Chapter 4.90
ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
4.90.030 Standards for cessation of audible alarm systems.
4.90.040 Audible alarms similar to sirens prohibited.
4.90.050 Alarm systems constituting a hazard to public safety officers.
4.90.060 Repair of malfunctioning alarm systems – Record keeping.
4.90.080 Notice of false alarm.
4.90.090 Alarm system fee schedule.
4.90.110 Applications for permits.
4.90.120 Permit application review and approval – Grounds for denial.
4.90.140 Transfer of permit prohibited – Notice of change.
4.90.150 Grounds for revocation.
4.90.160 Denial or revocation of permit.
4.90.010 Definitions.
The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section.
A. “Alarm business” or “alarm agent” means any person, partnership, corporation, sole proprietor, or other business entity that furnishes, installs, repairs, services, tests, maintains or provides other services on alarm systems.
B. “Alarm system” means any security device that is installed or used on premises or property within the city for the purpose of preventing or detecting intrusion on said property or premises. As used in this chapter, the definition of “alarm system” shall not include any type or form of a fire alarm system.
C. “Permittee” means a person who is issued a permit to use an alarm system on property or premises within the city that the permittee owns, occupies or controls.
D. “User” means the person who resides on, occupies, or operates the premises on which an alarm system has been installed. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.01).
4.90.020 Installation.
All alarm systems sold, leased, contracted for or otherwise maintained and operated by any person within the city shall be installed in accordance with all applicable standards and requirements in the building codes, this chapter, and any other applicable requirements of the city. All alarm systems shall be equipped with an uninterruptible power supply or installed in such a manner that the failure or interruption of normal electrical utility power shall not activate the alarm system. Such power supply shall be capable of at least four hours of operation. All alarm systems installed within the city may be inspected by police, building, or other inspection representatives of the city during usual business hours. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.02).
4.90.030 Standards for cessation of audible alarm systems.
Any and all audible alarm systems shall be installed or activated to automatically cease transmitting the audible signal within ten minutes of commencement of the signal. Upon request of a city police officer or dispatcher, the user or his or her designated representative shall respond within one hour to the premises whereon the alarm system is located. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.03).
4.90.040 Audible alarms similar to sirens prohibited.
It is unlawful to install on the exterior or interior of a building any alarm system which upon activation emits a sound exceeding eighty decibels (when measured from outside the premises), similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or for civil defense purposes. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.04).
4.90.050 Alarm systems constituting a hazard to public safety officers.
No person shall operate or permit an alarm system to be operated which, due to the nature of its construction, installation or location, constitutes an unreasonable hazard to life or limb of responding public safety officers, as determined by the chief of police. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.05).
4.90.060 Repair of malfunctioning alarm systems – Record keeping.
After any false alarm caused by a mechanical malfunction of the alarm system, the user shall cause the alarm system to be repaired so as to eliminate such malfunction before reactivating the alarm. No person shall reactivate such alarm until the necessary repairs have been made. The user shall maintain accurate records of all inspections or repairs of the alarm system and shall furnish such records to the chief of police upon a request to do so. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.06).
4.90.070 Notice of repair.
The user or his or her representative shall notify the city police dispatcher prior to any service, test, repair, maintenance, adjustment or installation which might activate a false alarm on a particular alarm system. If the police dispatcher has been appropriately notified of the repair service on an alarm system and the period of time during which such work will occur, the city shall not impose a fee for a police response to a recording of a false alarm which may take place during the specified repair period. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.07).
4.90.080 Notice of false alarm.
Any person who sets off a false alarm shall inform the police dispatcher of the error as soon as the person has knowledge of such false alarm. The user may avoid charges for a false alarm if the police dispatcher is notified prior to the actual dispatching of police units in response to the alarm. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.08).
4.90.090 Alarm system fee schedule.
The user of an alarm system shall pay such charges as may be established by resolution of the city council. The fee schedule for alarm systems will set forth the amount and manner of payment of alarm system permit fees, false alarm fees, and such other fees as may be deemed necessary and appropriate to support the costs to manage and provide the permit program and related services that benefit users. (Ord. 597, § 1, Amended by Ord. 741, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.09).
