In-Person

Our office is conveniently located in downtown Ames at 515 Clark Avenue.  We accept cash, check or money orders in our office.  We also accept payments for parking tickets, sell and reload Parking Smart Cards and sell passes and tickets for Cy-Ride. 

Payment Dropboxes

A drive-up dropbox is located in front of the City Hall Building at 515 Clark Avenue. If you need your payment recorded on the same day or need a receipt, please pay in-person.

A walk up dropbox is located along the sidewalk on the west side of the 200 block of Welch Avenue.  Payments placed in this dropbox before 7 a.m. are recorded on the same business day as the payment was made.  Payments placed in the dropbox after 7 a.m. are recorded on the next business day.  Business days are Monday through Friday, except Holidays. 

Mail:

Utility payments can be mailed to:

Utility Customer Services

P.O. Box 811

Ames, IA 50010

  Allow 5 to 7 days for your payment to reach our office.

Payment Return Policy:

The charge for a returned electronic payment (ACH Payment) or a returned check is $25.00.  Items can be returned for a number of reasons:  insufficient funds, incorrect account numbers or closed accounts.  No matter the reason, the returned item charge is $25.00.  Returned items must be redeemed with cash, a certified bank check, or a money order.

After two returned electronic payments or returned checks, City of Ames Utilities reserves the right to restrict payment methods.  As a result, cash, certified bank checks or money orders will be the only means of payment accepted.

This policy is pursuant to Iowa Code 554.3512(1) & (2).