Each water utility sets its own backflow test filing fee, and most utilities don't publish one. Among the five cities Backflow Compass covers, Dallas is the only one with a published amount: $10 for each passed test filed through SwiftComply, with failed tests exempt. Austin, Fort Worth, Chicago and New York City don't post a per-report fee on the official pages we checked. Fort Worth's city code does call for an "administrative fee" on each tested assembly, but it doesn't give an amount.
Key takeaways
- Dallas: $10 per passed test through SwiftComply. Failed tests carry no fee, and you get 30 days to repair and retest.
- Austin: the tester files within five calendar days. Austin Water is moving from WEIRS to Klir on November 16–17, 2026.
- Fort Worth: testers enter results directly in Vepo's Envirotrax system. Registering as a tester is free.
- Chicago: annual test results go to the Department of Water Management within 30 days of the test.
- New York City: Form GEN-215B goes to DEP by mail. Annual reports are due within 12 months of the last one, and failed devices must be repaired within 30 days.
Portals, fees and who files: city comparison
"Not published" means we couldn't find the information on an official city or utility page or in the city code. It doesn't mean there's no fee or deadline. Ask the utility. All pages were checked on November 4, 2026.
| City (utility) | How reports are filed | Who files | Filing fee | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX (Austin Water) | WEIRS until it's retired on Nov. 16, 2026. Klir from Nov. 17, 2026 | The tester: a TCEQ-licensed BPAT registered with Austin Water | Not published | Austin Water |
| Dallas, TX (Dallas Water Utilities) | SwiftComply online portal (since Nov. 14, 2022) | The tester: licensed, registered with Dallas Building Inspection and enrolled in SwiftComply | $10 per passed test. Failed tests exempt. The page doesn't say who pays | City of Dallas |
| Fort Worth, TX (Fort Worth Water) | Vepo Envirotrax online system | The tester enters results directly. Owners are responsible for testing and repair | Not published as an amount. The city code requires an administrative fee for each tested assembly | City of Fort Worth, city code |
| Chicago, IL (Dept. of Water Management) | Not published. The code doesn't specify a method | Test by a licensed Cross Connection Control Device Inspector (CCCDI). Results are reported to the department | Not published | Municipal Code §18-29-312.9 |
| New York City (DEP) | Paper Form GEN-215B, mailed to DEP's Cross-Connection Control Unit in Flushing | The owner is responsible. The form is signed by a tester certified by the NYS Department of Health | Not published for annual reports. The rule mentions a filing fee only for plan approval | 15 RCNY §20-04, GEN-215B |
Deadlines and failed tests: city comparison
| City | How often you test | Deadline to file the report | After a failed test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | Health-hazard assemblies at installation, then at least once a year | Within five calendar days of the test | Repairs and retest results go on the report. No repair deadline is published on the tester page |
| Dallas | High-hazard assemblies every year. Lawn sprinklers don't need annual tests, only when a device is new, repaired or replaced | Not published | 30 days to repair and retest |
| Fort Worth | At installation, repair or relocation. Then every year for assemblies on commercial property and assemblies protecting health hazards. Irrigation assemblies at installation or repair, and commercial-class irrigation every year | Not published | Not published. An incomplete or inaccurate report counts as a failed inspection |
| Chicago | RPZ, double check, double-detector check and PVB assemblies at least once a year | Within 30 days of the test | Notify the department immediately and take remedial action. No deadline is stated |
| New York City | RPZ and double check assemblies at least once a year, and after any repair or replacement | Initial report within 30 days. Annual report within 12 months of the previous one | Repair within 30 days, then file retest results within 30 days of the repair. DEP won't accept a report showing a failed device |
What a "filing fee" is, and what it isn't
Three different charges often get lumped together:
- The tester's fee for the test itself, set by the company. Our residential test cost guide covers typical ranges.
- A utility filing fee for each report, set by the city. Dallas's $10 is the one published example in our five cities.
- Repair and retest charges after a failure, which have nothing to do with filing.
The Dallas page says passed tests "incur" the fee but doesn't say whether the tester or the owner pays it. Ask whether your quote includes it, and request an itemized quote that shows any filing charge as its own line. In a city that publishes no fee, ask what a "portal" or "filing" line in a quote pays for. Our guide on who pays for backflow testing covers rentals.
City notes
Austin
Austin Water retires WEIRS on Monday, November 16, 2026, and Klir goes live on Tuesday, November 17. Testers should finish pending submissions before 5 p.m. on Friday, November 13. The five-day filing rule doesn't change. Read our Austin Klir guide for steps for owners and testers.
