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1. How do I fill out the application?

You may use the same application if applying for a business or residential alarm permit. The application asks for business or resident name, address and phone number. It asks who is responsible for payment of fees, what type of alarm it is (i.e. commercial or residential, audible or silent), and the name of the alarm company responsible for service and monitoring.

It also asks for emergency contacts in case the alarm user is unavailable when the alarm activates.

2. What is required of my emergency contacts if my alarm goes off?

Some alarm users have local neighbors or family whom they give a key to their house and their alarm codes. This enables them to turn off the alarm in the case of a malfunction. It also allows them to open the house for the patrol officer responding to the alarm, so the interior may be checked for a possible burglary. This is very helpful to the officer. The contact might also be able to board up a broken window or secure a door in the case of an attempted burglary.

Other alarm users feel uncomfortable giving a key and alarm code to anyone. In this case they may list a neighbor who might be willing to respond to speak to the officer who arrives to check the house. They may also decide not to list anyone. It is up to the individual alarm user.

3. What type of fees might be required?

Effective September 14, 2007, annual registration fees are $10 for a residence and $15 for a business. False alarm fees in a 12 month period start at $125. For more information about False alarm fees, please visit our False Alarm Rules and Regulations page.

4. What does it mean that an extra fee is charged for each and every false alarm after the first one received by the City in any twelve month period?

When a residence or business has a false alarm, the alarm date and time is listed on their permit file. Each false alarm entered on the record stays on file for exactly twelve months (one year). After that year (to the exact date), the false alarm is removed from the record.

If the residence or business has more than one false alarm in any twelve month period, they are charged a false alarm fee. Each false alarm will stay on the permit record until they rotate off the next year. They will continue to count towards the total number of false alarms for the twelve months they are on the record.

5. How does the officer designate an alarm as false?

Learn more in our False Alarm Designations page.