Dallas Water Utilities: backflow testing rules

Who must test

• 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. Source.
• Annual inspections are not mandatory for irrigation systems such as lawn sprinklers; testing is required only when an irrigation backflow device is newly installed, repaired or replaced. Source.

Notices and deadlines

• DWU sends notification letters to locations with high-hazard devices due for testing; if a device fails, the owner has 30 days to have it repaired and retested. Source.

How the report is filed

• Owners ask their tester to upload the test form to the City of Dallas through the SwiftComply online portal (www.bftester.com/dallastx). Source.
• From September 25, 2026, testers no longer give permit-related test reports to the Planning and Development plumbing inspector; DWU reviews them in SwiftComply and forwards approved reports by permit number. Source.

Tester registration

• Every backflow assembly tester must be registered with the City of Dallas Building Inspection office and enrolled with SwiftComply; enrolment requires the tester's certification and test kit information. Source.

Fees

• 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. Source.
• Submitting a passed test through SwiftComply costs $15; failed tests are exempt from the fee. Source.

Approved testers

• DWU links a list of City of Dallas registered backflow testers (Power BI report). not fetched). Source.

Read October 6, 2026. Program page: dallascityhall.com.

Certified backflow testers near Dallas

All certified testers near Dallas · Texas roster