Backflow Recertification 2026

Feb 11

The Hydrant Use Permit (HUP) for community gardens and farms is open, and NeighborSpace and Advocates for Urban Agriculture are partnering to support growers with the crucial step (of which there are many!) of recertifying backflow devices.

From February 7-March 14:

Drop off your RPZ at the Center for Green Technology at 445 N Sacramento Blvd between 8 am and 8 pm in the metal cart in the lobby. (Sometimes, the front desk clerk has stepped away and has locked the doors but should be back soon.) It’s recommended to call the front desk to let them know you are on your way at 1-312-743-7230.

After you drop your RPZ off, please take a picture of your unit in the cart, note date and time, and email your garden information and photo of your unit with the serial number visible to water@auachicago.org and rcline@neighbor-space.org.

If you need a new RPZ, you can email the Water Access Steward at water@auachicago.org. Reminder that first time HUP applicants will need an initial certification and site visit with the Department of Water Management, and are not applicable to recertification.

Starting now:

Get your application started here. You will need a simple letter from your garden to upload into the application.

Here is a suggested language for the letter:

[Farm/Garden Name] hereby requests a temporary hydrant permit (HUP) to irrigate crops for the 2025 growing season. [Brief description of Farm/Garden]. The closest hydrant to our location is [address or cross streets of hydrant you wish to use]. We acknowledge, agree to, and shall follow all the General Rules for Hydrant Use. We also acknowledge that water from hydrants is not potable water and shall be used to grow crops only.

If you don’t have your RPZ test certification yet, mention that in your letter. Also, upload a pdf that says “RPZ testing in process”- you can add the RPZ test certificate later. Make sure to keep track of your reference number that you will get via email. Your confirmation number and reference number are not the same thing, so just make sure you check AutoResponse@CityOfChicago.org in your junk mail if you are looking for your reference number. Please see the following image:

Next Steps:

A plumber will test RPZ’s for gardeners/ farmers the last 2 weeks of March and complete the paperwork that is required after the testing. Unlike in years past, this testing is not happening on one day and you do not need to be in person during this testing.

Pick up your RPZ after March 28, 2026 at 445 N Sacramento Blvd. You will have a report attached to the RPZ that you can now upload to the application. Simply take a photo/ scan with your note app on your phone, make sure everything is eligible, upload to application, and this will move you to the next step of the hydrant use permit application process.

As in years past, you will need to make sure you have insurance naming the water department and a legal agreement. If you are a NeighborSpace garden, let NeighborSpace know that you need a certificate of insurance for the water department by emailing rcline@neighbor-space.org. If you are not a Neighborspace garden. Advocates for Urban Agriculture can supply references for insurance providers.

Once the agreement is in place, and the tested RPZ document is in the system, DWM will confirm that the application is approved and ready for invoicing and will follow up with an invoice to the garden contact.

To pay online, go to this website. Otherwise you can make payment at the City Clerk's Office at 121 N LaSalle with two paper copies of the invoice, or pay at one of the four city of Chicago payment stations using your payment ID. Payment can not be made at EZ payment stations.

Once the invoice is paid, the garden contact will send the receipt to the DWM who will then follow up with the actual HUP permit in an email.

For assistance with the process, you are welcome to reach AUA at water@auachicago.org.