Glendale City Code 33-99: backflow devices must be on your building plans

Section 33-99 says "All backflow prevention devices which will be installed shall be shown and specified on all required building and engineering plans. City approval of the intended device installation is required prior to issuance of any building or engineering permit." So there are two obligations: put the device on the drawings, and get the city's approval of that installation before the permit issues. The approval is a gate, not a follow-up.

Two neighbors in the same division fill in the details:

• What device (33-90): the type comes from the business list. A restaurant is a reduced pressure assembly, a shopping center a double check.
• How it is installed (33-91): the device is at least as large as the service connection, sits in a location the city approves, and goes above ground if it is a reduced pressure or pressure vacuum breaker. A double check may go below ground in a city-standard vault. Parallel devices are allowed where you want water continuity during testing.

• Building and engineering plans: the drawings the city reviews for a building permit or a site and utility permit. The code says "all required" plans, so the device belongs on whichever set covers the water service.
• Specified: the code does not list what "specified" includes. Mesa's code names manufacturer, model and size, and that is a sound reading of the level of detail a reviewer will want. Treat it as a reading, not Glendale's text.
• Intended installation: what you propose to build. The city approves the plan, then inspects the installed device later.

Any project that needs a backflow device: commercial, multi-family and other uses on the 33-90 list, new construction and remodels alike. It does not cover a project with no device requirement. It also does not replace the separate backflow installation permit, which the city's tester policy requires for the actual work.

A new strip-center restaurant. The civil set shows the water service and the architectural set shows the kitchen, but the backflow assembly is on neither. Plan review comes back asking for it, and the building permit waits.

A remodel that moves the water service. The tenant relocates the meter to a new wall. The device moves with it, so the drawings must show the new location, above ground for an RP.

The edge case: a tenant improvement with no service change. The code does not say a like-for-like tenant change needs a new plan, but it covers "all required" plans. If your permit set touches the water service, expect the reviewer to check for the device.

1. 1Find your device type on the Sec. 33-90 list and size it to the service connection.
2. 2Get the city's approved assembly list from Glendale Water Services Cross Connection Control (623-930-4138, backflow@glendaleaz.com).
3. 3Draw the device on the plans that show the water service, with its type, size and location.
4. 4Submit the plans through Development Services at 5850 W Glendale Ave (623-930-2800).
5. 5Wait for the city's approval of the installation before the building or engineering permit issues.
6. 6After approval, pull the backflow installation permit and request inspection at 623-915-3263 (code 237 domestic, 238 fire line, 246 irrigation).

• "The plumber adds the device later." The code requires it on the plans before the permit.
• "The installation permit covers plan approval." They are two steps. Plan approval comes first under 33-99, and the installation permit covers the work.
• "Any location works." Section 33-91 requires an accessible location the city approves.

The rule is Glendale City Code Sec. 33-99 on Municode. Sec. 33-99 is two sentences, quoted above in full.