if anything’s unclear. The Customer Care Team handles account questions directly at 561-393-7750 or CustomerServiceWater@myboca.us.
If you’re moving into a managed community, ask upfront whether the property handles utilities for you. Communities that spell this out in the lease save you a phone call. Cynthiagardens walks new residents through exactly this kind of setup, and our moving checklist for Boca Raton renters covers the utility steps alongside everything else on move-in day.
What Shows Up on Your Water Bill and Deposits
Boca Raton bills water bimonthly, meaning you’ll get a statement roughly every two months rather than monthly. Each bill combines a fixed customer charge with usage-based fees for water and sewer, plus a water capacity charge that doesn’t change no matter how much you use.
Deposits depend on whether you rent or own:
- Renters typically pay a deposit of $300 to $375 when opening service.
- Homeowners pay a smaller deposit, usually $100 to $125.
- Deposits earn interest while your account is active and get refunded when you close service, assuming your balance is settled.
- You should pay each bill promptly to avoid penalties.
If a charge looks off, don’t just assume it’s a meter glitch. Call the Customer Care Team and ask them to walk through the consumption breakdown line by line.
Pro Tip: Switch to paperless billing through the Customer Portal. It won’t lower your bill, but it makes spotting a usage spike (a possible leak) much faster than waiting on mail delivery.
Boca Raton’s Water Quality and Testing Standards
Boca Raton pulled its drinking water through more than 16,500 tests across over 100 contaminants in 2025, and every result met or beat state and federal thresholds. That’s not a marketing line. It’s the number the city is legally required to publish, and it’s worth checking yourself rather than taking anyone’s word for it.
The city drew over 16,500 individual water samples in 2025, testing for more than 100 different contaminants, and every measured result stayed within state and federal limits.
The water itself comes from the Biscayne aquifer and is treated at the Glades Road facility using lime softening and membrane softening. Boca Raton does not add fluoride to its drinking water, which surprises some residents used to other Florida municipalities.
A few numbers worth knowing if you’re curious about what’s coming out of your tap, according to the city’s water quality page:
On PFAS, the city isn’t hiding the ball. The 2025 report noted trace detections of PFOA around 1.8 to 2.0 parts per trillion and PFOS around 5.8 to 7.1 parts per trillion, levels the utility is actively monitoring while it evaluates treatment upgrades ahead of tightening EPA rules. You can download the full report or request a paper copy through the city’s utility services office if you want the complete picture beyond these highlights.
Boca Raton’s Irrigation Schedule and Water Conservation
Watering restrictions run year-round in Boca Raton, not just during dry spells, and they’re tied to your street address:
- Odd-numbered addresses (and those with letters N through Z) water Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Even-numbered addresses (and those with letters A through M) water Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
- No irrigation is allowed on Friday, city-wide, regardless of address.
- Watering hours run from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m., and properties under five acres get a maximum of four hours on their allowed days.
Aim for 1 to 1.5 inches per week in summer, and shut the system off manually after rain. A smart irrigation controller that reads local rainfall can quietly shave dollars off your bill by skipping cycles you don’t need.
Water and Sewer Emergencies: Who to Call
A burst pipe or sewage backup isn’t something to sit on overnight. Here’s what to have ready and where to turn:
- Call Utility Services’ main line during business hours; after 5:00 p.m., an after-hours emergency number routes to on-call crews.
- Have your address, account number, and a description of the issue (main break, backup, discolored water) ready when you call.
- Report suspected contamination immediately rather than waiting to see if it clears up.
- If a boil-water notice is issued, the city posts it publicly, and the safe move is to boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking or cooking with it until the notice lifts.
Crews typically dispatch within hours for active main breaks, though response time varies with severity and citywide demand.
What Renters Need to Handle Before Move-In
Whether you’re on the hook for water service comes down to one question: does your lease mention a master account, or are you expected to open your own? Get that answer in writing before signing anything.
- Confirm with your landlord or property manager whether utilities run through a master account or your own name.
- If you’re opening your own account, expect the standard $300 to $375 renter deposit.
- Photograph your meter reading on move-in day, so any billing dispute later has a timestamp to point to.
- Request written confirmation once your transfer or new account is active, not just a verbal “you’re all set.”
Pro Tip: Handle steps two and three at least a week before your move date. Meter access issues and portal delays are far easier to fix when you’re not also unpacking boxes. Our guide on how utilities typically work in Boca Raton rentals breaks down what’s usually included and what isn’t across local lease types.
Why the Fine Print on Utilities Actually Matters
Most people don’t think about water service until something goes wrong, a surprise deposit, a bill that doesn’t match usage, a meter installation that gets pushed back a week. The city’s process is straightforward on paper, but straightforward and effortless aren’t the same thing when you’re juggling movers and a work schedule.
What separates a smooth move-in from a frustrating one usually isn’t luck. It’s whether someone told you the deposit range before you got the bill, and whether your lease actually says who’s responsible for the account. Apartment communities that spell this out upfront save renters a genuine headache. For anything beyond that, the city’s own channels remain the only source you should trust for current rules.
— Ayman
Cynthia Gardens Handles the Move-In Details So You Don’t Have To
Setting up water service is one more task on a move-in list that’s already long enough. The community provides transparent pricing, so the number quoted reflects the expected costs, including deposits and utility expectations.
The leasing process includes virtual tours, an interactive property map, and AI chat and voice support to assist with utility and move-in questions. New residents receive guidance on what to expect when opening water service, such as whether a master account or individual account is involved. If you’re looking for a one-bedroom apartment in Boca Raton that treats move-in logistics as seriously as the apartment itself, check current availability and see what a straightforward lease actually looks like.
Sources
- Service Policies | Boca Raton, FL
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
- Water Utilities Start/Stop/Change Service — Palm Beach County
FAQ
How Much Is the Water Deposit in Boca Raton?
Renters typically pay $300 to $375, while homeowners pay $100 to $125; both deposits earn interest and are refunded when the account closes.
How Do I Know If the City or the County Serves My Address?
Use Palm Beach County’s Find Your Provider tool, or check directly with the City’s Customer Portal, since service boundaries don’t follow a simple map line.
Is There PFAS in Boca Raton’s Drinking Water?
The 2025 report found trace PFOA and PFOS levels below current limits, and the city is monitoring the situation while evaluating treatment upgrades ahead of tighter EPA rules.
What Should I Do During a Boil-Water Notice?
Boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing your teeth with it, and check the city’s official channels for when the notice lifts.
Does the community help new residents set up water service?
Yes. The community provides move-in guidance and pricing information so residents are informed about deposit expectations and utility steps before signing a lease.