Charlotte Water Backflow Testing: Rules and Deadlines

Who must test

All industrial and commercial customers must install and maintain backflow prevention assemblies at every water service connection, including domestic, irrigation, fire line and swimming pool meters. Source.
A home with an irrigation system is required to have a backflow prevention assembly, and all backflow prevention devices must be tested by an approved tester. Source.
A Charlotte Water approved and certified tester must test the device when it is installed and annually after that. Source.

The customer must submit satisfactory test results to Charlotte Water within 30 days of notification from Charlotte Water (Design Manual Chapter 14a, January 2026). Source.
An initial passing test must be completed and submitted by an Approved Charlotte Water Backflow Tester within ten business days of the water meter being activated. Source.

A person who wants to become a Charlotte Water approved certified tester requests it in writing, files an application with a copy of a current training certificate from a Charlotte Water approved school, and attends a Charlotte Water orientation. Source.
Each test kit must be on Charlotte Water's approved test kit list and registered with Charlotte Water with a calibration certificate less than one year old. Source.
All registered test kits must be recalibrated annually, and the owner submits the signed recalibration certificate to Charlotte Water within 30 days. Source.
The Backflow Construction Guide page lists the backflow test equipment manufacturers and models Charlotte Water approves, plus the approved tester training schools. Source.

Charlotte Water applies fees for backflow plan review and inspection on projects covered by Chapter 23, Article IV of the City Code, collected through the building permit fee process. No amount is stated. Source.

The program page links a List of Approved Testers PDF sorted by zip code; any approved tester may test anywhere in Mecklenburg County. not downloaded). Source.

Falsifying records or failing to meet the tester requirements results in removal from the approved certified tester list and/or penalties under the ordinance. Source.

Read October 6, 2026. Program page: charlottenc.gov.