Backflow preventionCity of Markham, By-law 2012-27
Backflow preventer testing and installation in Markham
Spec-Mark Group surveys properties and tests, installs and repairs backflow preventers for industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential properties in Markham. The City runs the backflow program under its Backflow Prevention By-law 2012-27; York Region supplies the water. The City's Building Department issues the permit for a new device. We are on Markham's list of qualified persons, under the former name Spec-Mark Mechanical.
Who has to comply in Markham
Markham's Backflow Prevention By-law 2012-27 took effect on February 14, 2012, replacing the 2007 by-law. It applies to all industrial, commercial and institutional properties and to all multi-residential buildings. It also applies to a house with an auxiliary water supply or a lawn sprinkler system. A fire protection system counts too, unless it is a residential full flow-through fire sprinkler or standpipe system.
The Ontario Building Code's plumbing part (Part 7) and the CSA B64 standards also apply. The municipal by-law adds the program around them: who is surveyed, how often each device is tested, where the report goes and by when.
What the City requires
Owners must:
- complete a Cross Connection Control Survey report for each facility every 5 years from the first survey the City requested, or when the use of the property changes;
- complete a Testing and Inspection report for each backflow preventer at installation and every year after; and
- use qualified persons registered with the City for all backflow work.
Filing and fees
Markham accepts survey and test reports through its backflow prevention online services. Reports are due within 14 days of the survey or test. Online submission is free. Paper submissions carry a processing fee, invoiced to the tester: $36.50 per test report and $72.00 per survey report in 2026. An owner who misses the deadline in an Order to Comply pays a $301.50 compliance processing fee. Since July 2025 the City can also impose administrative monetary penalties (By-law 2025-54).
A permit for a new device in Markham
The City requires a plumbing permit from its Building Department to install a new testable backflow preventer, or to replace or relocate an existing one. The City's guide says a non-testable device does not need a permit. Applications go only through the City's ePLAN portal, with a non-refundable $100 pre-application fee credited against the permit. The checklist asks for the Plumbing Data Form and the cross-connection survey. Under Building By-law 2025-121 the fee is $344 for the first device and $115 for each additional device.
The City's page and By-law 2012-27 (section 11.0) disagree on whether a removal needs a building permit; we confirm with the City before any removal. We apply for the permit as part of an installation.
Who can test
Only qualified persons registered with the City may carry out surveys and tests. A qualified person holds a tester's certificate or an approved equivalent, issued or renewed within 5 years, and is registered with the City. The by-law names AWWA and the City's registration form names OWWA. The test kit's calibration certificate must be less than 12 months old.
What we do in Markham
- Complete the cross-connection survey report the City requires.
- Apply for the plumbing permit and install the device where the survey calls for one.
- Test each device every year.
- File each report through the City's online services, with a copy to you.
We work across Markham, including the industrial areas along Woodbine, Steeles and Highway 7. Our certificates are listed on the Qualifications page. The other York Region programs are compared on the York Region page.
Questions about backflow in Markham
Is a backflow preventer required for my property in Markham?
The by-law applies to every industrial, commercial and institutional property and every multi-residential building on the City's water system. It also applies to a house with an auxiliary water supply or a lawn sprinkler system. A fire protection system counts too, unless it is a residential full flow-through fire sprinkler or standpipe system. The survey recommends the device, and the by-law says the device is determined using the Building Code and the CSA standard.
How often is it tested in Markham, and when is it replaced?
Every backflow preventer is tested at installation, every year after, and when it is cleaned, repaired, overhauled or relocated. The by-law sets no replacement age; a malfunctioning device is repaired or replaced without delay and tested again.
What does backflow compliance cost in Markham?
Markham charges nothing for a report filed online. A tester who files on paper is invoiced $36.50 per test report and $72.00 per survey report under the 2026 fees. An owner who misses the deadline in an Order to Comply pays a $301.50 compliance processing fee. The plumbing permit for a new device is $344 for the first device and $115 for each additional one. The $100 ePLAN pre-application fee is paid first and credited against the permit fee. We quote from the notice and the number, size and type of devices.
Is a backwater valve the same as a backflow preventer?
No. A backwater valve is a sewer device that helps protect a basement from sewage backup. A backflow preventer protects the drinking water supply, and it is what the City's notice is about.
Who sends the notice in Markham, and who issues the permit?
The City of Markham runs the backflow program and sends the survey request and the Order to Comply; York Region supplies the water. The plumbing permit for a new device comes from the City's Building Department through ePLAN, and we apply for it as part of an installation. Reports go back to the City through its online services.
Sources
- City of Markham, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Services (backflow prevention)
- City of Markham, Backflow Prevention By-law 2012-27 (PDF)
- City of Markham, Backflow Prevention Program FAQ (By-law 2012-27)
- City of Markham, Guide to Building Permits and Making a Building Permit Application
- City of Markham, Building permit fee schedule (By-law 2025-121, applications after December 31, 2025)