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Code Enforcement

The City of Caldwell's Code Enforcement program helps protect public health, safety, and neighborhood quality by promoting compliance with adopted City codes and ordinances.

Code Enforcement addresses a variety of concerns involving residential and commercial properties, including property maintenance, public nuisances, unsafe conditions, and applicable building and development regulations.

Residents may report potential violations through the City's Report a Problem system. For additional information, refer to the Property Maintenance Code or City Code of Ordinances.

Report a Problem

Property Maintenance Code

City Ordinance

Commercial Grease Trap & Interceptor Guidelines

To safeguard the City of Caldwell’s sanitary sewer system, prevent hazardous blockages, and ensure public health, the Code Enforcement division monitors and enforces the city’s Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) regulations under Chapter 13, Article 13.10 of the City of Caldwell Code of Ordinances.

All commercial, institutional, or industrial establishments operating within the city limits that generate fats, oils, or grease during food manufacturing, processing, preparation, or food service must install and maintain an approved grease trap or interceptor.
This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Restaurants, cafes, and bakeries
  • Food manufacturing or processing facilities
  • Hotels and motels with commercial kitchens
  • Hospitals, nursing homes, and school cafeterias
  • Mobile Food Units / Food Trucks: Mobile food establishments operating within a designated mobile food park must have an approved grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 500 gallons.
Note: Individual residential users are exempt from these requirements.

Before opening a new food establishment, upgrading a kitchen, or modifying plumbing, business owners must ensure compliance with city standards:
  • City Approval: All grease traps and interceptors must be of a type and capacity explicitly approved by the City Administrator or building official.
  • Construction: Traps must be built using durable, impervious materials capable of handling sudden temperature shifts. They must feature watertight and gastight covers.
  • Accessibility: Interceptors must be placed in a location that leaves them completely free and readily accessible for regular cleaning, hauling, and municipal code inspection.

Proper maintenance is the responsibility of the business owner or operator. To remain in compliance with Code Enforcement and Texas state guidelines:
  1. Regular Pumping: Grease traps and grease interceptors are to be pumped when the combined layer of floating grease and bottom sludge exceed one-fourth (25%) of the trap's or interceptor's total liquid depth or as otherwise required by City Code Enforcement staff. The frequency for pumping varies between facilities.
  2. Manifests & Inspections: Establishments must retain all trip tickets, maintenance records, and waste manifests provided by their liquid waste hauler. These records must be kept on-site and made immediately available to Code Enforcement officers or city utility inspectors upon request.

Failure to install an approved trap, bypassing a system, or neglecting required maintenance disrupts our community's wastewater infrastructure. Violations of the City of Caldwell utility ordinances can result in municipal court citations, fines of up to $2,000 per violation per day, and potential suspension of utility services or occupancy permits.

If you are planning a new commercial kitchen, need a site plan review, or need to verify if your current system is compliant, please reach out to the Planning & Development Department or contact Code Enforcement directly.
  • Office Address: 114 S. Echols St., Caldwell, TX 77836
  • Phone: (979) 567-3271 ext. 108
  • Email: permits@caldwelltx.gov

Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Prevention

To ensure the safety and purity of the City of Caldwell’s drinking water supply, the Code Enforcement and Utilities divisions manage the Cross-Connection Control Program. In compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations, the city monitors the installation and testing of all backflow prevention assemblies.

TCEQ 20700 BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TEST AND MAINTENANCE REPORT 

  • Cross-Connection: A physical arrangement where a public drinking water system is connected to a non-potable source (such as irrigation lines, chemicals, or industrial tanks).
  • Backflow: A reversal in the normal direction of water flow, which can pull harmful contaminants or pollutants back into the public water mains due to sudden drops or spikes in system pressure.

Backflow assemblies are mechanical devices installed at a water meter or specific plumbing connections to block backward water flow. Protective assemblies are required for:

  • Commercial & Industrial Properties: All commercial facilities, including restaurants, medical facilities, processing plants, and multi-tenant buildings.
  • Lawn Irrigation Systems: Any residential or commercial property with an automatic underground sprinkler system.
  • Fire Sprinkler Systems: Dedicated fire lines servicing commercial or residential buildings.
  • Special Equipment: Swimming pools with automatic fill valves, water-fed manufacturing machinery, and carbonated beverage dispensers.
  • Institutional Facilities: Schools (private and public), corrections facilities, churches, etc. 

Because backflow assemblies are mechanical devices with internal seals and moving parts, they can degrade or fail over time. The City of Caldwell enforces strict testing schedules to ensure compliance:

  1. Upon Installation or Alteration: Every newly installed, repaired, or relocated backflow assembly must be tested immediately.
  2. Annual Testing: All commercial and high-hazard assemblies must undergo mandatory annual testing to verify they are in optimal working condition.

Testing must be performed exclusively by a Licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) who holds a current certification from the TCEQ.

  • Testers must verify that their current license and calibrated test gauge certificates are on file with the city before submitting reports. Registrations are submitted through our online permitting software, Cloudpermit. 
  • Note for Fire Lines: Backflow assemblies protecting fire sprinkler lines must be tested by a registered BPAT who is a full-time employee of a fire protection sprinkler company licensed by the State Fire Marshal.

Following a successful test, the licensed BPAT must fill out a standard Texas Backflow Prevention Assembly Test and Maintenance Report form. Property owners are responsible for ensuring the completed report is submitted directly to the city within 30 days of the test date.

You may submit reports using one of the following methods:

  • By Email: Scan and email the completed form to permits@caldwelltx.gov (please use "Backflow Report - [Property Address]" as the subject line).
  • In Person or Mail: Drop off or mail a physical copy to City Hall at 114 S. Echols St., Caldwell, TX 77836.

Failure to submit mandatory annual test reports may result in municipal citations, fines, or suspension of water services.