Dallas
Dallas moved to online filing through SwiftComply on November 14, 2022, and the city says taking part is mandatory. Testers have to be registered with Dallas Building Inspection and enrolled in the portal. If your device fails, you have 30 days to repair it and get a retest. A residential lawn sprinkler device isn't on an annual cycle in Dallas, but a new, repaired or replaced one has to be tested. See our Dallas page.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth contracts with Vepo, LLC, which runs the Envirotrax system and mails annual testing notices for the city. Tester registration is free. It requires a TCEQ license, a confined-space certificate, a gauge calibration certificate and at least $500,000 in general liability insurance. The city code requires a test report and an administrative fee for each tested assembly, but neither the code section we read nor the backflow page states the amount. See our Fort Worth page.
Chicago
Chicago's plumbing code requires RPZ, double check, double-detector check and pressure vacuum breaker assemblies to be tested at least once a year by a licensed CCCDI. Results go to the Department of Water Management within 30 days. We couldn't find an official city page that names a portal or a fee. Suburban water utilities run their own programs, so don't assume a suburb's process applies inside city limits. See our Chicago page.
New York City
DEP's rule requires RPZ and double check assemblies to be tested at least once a year by a tester certified by the New York State Department of Health and employed by a licensed master plumber. The GEN-215B form is mailed to DEP's Cross-Connection Control Unit, one form per assembly. Initial reports also need sign-off from an engineer or architect and a licensed master plumber. If you don't file the annual report, the owner can be issued a summons. See our New York City page.
Checklist: questions to ask before you book
- Which utility serves this address, and which portal or form does it use?
- Will you file the report, and by what date?
- Is any utility filing fee included in your price, or billed separately?
- Will I get a copy of the report and proof that it was submitted?
- If the device fails, what's the repair price, how much is the retest, and how many days do I have?
- Are you registered with this utility, not just licensed by the state?
More questions are in 12 questions to ask a backflow tester and backflow test reporting forms explained.
How we built this table
We used only official city or utility pages and city codes, checked on November 4, 2026, for the five cities with a Backflow Compass local page. We left out news articles, vendor pages and forum posts. Where a source was silent, we wrote "not published" instead of guessing. Utilities update fees and portals without notice. If you spot a change, the official page wins.
FAQ
Is there a fee to file a backflow test report? It depends on the utility. Dallas charges $10 per passed test filed through SwiftComply. Austin, Chicago and New York City don't publish a per-report fee. Fort Worth's code mentions an administrative fee per tested assembly without giving the amount.
Who files the backflow test report, me or the tester? In Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, the tester submits it through the utility's system. In New York City, the owner is responsible for getting a signed GEN-215B to DEP. Chicago's code says results must be reported to the Department of Water Management but doesn't say who sends them.
Does Dallas charge for a failed backflow test? No. The Dallas page says failed tests are exempt from the $10 fee. You then have 30 days to repair the device and get it retested.
How long do I have after a failed test? Dallas allows 30 days to repair and retest. New York City requires repair within 30 days and the retest report within 30 days of the repair. Austin, Fort Worth and Chicago don't publish a fixed number of days, so follow your notice.
Do Dallas lawn sprinklers need an annual backflow test? According to Dallas Water Utilities, no. Annual inspections aren't mandatory for irrigation systems like lawn sprinklers, but new, repaired or replaced irrigation devices must be tested.
Compare testers
When you know your utility's rules, prepare a quote request and ask each tester the same filing questions. Backflow Compass is an independent directory, not a testing company or a utility.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice or a compliance determination. Fees, deadlines and portals are set by each water utility and can change. Confirm them with your utility or a licensed tester.
Sources
- City of Dallas: Backflow Test Reports
- Dallas Water Utilities: Backflow Prevention program notice (PDF)
- Austin Water: Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Information
- Austin Water: Water Protection Frequently Asked Questions
- City of Fort Worth: Backflow and Cross Connection Control
- Fort Worth City Code, Chapter 12.5: backflow prevention assembly tester registration
- Chicago Municipal Code §18-29-312.9: Cross connection control device inspections
- Rules of the City of New York, 15 RCNY §20-04: Backflow prevention devices
- NYC DEP: Form GEN-215B, Test and Maintenance Report (PDF)
- NYC Business: Backflow prevention devices, operation requirements
Independent general information. Requirements and prices depend on scope, locality, technical standards and current regulations. Verify critical details with qualified professionals and relevant authorities.