13 Provinces & Territories · Citable Sources
Backflow Regulations Across Canada
Each province enforces backflow testing through municipal water bylaws rooted in provincial plumbing legislation and the National Plumbing Code. Select your province for the full regulatory reference with citable sources.
The short version: Annual testing of commercial backflow assemblies is required by law in virtually every Canadian municipality. Your water authority specifies the assembly type, testing schedule, and who they'll accept reports from.
Provincial legislation sets the framework. Municipal bylaws set the specifics. Bates Plumbing is approved by the water authorities in our service area to conduct testing and file reports on your behalf.
How Canadian Backflow Regulations Work
Requirements flow through a three-tier framework — from national standard down to the bylaw that actually governs your property:
- National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC 2020) — Sets the technical standard: which assembly type is required by hazard level, how testing must be performed. Adopted by all provinces and territories. Published by the National Research Council Canada.
- Provincial plumbing legislation — Each province adopts the NPC through its own Act. These statutes establish who can perform testing, what licences are required, and who enforces the rules.
- Municipal water authority bylaws — Your water authority's bylaw specifies your testing deadline, the reporting format they accept, and the consequences of non-compliance. This is the document that matters most for day-to-day compliance.
National Plumbing Code of Canada 2020, National Research Council Canada — nrc.canada.ca
Regulations by Province
| Province / Territory | Code | Primary Legislation | Testing Frequency | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | NB |
Municipalities Act, SNB 2017, c 20 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Ontario | ON |
Ontario Water Resources Act, RSO 1990, c O.40 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Nova Scotia | NS |
Municipal Government Act, SNS 1998, c 18 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Prince Edward Island | PE |
Plumbing and Drainage Act, RSPEI 1988, c P-11.1 | Annual | Full reference → |
| British Columbia | BC |
Safety Standards Act, SBC 2003, c 39 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Alberta | AB |
Safety Codes Act, RSA 2000, c S-1 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Quebec | QC |
Loi sur le bâtiment, RLRQ c B-1.1 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Manitoba | MB |
Buildings and Mobile Homes Act, CCSM c B93 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Saskatchewan | SK |
Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act, SS 1983-84, c U-1.2 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | NL |
Building Accessibility Act, RSNL 1990, c B-6.1 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Northwest Territories | NT |
Building Regulations, NWT Reg R-010-2012 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Nunavut | NU |
Building Regulations, Nu Reg 003-1999 | Annual | Full reference → |
| Yukon | YT |
Yukon Building Regulation, O.I.C. 2004/183 | Annual | Full reference → |