Can't remove CloudWatch service

Thank you for posting your question. All you need to make sure is:

• None of your AWS resources are logging to CloudWatch
• There are no active CloudWatch alarms
• Delete all the CloudWatch dashboards

Additionally refer this re:Post Knowledge Center Article and make sure none of the listed resources in CloudWatch are active.

Also, at the same time I'd suggest you to check your latest usage of these services via Cost Explorer in following way:

Go to Cost Explorer -> Choose Date Range in right pane

Granularity -> Daily

Dimension -> Usage Type

Service -> <Service Name>

Note: Repeat same by changing option in Dimensions field as Cost Category and Availability zone, Charge Type one by one and see where you see charges are coming from. Attaching snapshot for your reference:

If you have already deleted other resources, which might use CloudWatch/CloudWatch Events and you see no charge for CloudWatch, you should be good.

Hope this helps. Comment here if you have additional questions, happy to help.

If you dont want to continue using AWS services beyond free tier, you could just simply close your account and that would ensure there will be no charges.

Hi,

adding a comment to Gary's question "Are you still charged for holding historical metrics for up too 15 months?" => metrics are charged only at ingestion time, they are not charged for retention, so it is not possible for historical metrics to drive any charges at all.

Gary: Thank you for your advice to look at Cost Explorer with daily granularity, it is the best way to check if chargeable usage has been eliminated.

ssesena: If for some reason you see any chargeable usage related to CloudWatch in the Cost Explorer and don't know what that usage is for, you can get an explanation of the usage types on CloudWatch billing and cost page, and if the information is not sufficient, feel free to follow up here or with a new re:post question.