Missed Tags, Missed Tests: Why Colorado Backflow Violations Are Rising in 2026
After over a year of regulatory confusion, enforcement is here, and many properties are already out of compliance.
The laws around backflow testing in Colorado have been a bit of a rollercoaster for the last 13 months. If you manage a commercial property, you likely remember the panic that started in 2024 when a bill accidentally made it almost impossible to find a backflow technician.
For a few months, it looked like only licensed plumbers could touch a backflow preventer, which caused a massive shortage of people who could actually do the work. Prices started to climb and wait times got out of hand. Thankfully, the state stepped in with House Bill 25-1077 to fix the mess.
That law put things back to the way they were before the confusion started. Since it was signed on March 28, 2025, the market has been able to use certified technicians for all your annual backflow inspections and repairs. It’s important to note that you still need a licensed plumber if you are installing a brand new system or taking one out entirely, but for the yearly maintenance that keeps our water safe, the talent pool has been open for over a year now. This has been a huge relief for anyone managing a large building, or a group of properties.
We’re now nearing the mid-way point of 2026, and the “wait and see” period is over. Since last summer, every backflow preventer must have a compliance tag attached to it after it is serviced. This tag is essentially the device’s ID card. It has to list the technician’s name, their specific certification number (ABPA or ASSE), and a description of what they did.
If you are walking your property and see devices without these tags, or with old tags that are missing this specific info, you are officially behind. Inspectors and water providers have moved past warnings and are now issuing violations for missing or incomplete tags.
Even though the drama around who can do the work has settled down, the state’s expectations haven’t changed.
Colorado Regulation 11.39 says you still have to get at least 90% of your devices tested every single year to avoid fines or having your water service suspended.
Because of the legislative shifts in late 2024 and early 2025, many properties have gaps in their records. If an inspection was skipped or handled by an uncertified tech during that window, your water provider likely has a red flag on your account right now.
Now is the time to audit your records before the summer irrigation season peaks. You should verify that your service provider is using technicians with current ASSE or ABPA certifications and that they are providing the necessary paperwork for every device.
Ensuring your documentation matches the tagging rules is the only way to avoid a surprise shut-off notice. After all, it’s much easier to catch a missing inspection now than it is to scramble when a regulator shows up at your door with a fine.
