Utilities, Taxes & Services: Chapel Hill Address Check

Buying in Chapel Hill or getting ready to sell? Before you sign anything, make sure you know who serves your address, what taxes will show up on your bill, and which public services apply to your parcel. It is the quickest way to avoid surprises on move-in day and at tax time. In this guide, you will learn exactly what to check, where to look, and how to estimate your bill with confidence. Let’s dive in.

What your address check covers

• Utilities: electric, natural gas, water and sewer, trash and recycling, and internet options.
• Taxes and fees: county, town, school district, and stormwater.
• Public services and records: parcel details, school assignment, voting precinct, and fire district.

Confirm utilities by address

Electricity

Most Chapel Hill addresses are served by Duke Energy. Use Duke’s address lookup to confirm service and to start or transfer your account. Check outages and account setup on the same page. Visit the Duke Energy address tool to verify service territory: Duke Energy “Is Duke my provider?”.

Natural gas

North Carolina’s gas utility accounts that previously billed under Dominion now operate under Enbridge Gas North Carolina. If the home has gas, confirm the current provider and start or transfer service with Enbridge. See the update and customer guidance here: Enbridge Gas North Carolina update.

Water and sewer

OWASA provides potable water and sanitary sewer service for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the UNC area. To confirm service or open an account, contact customer service or use OWASA’s start service options: OWASA contact and service.

Trash and recycling

• Trash and yard trimmings: The Town of Chapel Hill provides weekly collection for properties inside town limits. Most single-family homes do not set up a separate trash account because service is funded through property taxes. Review schedules, cart rules, and any special service fees here: Town of Chapel Hill trash collection.
• Recycling: Orange County Solid Waste Management runs curbside recycling for Chapel Hill. Check your recycling day by street: Orange County recycling schedule.

Internet and phone

Internet options vary block by block. Spectrum, AT&T, Frontier, Xfinity, and fixed wireless providers all operate in Chapel Hill. Run each provider’s address availability check to verify service type and speeds for your exact home.

Quick utility check in five minutes

1. Look up the parcel and basic service layers in the county GIS. Start here: Orange County ARIES parcel lookup.
2. Confirm water and sewer with OWASA.
3. Confirm electric territory and set up service with Duke Energy.
4. If applicable, verify natural gas service with Enbridge Gas NC.
5. Check trash and recycling days on the Town and County pages linked above.

Understand taxes and fees

Who bills your property taxes

Orange County issues and collects the property tax bill for Chapel Hill addresses in Orange County. Your bill may include the county tax, the Town of Chapel Hill municipal tax, the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools special district tax, and line items such as the Town’s stormwater utility fee. For billing details and contact info, visit Orange County Tax Administration.

2025 rates and key dates

Orange County publishes annual rates each July. For FY2025, the county lists these rates:

• Orange County rate: 0.006383
• Town of Chapel Hill municipal rate: 0.005
• Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools special district rate: 0.001479

Orange County mailed 2025 bills on July 31, bills were due September 1, and they become delinquent after January 5, 2026. Confirm current-year deadlines here: Orange County tax rates and timelines.

Quick tax estimate example

Use your assessed value from the county and multiply by each applicable rate.

• Assessed value: $400,000
• County: 0.006383 × $400,000 = $2,553.20
• Town: 0.005 × $400,000 = $2,000.00
• School district: 0.001479 × $400,000 = $591.60
• Estimated total: $5,144.80, plus any stormwater or other fees.

Tip: Chapel Hill spans county lines. If a parcel sits in Durham County, different county tax rules and rates apply. Use county GIS to confirm the county before you estimate.

Stormwater and other fees

Chapel Hill bills a stormwater utility fee on parcels inside town limits. The fee is based on impervious surface area and appears on your Orange County bill for Chapel Hill parcels in Orange County. Review the Town’s fee schedule and tiers here: Chapel Hill stormwater fee schedule.

Public services tied to your address

Parcel and GIS records

Start with Orange County’s interactive parcel lookup to confirm ownership, assessed value, town limits, school assignment, and fire district layers. It is the most direct way to verify what applies to a specific address: Orange County ARIES parcel lookup.

School assignment

School assignment follows district boundaries and can be irregular. Always use a locator by address to confirm. Use the county’s tool here: Find your assigned schools. For general district information, visit the Chapel Hill–Carrboro City Schools website.

Voting precinct

Your residential address sets your voting precinct and polling place. Use the Orange County Board of Elections or the North Carolina Voter Search to confirm registration and your assigned polling place.

Fire and emergency districts

Fire tax and response districts are shown in county GIS. Check your parcel in ARIES to see the assigned district, which can be helpful for insurance and service questions.

Address check checklist

• Look up the parcel in Orange County ARIES to confirm county, town limits, assessed value, school and fire districts.
• Confirm water and sewer with OWASA.
• Confirm electricity with Duke Energy and natural gas with Enbridge Gas NC, if applicable.
• Check trash and yard-trimmings details with the Town of Chapel Hill and recycling with Orange County.
• Estimate taxes using your assessed value and FY2025 rates from Orange County. Confirm deadlines and billing on the Tax Administration page.
• Run internet availability checks with multiple providers to compare options and speeds.

Plan your move with a local guide

If you are eyeing a home near Chapel Hill’s fairways or you want a smooth move with no utility or tax surprises, let’s talk. As a Triangle golf-lifestyle specialist backed by Coldwell Banker Advantage, I can help you confirm every detail tied to your address, align costs with your goals, and find the right neighborhood fit. Reach out to Eddie Niemeyer to get started.

FAQs

How do I confirm if a Chapel Hill address is in Orange or Durham County?

• Use the county’s parcel lookup. Enter the address in Orange County ARIES to see the county, town limits, and service districts.

Who provides trash pickup for single-family homes in Chapel Hill?

• For most homes inside town limits, the Town provides weekly trash service funded through property taxes. Check schedules and rules on the Town’s solid waste page.

How do I estimate a 2025 Chapel Hill property tax bill?

• Multiply your assessed value by the 2025 county, town, and school district rates, then add stormwater if applicable. Use the county’s rate table for exact figures.

How do I confirm water and sewer service for a specific address?

• Contact OWASA to verify service and start or transfer your account. Have the full street address and move-in date ready.

How can I check internet options at my new home?

• Run address availability checks with multiple ISPs, such as Spectrum, AT&T, Frontier, and Xfinity, since coverage and speeds vary by block.