The Gas Test Guidelines are a City of Dallas Planning & Development Department memo that explains when a plumbing permit, a witnessed fuel gas test and a city gas release are needed before gas service starts or resumes. It sits among the Dallas permit documents for plumbing and gas work and applies to residential and commercial properties under the 2021 IRC, IPC and IFGC. On this page you can view and download the official PDF; the city publishes it at dallascityhall.com, and the permit and inspection themselves go through the City of Dallas.
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What is Gas Test Guidelines – Dallas, TX?
The Gas Test Guidelines is a four-page City of Dallas Planning & Development Department memo that sets out when a plumbing permit, a fuel gas test and a city gas release are required to establish or re-establish fuel gas service to a residential or commercial property.
The memo cites the 2021 IRC, IPC and IFGC. It has two parts. The Fuel Gas Test Guide covers who may obtain the plumbing permit, the pressure test and the heating requirements. The Gas Release Guide lists the situations in which a city inspection and release for gas service is required, and the cases in which Atmos Energy may restore gas without a release.
The test itself is described in the memo. The fuel gas piping is tested with a diaphragm test gauge approved by the Dallas Plumbing Code, at a test pressure of three (3) psi/g witnessed by a City of Dallas Plumbing Inspector for a minimum of 15 minutes. The test covers all fuel gas piping from the gas meter, including the yard service and every structure on the property.
This is a guidance memo, not an application: it contains no fields to complete. After the inspection and approval, the city plumbing inspector contacts ATMOS Energy and gives a release for the gas service to be connected or reconnected.
Who needs to file Gas Test Guidelines – Dallas, TX?
Property owners and occupants of a building or residence in Dallas who need to establish or re-establish fuel gas service use this guide. It states the requirements for the person who lives or works at the property.
- Commercial property: a current Certificate of Occupancy is required. The homeowner exemption does not apply to commercial property.
- Homeowners: a homeowner may obtain the plumbing permit only if the property has a Homestead exemption filed with the county tax office, and the homeowner owns and occupies the property. A homeowner permit carries the same plumbing code requirements as a plumbing contractor's.
- Licensed plumbing contractors: the permit may instead be obtained by a Licensed Plumbing Contractor with a current responsible Master Plumber's license issued by the Texas State Board Plumbing Examiners, who is also registered with the City of Dallas as a Plumbing Contractor.
If you are a tenant, the memo gives no separate permit route for you; the permit is obtained by a qualifying homeowner or a licensed contractor. If gas service was discontinued and there is no evidence of meter tampering, a permit and plumbing inspection may be required before service resumes.
When to file Gas Test Guidelines – Dallas, TX
The triggering event is a need to connect, reconnect or change fuel gas service. A city inspection and gas release is required for new installations of fuel gas systems; repair of gas leaks and replacement of gas piping; meters removed at the request of Code Compliance, the Fire Department or a Plumbing Inspector; meters removed because of tampering; any property issued a gas release where service is not established within 60 days; any change, addition or alteration to an existing fuel gas system; and any time the gas provider will not re-establish service without a city release.
Atmos may restore gas without a city release in limited cases, for example a first request for service, a seasonal hold, or a disconnection for non-payment, in each case only if the gas system had no deficiencies or hazards when service was disconnected. All of these are subject to the gas provider's discretion. If a property fails an Atmos pressure test and Atmos requires repairs, a permit and a city gas release are required before service is restored. The memo sets no other deadline.
Documents you need
- A current Certificate of Occupancy, required for commercial property.
- For a homeowner plumbing permit: a Homestead exemption filed with the county tax office (Dallas County Tax Appraisal District), showing you own and occupy the property. Not available for commercial property.
- For a contractor permit: a current responsible Master Plumber's license issued by the Texas State Board Plumbing Examiners, plus registration with the City of Dallas as a Plumbing Contractor.
- A diaphragm test gauge approved by the Dallas Plumbing Code, used for the witnessed three (3) psi/g test.
How to fill out Gas Test Guidelines – Dallas, TX
Check whether a gas release applies
Compare your situation with the ten conditions in the Gas Release Guide, such as new installation, leak repair, piping replacement, tampering or no service within 60 days of a release.
Confirm who can obtain the permit
A homeowner needs a Homestead exemption, must own and occupy the property, and must meet the same plumbing code requirements as a contractor. Otherwise use a licensed, City-registered plumbing contractor; commercial property also needs a current Certificate of Occupancy.
Obtain the plumbing permit
Contact the Planning & Development Department at (214) 948-4480 to obtain the plumbing permit; the memo itself does not give an application procedure.
