Backflow testing in Dallas and Fort Worth

Who has to test in Dallas and Fort Worth

The rule depends on the utility that sends your water bill. Each line below is from that utility's own page.

• Dallas Water Utilities: Under Dallas City Code Chapter 49, Section 29 and 30 TAC 290.44, high-hazard backflow prevention assemblies need annual testing by a licensed tester registered with the City of Dallas.
• Fort Worth Water: Fort Worth requires annual testing of all backflow assemblies on commercial property and all assemblies protecting against health hazards, whatever the property type, by licensed and registered testers.
• Arlington Water Utilities: Under the Backflow Prevention Chapter of the City Code, assemblies are tested after installation, when moved, after repairs, before re-occupancy of premises vacant a year, and at least once a year for all assemblies protecting against health hazards.
• City of Plano: Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested annually, and also immediately after installation, relocation, repair or work performed upstream of the assembly, by a Plano registered BPAT.
• City of Garland: All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested under TCEQ rules before the plumbing system is permanently activated and annually after that.
• City of Frisco: Certain backflow prevention assemblies with test ports must be tested at installation and every year after by a licensed backflow tester.
• City of Grand Prairie: Most multifamily properties, all commercial and industrial properties, irrigation meters, and single-family homes with irrigation must have backflow assemblies.
• City of Mesquite: All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested on installation and annually after by a licensed tester, except residential assemblies, which are tested on installation only.
• City of Irving Water Utilities: Ordinance 8140 requires every customer who has a backflow prevention assembly to have it tested every year.

Sources: Dallas Water Utilities; Fort Worth Water; Arlington Water Utilities; City of Plano; City of Garland; City of Frisco; City of Grand Prairie; City of Mesquite; City of Irving Water Utilities

How each utility takes the test report

Most utilities here take the report online through a vendor portal; the tester files it. Open a utility for its own deadline, filing steps and fees.

What testing costs in Dallas and Fort Worth

These are amounts the utility or a company published on its own page, shown as published, never averaged.

• Dallas Water Utilities: Original registration requires appearing in person at 320 E Jefferson Blvd. with the form, the state pocket licence, photo ID and $120; renewals also cost $120, and registration expires each year with the state licence. Amendments carry a $30 record change fee.
• Dallas Water Utilities: Submitting a passed test through SwiftComply costs $15; failed tests are exempt from the fee.
• Arlington Water Utilities: Owners register each health or high hazard assembly annually and pay a nonrefundable per-device administrative fee set by City Council resolution, which may appear on the water bill.
• City of Plano: A $35 fee is paid to the backflow program administrator for each assembly tested, at the time the Plano BPAT files the test report.
• City of Plano: A $25 fee is charged for each assembly that must be retested because of a deficiency or violation, such as an invalid test report.
• City of Garland: Testers pay an annual, non-refundable registration fee of $100 by check, money order or credit card.
• City of Frisco: The backflow test fee, administered through BSI, is $40 per device.
• City of Frisco: Frisco also charges a per-assembly fee for annual inspections, set in the fee schedule, in addition to the tester's own charges.
• City of Grand Prairie: Tester registration costs $100, and testers must buy the city's approved test booklet for $25 including tax.
• City of Grand Prairie: Each backflow prevention assembly carries an annual nonrefundable registration fee of $35, set by the cross-connection ordinance.
• City of Mesquite: The city charges $25 per assembly per year for annual inspections, added to the monthly water bill in the month of the inspection, on top of the tester's charges.
• City of Carrollton: Each nonresidential backflow prevention assembly carries an annual nonrefundable registration fee of $40 per device.
• City of Carrollton: When the city performs a backflow assembly test it charges $250 per test and $100 per retest; there is no city charge for tests done by private contractors.
• City of Irving Water Utilities: Irving charges $40 to file a test report. A failed test report carries no fee.

Sources: Dallas Water Utilities; Dallas Water Utilities; Arlington Water Utilities; City of Plano; City of Plano; City of Garland; City of Frisco; City of Frisco; City of Grand Prairie; City of Grand Prairie; City of Mesquite; City of Carrollton; City of Carrollton; City of Irving Water Utilities

If the test is missed

• Fort Worth Water: New, relocated, replaced or removed assemblies need a Plumbing Backflow permit; incomplete, missing or inaccurate test reports in VEPO result in a failed inspection.
• Arlington Water Utilities: Violations are misdemeanors and each day is a separate offence; strict liability offences carry fines up to $500, and offences with a culpable mental state up to $2,000. Allowing an unregistered tester to test is itself an offence.
• City of Plano: Water service may be discontinued or refused if violations are not corrected within the time given in the city's notice of violation.
• City of Frisco: Strict liability offenses under the backflow article carry a fine up to $500; offenses with a culpable mental state up to $2,000.
• City of Grand Prairie: If annual testing is not done or proof not submitted, the city may test the assembly and add the cost to the water bill; nonpayment can lead to termination of service.
• City of Carrollton: Backflow test reports filed late are charged $50 when 5 days late and $100 when 10 days late.

Sources: Fort Worth Water; Arlington Water Utilities; City of Plano; City of Frisco; City of Grand Prairie; City of Carrollton

Texas rules behind the local programs

State rules set the minimum; the utilities above add their own deadlines and tester registration.

• 30 TAC 290.44(h)(4): all required assemblies tested on installation; assemblies protecting against health hazards must be tested at least annually.
• RG-478 (Feb 2026), whether at the meter or part of an internal program.
• RG-478 explains TCEQ requires nonhealth-hazard assemblies to be tested upon installation; local code or ordinance may require annual tests.

Sources: Texas rule; Texas rule; Texas rule