Backflow preventionHalton Region, By-law 71-19
Backflow prevention requirements in Oakville
This page sets out what Halton Region requires for backflow prevention at industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential properties in Oakville. Halton Region runs the Cross-Connection Control Program under its Drinking Water System By-law 71-19. The Town of Oakville's Building Services issues the permit for a new device, applied for online through a Town account. Send us the Region's notice and we confirm the next step.
The Halton program in brief
Halton's Drinking Water System By-law 71-19 applies to industrial, commercial and institutional properties and to residential properties with two or more dwellings; its definition of owner includes occupants and tenants. The owner installs the device the Region specifies at or near the water meter and has it tested every year by a tester registered with Halton. Reports are filed within 28 days, and a failed device is repaired or replaced within 96 hours. The Halton Region guide covers the Region's fees, its guidance for tenants and the device types it assigns.
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.
A permit for a new device in Oakville
The Town lists a backflow preventer among the installations that need a permit before work starts. Applications are made online through a Town account, with a $100 pre-screening fee and the drawings uploaded to the Town's ePlan system. The Town's 2026 rates set the permit for a backflow preventer at $306.00 each. Inspections are requested online, the Town recommends working with a design professional, and the signed permit must accompany the test report filed after installation.
Working with us in Oakville
We work across Oakville, including the Winston Park and Bronte industrial areas.
Halton Region requires surveys, installations and annual tests to be carried out by a tester registered with the Region. Send us the notice and we confirm the next step. Our certificates are listed on the Qualifications page.
Questions about backflow in Oakville
Is a backflow preventer required for my property in Oakville?
Halton's by-law applies if the property is industrial, commercial or institutional, or residential with two or more dwellings. A house can still be covered where it has a private fire system or the Region requires a device on notice. The Region decides the device type after reviewing the survey a registered tester submits, and Halton's page says lawn irrigation systems also need a backflow preventer.
What does backflow compliance cost in Oakville?
In Oakville Halton Region charges $132.02 plus HST for an initial survey on a property with no device. A survey and test report on an existing device costs $66.01 plus HST per device. A re-survey has no fee. The Town of Oakville's permit for a backflow preventer is $306.00. 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 Halton Region's notice is about.
Who sends the notice in Oakville, and who issues the permit?
Halton Region sends the notice and receives the survey and test reports through its online tools. The building permit for a new device comes from the Town of Oakville's Building Services.
The full program is on the Halton Region page. Also under this program: Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills.
Sources
- Halton Region, Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention
- Halton Region, Find or Become an Authorized Tester
- Halton Region, Drinking Water System By-law 71-19 (office consolidation, June 2025)
- Town of Oakville, Building permit application process
- Town of Oakville, 2026 Rates and Fees, Building Services (PDF)