Long Beach Utilities (with Long Beach Health, Bureau of Environmental Health): backflow testing rules
Serves Long Beach, CA. Every point below comes from Long Beach Utilities (with Long Beach Health, Bureau of Environmental Health)'s own pages, linked; check your notice for your own deadline.
Who must test
- After the Department's initial test and certification of a new assembly, assemblies connected directly to the public water system are maintained, serviced and tested annually by the owner (LBUD Rules and Regulations, Section 804). Source.
- For commercial plan check applications a low-lead, USC Foundation approved reduced pressure (RP) assembly is required; residential fire systems may use a low-lead double check or passive purge; irrigation may use a pressure vacuum breaker under conditions. Source.
Notices and deadlines
- Testing and any necessary repairs must be completed within 30 days of the annual test due date; high hazard devices must be repaired and tested immediately before water is restored. Source.
How the report is filed
- Completed test sheets are sent to Long Beach Utilities Department, Attn: Meter Shop, 1800 E. Wardlow Rd., Long Beach, CA 90807. No online portal is named. Source.
Tester registration
- The owner must use a Los Angeles County certified or American Water Works Association certified backflow tester, and testing plus any repairs must be done within 30 days of the annual test due date. Source.
Fees
- LBUD's fee appendix lists Backflow Plan Check at $86 per hour, and plan check requires full payment by check to Long Beach Utilities Department. Source.
- Backflow preventer plan check, required before a plumbing permit, needs full payment by check payable to Long Beach Utilities Department, with fees in Appendix B of the Rules and Regulations. Source.
Approved testers
- The Long Beach Health Cross-Connection Program page links a List of Backflow Certified Prevention Testers (firms employing certified testers). not downloaded). Source.
If a test is missed
- LBUD may terminate water service if unprotected cross-connections exist, a defect is found in an assembly, or an assembly is removed or bypassed without written permission; termination can be immediate and without notice to protect water quality. Source.
Program
- Long Beach Utilities protects the public system at the service connection; the City's Department of Health and Human Services runs the protection program downstream of the meter on private property. Source.
Read October 6, 2026. Program page: longbeach.gov.