Miscellaneous Billing

All commercial vehicles delivering solid waste* to the Alpha Ridge Landfill are required to purchase a nontransferable commercial landfill permit at an annual charge and follow all landfill rules: no commercial vehicles will be permitted to use the landfill without a permit.

Any permit renewals or changes (vehicle information, mailing address, etc.) can be submitted through our online application.

Please allow five business days for the County to process your application prior to coming to the landfill to drop off material. All permits are valid for the period from July 1st through June 30th. 

*Since July 2017, businesses no longer need a free permit to drop-off recycling. Small businesses may only bring material that was generated within Howard County.
 

Howard County Director of Finance is a third party billing center. The Alpha Ridge Center generates the invoices, and detail. The Department of Finance compiles the billing and any necessary additional information.

Howard County Alpha Ridge Landfill will implement a rate structure on an annual basis. Please refer to link below for full fee schedule.

Initial deposit required to establish a landfill account is $200 and may be adjusted periodically based on usage.

The minimum billing per transaction is $18.

Late payment penalty assessed on the last County work day of the month following the month on which charges are billed, at a rate of $5 or 2% of unpaid balance - whichever is greater -for every 30 days the balance is overdue. All statements will indicate the penalty date. All payments received will be applied to penalties first, and then principle balance.

Returned Check Fee is $35.

Alpha Ridge Landfill Website:

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/ARL

Mail payment to:

Department of Finance
PO Box 2748
Ellicott City, MD 21041-2748

Make check payable to: Director of Finance, Howard County

Make payments online: 

https://www.velocitypayment.com/vbills/howardcounty/sap/login.go

Questions regarding billing should be directed to the Miscellaneous Billing Division at (410) 313-3258, fax number (410) 313-3293.

The Bureau of Utilities leases Fire Hydrant Meters to commercial customers. The Finance Department collects the security deposit which is based on the size of the meter. Water usage is billed on a quarterly basis along with a monthly service fee of $50. Customers are required to provide monthly meter readings. All Fire Hydrant Meters must be returned to the Bureau of Utilities every six months for Maintenance and Inspection.

Mail payment to:  

Department of Finance
PO Box 2748
Ellicott City, MD 21041-2748

Make check payable to: Director of Finance, Howard County

Make payments online:

https://www.velocitypayment.com/vbills/howardcounty/sap/login.go

For questions regarding rental, contact the Meter Department at:

Location : 7095 Samuel Morse Drive, Suite 400, Columbia, MD 21046

Hours of Operation : Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

General Water Meter Department inquiries : 410-313-4980

Hydrant Meter Rental Inquiries : 410-313-4923

Questions regarding billing should be directed to the Miscellaneous Billing Division at (410) 313-3258, fax number (410) 313-3293.

The Howard County Government authorized the establishment of shared sewage facilities to allow areas of the County not serviced by public sewer to be developed. The County is responsible for the annual operation and maintenance of all shared septic facilities. As described in Section 20.800 of the Howard County Code, the costs of the operation and maintenance of the facility are the responsibility of the property owners connected to the facility. Shared Septic Subdivisions Include: 

                                                 
Each systems fee is based on actual cost to operate. A 10% late penalty is added to all accounts not paid by the due date.

Mail payment to:  

Department of Finance
PO Box 2748
Ellicott City, MD 21041-2748

Make check payable to: Director of Finance, Howard County

Make payments online:

https://www.velocitypayment.com/vbills/howardcounty/sap/login.go

Questions regarding the calculation of the fee or the operating and maintenance costs should be directed to the Bureau of Utilities at (410) 313-4934.

Questions regarding billing should be directed to the Miscellaneous Billing Division at (410) 313-3258, fax number (410) 313-3293.

The Office of the Fire Marshal conducts building inspections for day care providers, foster and adoption families and commercial businesses in Howard County. The costs of these services are billed to the business inspected.

Mail payment to:

Department of Finance
PO Box 2748
Ellicott City, MD 21041-2748

Make check payable to: Director of Finance, Howard County

Make payments online:

 https://www.velocitypayment.com/vbills/howardcounty/sap/login.go

Questions regarding the inspections themselves should be directed to the Office of the Fire Marshal at (410) 313-6040.

Questions regarding billing should be directed to the Miscellaneous Billing Division at (410) 313-3258, fax number (410) 313-3293.

Retailers in Howard County are required to collect $0.05 for each disposable plastic bag issued to a customer at the point of sale, and remit payment to the county each quarter.

For more information visit the Howard County Bag Fee Page

This division is responsible for the invoicing and collection of various funds due to the county. These invoices may be for services rendered by county personnel; Recreation & Parks monthly rent due to the county, property damage, and in some cases grant reimbursement requests. 

Individual departments send their request for billing, attaching backup documentation. Department of Finance creates a manual invoice billing the party requested. For example, Joe Smith damaged a Fire Hydrant on 1st Street. The Police Report, along with repair details is sent. Department of Finance is responsible for creating an invoice to Joe Smith in the amount referenced, showing all parts and labor to repair the damaged fire hydrant. 

Mail payment to:
  
Department of Finance
PO Box 2748
Ellicott City, MD 21041-2748

Make check payable to: Director of Finance, Howard County
 

Make payments online:

https://www.velocitypayment.com/vbills/howardcounty/sap/login.go

Questions regarding billing should be directed to the Miscellaneous Billing Division at (410) 313-3258, fax number (410) 313-3293.