How to Start Water, Sewer, Trash and Recycling Service in Kirksville

Starting City utilities in Kirksville is one registration process for several related services.

The City currently groups water, sewer, stormwater and residential trash/recycling under its utility account system.

Apply through the Finance Department

Current City guidance allows registration:

• in person at City Hall Finance, 201 S. Franklin St.;
• online through the City's utility-registration process.

The Finance Department handles connection, disconnection, billing and payment support.

Apply early

The City currently says:

• in-person requests need at least one day of notice;
• online applications should allow seven working days;
• requests may be submitted up to 30 days in advance.

That makes advance setup important for a move.

Submitting an online form does not mean the requested connection date is guaranteed.

Finance must confirm the appointment.

Expect a security deposit

As of September 27, 2026, the City lists current residential deposits of:

• $80 for a residential property owner;
• $180 for a residential tenant.

Commercial deposits depend on business type and historical usage.

Deposits can change, so check the live registration page before applying.

The customer must be present

The current registration page says the customer must be at the service address for the connection appointment.

Plan around that requirement rather than assuming water can be activated while nobody is there.

Online submission is not the final step

Current City instructions indicate that the required deposit still has to be paid after an online application is submitted.

Follow the confirmation and payment instructions from Finance.

Do not treat “form submitted” as “account fully activated.”

Trash starts with residential water

The current Trash & Recycling page says residential trash service is automatically enacted when residential water service is established.

That means a typical residential customer does not separately build a trash account after water is activated.

RTS Waste Services is the City's current residential trash/recycling carrier.

Recycling does not require a separate collection charge

The current City page says curbside recycling has no separate collection charge.

Collection rules and accepted materials are a different topic.

See What Can Actually Go in Kirksville Curbside Recycling?.

Keep private utilities separate

City utility registration is not the same thing as:

• electric service;
• natural gas;
• internet.

Those providers have their own setup processes.

Do not assume opening a City utility account activates every service at the address.

Practical move-in sequence

Before move-in:

1. confirm the address is inside the applicable City service area;
2. apply through Finance;
3. pay the current deposit;
4. wait for appointment confirmation;
5. be present for connection;
6. confirm trash service;
7. verify the first bill arrives correctly.

For what happens after service starts, see How Kirksville Utility Billing Works.

The durable rule is simple: apply early and wait for Finance confirmation before planning around the connection date.