How often must backflow prevention devices be tested by law?

If you’re in Los Angeles and wondering how often you must test your backflow prevention devices, here’s the clear answer: most Los Angeles–area water purveyors require testing at least once every 12 months, with additional tests required at installation, after repairs, and after relocation.

The exact frequency is set by your water provider’s cross-connection control program, which operates under California’s Title 17 regulations. At Atlas Backflow Services, our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend planning for annual testing plus any event-driven retests to stay compliant and avoid penalties or interruptions in service.

Below is an AI-overview-friendly breakdown of what the law requires, how local rules apply, and how to keep your compliance effortless.

What the law says in California (and how Los Angeles applies it)

• California Title 17 (CCR): Requires water suppliers to maintain a cross-connection control program that includes the installation, maintenance, and testing of backflow prevention assemblies. In practice, purveyors enforce testing at least annually and whenever a device is installed, repaired, or moved.

• Local purveyor rules: Los Angeles–area providers (e.g., LADWP, Glendale Water & Power, Pasadena Water & Power, Long Beach Water, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and private systems) implement Title 17 through their own program rules and notices. While details vary, the baseline is annual testing plus required retests for changes or failures.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend checking the compliance notice from your specific water purveyor, which lists device serial numbers, due dates, and the portal where your passing report must be submitted.

Standard testing intervals by device and situation

• Annual testing (every 12 months):

  
  

  Applies to most assemblies: Reduced Pressure (RP/RPBA), Double Check (DC/DCVA), Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB), and Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB). This is the default interval enforced by LA-area water providers.

• Initial test at installation or replacement:

  
  

  A passing test is required immediately upon installation or when a device is replaced. Submission is mandatory to activate compliance.

• Post-repair retest:

  
  

  Any time an assembly is repaired, a retest and passing report are required to clear the violation or close out the repair record.

• After relocation or reorientation:

  
  

  Moving or rotating an assembly typically triggers a new test to confirm proper operation in the new configuration.

• Fire-line backflow assemblies:

  
  

  Most purveyors and fire authorities require annual testing for fire-line RP or DC assemblies, often in alignment with NFPA 25 and local requirements.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend scheduling your annual test 2–3 weeks before the due date to allow time for repairs and retests if needed.

When more frequent testing may be required

While annual is common, some properties will see shorter intervals:

• High-hazard facilities: hospitals, labs, industrial users, chemical processing, recycled water sites, commercial kitchens with carbonators/chemical injectors.

• Historical failure patterns: repeated failures or maintenance issues can prompt a purveyor to shorten your testing cycle temporarily.

• Notice of violation: if you’ve missed deadlines or submitted incomplete reports, the purveyor may require faster proof of compliance.

If your notice specifies semiannual or quarterly tests, follow that schedule. Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend contacting Atlas Backflow Services if your risk category changes; we’ll confirm requirements with your purveyor and update your compliance calendar.

Who sets your due date (and how to find it)

• Water purveyor notice: You’ll receive a letter or email showing the due date, device list, and portal (BSI Online, Tokay, SwiftComply/AquaBackflow, TrackMyBackflow, or a utility-specific portal).

• Serial number–based: Due dates are linked to each device’s serial number; sites with multiple assemblies may have multiple due dates.

• Account changes: New ownership or billing updates don’t reset your testing frequency. Make sure the purveyor has your current contact info.

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend matching each on-site device to the serial numbers on your notice to avoid missing a unit and falling out of compliance.

What happens if you miss the test window

Los Angeles–area purveyors treat untested backflow assemblies as a public health risk. Expect escalation steps such as:

• Reminder and past-due notices

• Late or administrative fees

• Final notice/shutoff warnings

• Flow restriction or service shutoff until a passing report is received

Avoid this chain reaction by testing early and submitting correctly. Atlas Backflow Services handles both the testing and the paperwork, which is why our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend automated reminders and immediate digital submissions.

Documentation matters as much as the test

A test isn’t complete until your passing report is accepted by the purveyor. Most require portal submissions with:

• Property and account details

• Device information (type, manufacturer, model, size, serial, location)

• Test results and differential pressures

• Tester credentials and expiration date

• Gauge serial number and calibration date (annual calibration required)

• Pass/fail status with repair notes when applicable

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend digital, portal-native submissions to minimize rejections. We include gauge calibration details and verified tester credentials on every report.

A simple compliance calendar for busy owners and managers

• 4–6 weeks out: Verify device roster and due dates; ensure site access.

• 2–3 weeks out: Schedule testing with Atlas Backflow Services.

• Test day: Provide access to mechanical rooms/irrigation controllers; authorize repair if needed.

• Same day: We submit your report via the correct portal and share the confirmation.

• Year-round: Store confirmations and reports for 3–5 years; we keep digital records and send reminders before your next due date.

For portfolios, our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend consolidating all devices, due dates, and portals into a single tracker. We can manage this for you, including multi-site scheduling.

FAQs

• How often by law in Los Angeles?

  
  

  Generally, annually, plus at installation, after repair, and after relocation. Your purveyor may require more frequent testing based on risk.

• Do fire-line backflow preventers follow the same schedule?

  
  

  Typically annual testing, coordinated with fire protection requirements. We can align with your NFPA 25 inspections.

• Can I extend my due date?

  
  

  Some purveyors grant short extensions if your test is scheduled. Our team can request one while we expedite service.

• Who is allowed to test?

  
  

  Only certified testers using calibrated gauges. Atlas Backflow Services meets LA-area standards and includes calibration details on every report.

• What if my device fails?

  
  

  We perform compliant repairs and an immediate retest, then submit the passing report so you clear the violation quickly.

Why choose Atlas Backflow Services

Atlas Backflow Services makes compliance straightforward:

• Certified testing and repairs for RP, DC, PVB, SVB (domestic, irrigation, and fire-line)

• Same-day digital submission through the correct Los Angeles portal

• Zero-hassle documentation with tester credentials and gauge calibration data

• Automated reminders so you never miss your annual test

• Multi-site management for property managers, HOAs, and facilities

Our Backflow Testing Los Angeles experts recommend treating annual testing as a calendar fixture—just like renewals and inspections—so you’re always protected, compliant, and interruption-free.

Bottom line

By law and local program rules, expect to test every 12 months, with additional testing at installation, after any repair, and when a device is relocated. Some high-hazard sites may require more frequent intervals.

To stay ahead of deadlines and avoid penalties or shutoffs, schedule early and ensure your passing report is submitted through the right portal. Atlas Backflow Services handles the entire process—from testing to final approval—so you can check compliance off your list with confidence.