Prepare heating equipment and piping
The structure needs approved vented heating equipment able to hold 70° F three feet above the floor, with 5 B.T.U.'s input per cubic foot of occupied space considered adequate. Existing approved unvented heaters may stay in dwelling units under the stated exception.
Schedule the witnessed gas test
Apply three (3) psi/g with an approved diaphragm gauge for at least 15 minutes while a City of Dallas Plumbing Inspector watches, with access to all structures and appliances.
Contact ATMOS Energy after release
Once the inspector releases the inspection to ATMOS Energy, call ATMOS Energy customer service at 1-866-332-8667 to schedule the meter reconnection.
Review and download the PDF
Read the four pages against your situation, then download or print the PDF from FillingPDF and keep it with your permit records.
How to submit Gas Test Guidelines – Dallas, TX
The memo describes contacts rather than a filing channel: the Planning & Development Department for the permit and inspection, and ATMOS Energy for the meter reconnection.
- City of Dallas Planning & Development Department: 320 E Jefferson Blvd, Dallas TX 75203, (214) 948-4480. The memo does not give a permit portal or application form; ask the department how to obtain the plumbing permit.
- Inspection: a City of Dallas Plumbing Inspector witnesses the gas test and needs access to all structures and all gas-supplied appliances. Inspectors only witness the test and inspect repairs.
- Release to Atmos: after approval, the plumbing inspector contacts ATMOS Energy and gives the release.
- ATMOS Energy customer service: 1-866-332-8667. After the release, you must call to schedule the meter reconnection.
FillingPDF lets you view and download the official PDF; any permit request follows the City of Dallas channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for a homeowner permit on commercial property; the homeowner exemption is not applicable to commercial property, which also needs a current Certificate of Occupancy.
- Claiming the homeowner permit without a Homestead exemption filed with the county tax office or without owning and occupying the property.
- Testing with a gauge that is not a diaphragm test gauge approved by the Dallas Plumbing Code, or without a City of Dallas Plumbing Inspector witnessing it.
- Testing only part of the system; the test must cover all fuel gas piping from the gas meter, including the yard service and all structures on the property.
- Not giving the plumbing inspector access to all structures and fuel gas appliances, which the inspector is required to inspect.
- Using unvented room heaters as the primary source of comfort heating in a dwelling unit, which the memo prohibits.
- Assuming Atmos will reconnect the meter once the inspector releases the inspection; you must still call ATMOS Energy customer service at 1-866-332-8667 to schedule it.
- Leaving gas piping not approved under a current or previous plumbing code out of compliance; the permit holder must bring it up to current code before gas release.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Dallas Gas Test Guidelines?
They are a City of Dallas Planning & Development Department memo explaining when a plumbing permit, gas test and city gas release are needed to start or restart fuel gas service. It covers residential and commercial properties and cites the 2021 IRC, IPC and IFGC.
Do I need a Dallas permit to get my gas turned back on?
Possibly. If service was discontinued, a permit and plumbing inspection may be required before it resumes. The memo lists cases needing a city release, such as leak repairs, piping replacement, tampering or service not established within 60 days of a release.
Can a homeowner pull the gas test permit in Dallas?
Yes, for residential property only. The property needs a Homestead exemption filed with the county tax office, and you must own and occupy it. A homeowner permit carries the same plumbing code requirements as a contractor's. Commercial property cannot use this route.
How is the Dallas gas pressure test done?
The system is tested with a Dallas Plumbing Code-approved diaphragm test gauge at three (3) psi/g, witnessed by a City of Dallas Plumbing Inspector for at least 15 minutes. The test includes all piping from the meter, the yard service and all structures.
Who reconnects the gas after the inspection passes?
The city plumbing inspector gives a release to ATMOS Energy. You then call ATMOS Energy customer service at 1-866-332-8667 to schedule the meter reconnection; the inspector does not reconnect the meter.
Can Atmos restore gas without a city gas release?
In limited cases, yes: a first request for service, a seasonal hold or a disconnection for non-payment, if the gas system had no deficiencies or hazards when disconnected. Atmos keeps discretion, and a failed Atmos pressure test needing repairs requires a permit and city release.
Can I use an unvented heater to qualify for gas service?
Unvented room heaters cannot be the primary comfort heating in a dwelling unit. They need an oxygen depletion safety shutoff and an input of no more than 40,000 Btu/h. Existing approved unvented heaters may continue under the exception in the memo.
Can I fill out the Gas Test Guidelines on FillingPDF?
The guidelines contain no fields to complete. FillingPDF lets you view and download the PDF, and it is not connected to the City of Dallas. It does not request permits or schedule inspections; those go through the City of Dallas and ATMOS Energy.
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