4.90.100 Permit.
It shall be required that any alarm system installed, possessed, operated, used, serviced or maintained on any premises or property within the city shall have a valid, unrevoked and unexpired permit therefor issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and no alarm business or alarm agent shall make operable, service, maintain or repair any such alarm system for which there is no valid, unrevoked and unexpired permit issued by the city. (Ord. 597, § 1, Amended by Ord. 741, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-18.10).
4.90.110 Applications for permits.
Applications for all permits required hereunder shall be filed with the police department and shall be accompanied by the permit fee established by resolution of the city council. The police department shall prescribe the form of the application and request such information as is necessary to evaluate the permittee and other relevant data pertaining to the alarm system or the premises where such system will be located. The application for any permit shall include, but not be limited to, the name, address and telephone number of the person who will render service or repairs during any hour of the day or night. The application shall be submitted by the owner, occupant or operator of the premises on which the system shall be located. If approved, the permit shall be issued in the name of said applicant only. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.11).
4.90.120 Permit application review and approval – Grounds for denial.
A. Review Procedure. An application for a permit shall be reviewed and processed in a timely manner. The chief of police shall inform the applicant in writing of the approval or the denial of the permit. If the decision is to deny the permit, the chief of police shall specify the reasons therefor. The applicant may respond to such a decision in accordance with the procedures set forth in MMC 4.90.160.
B. Grounds for Denial. The permit may be denied by the chief of police for any one of the following reasons:
1. The alarm system is deficient in that it does not comply with standards adopted pursuant to this chapter or it results in excessive false alarms as defined by said standards;
2. The applicant or his or her representative has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of a material fact in the application for the permit, or in any report or record required to be filed with the city;
3. The applicant has had a similar type permit previously revoked for good cause within the past year unless the applicant can show a material change in circumstances since the date of revocation; or
4. The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.12).
4.90.130 Duration of permit.
Permits issued pursuant to this chapter shall be renewed annually after issuance. Applications for renewals of permits shall be processed in the same manner as applications for the initial permit. Initial issuance of a permit shall be valid until the annual renewal period which shall be January 1st of each subsequent year. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.13).
4.90.140 Transfer of permit prohibited – Notice of change.
It is unlawful for a permittee to transfer his or her permit issued by the city to any other person. In the event of a change in ownership, occupancy or control of the premises on which an alarm system requiring a permit is installed, the new owner, occupant or operator of the premises shall apply for a new permit with the city. Whenever any other change occurs relating to the written information required by this chapter, the applicant or permittee shall give written notice thereof to the department within ten days after such change. The applicant or permittee is solely responsible for the correctness of the information submitted to the police department and for insuring that such information is accurate and up to date. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.14).
4.90.150 Grounds for revocation.
Any one of the following grounds shall constitute a basis for revocation of an alarm permit:
A. The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;
B. A deficient alarm system or an alarm system that is improperly operated resulting in excessive false alarms which shall be defined as seven false alarms in a one-year period;
C. Knowingly providing any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of a material fact in the application for a permit or in any report or record required to be filed with the city;
D. The failure of a permittee or his or her representative immediately following an alarm activation to respond within one hour to a request for access to the subject premises from a city police officer or dispatcher who deems a response necessary to ensure the security of the premises where the system is installed or persons on such premises; or
E. The failure to pay fees for responses to false alarms within thirty days of billing. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.15).
4.90.160 Denial or revocation of permit.
In the case of denial or revocation of a permit, the chief of police shall notify the applicant or permittee in writing of the reasons for such denial or revocation. The applicant or permittee shall have ten days from and after the service of the notice to offer evidence to the chief as to why the permit should not be revoked. The chief may grant the permit or withdraw the revocation if the chief determines that satisfactory and sufficient evidence is presented to address or correct the specified ground for denial or revocation. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.16).
4.90.170 Alarm businesses.
A. No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on an alarm business within the city without a valid, unrevoked and unexpired state alarm company operator license therefor in accordance with the provisions of Section 7590 et seq. of the Business and Professions Code and any subsequent amendments thereto.
B. In the event said license(s) is suspended, revoked, or otherwise rendered invalid by the issuing authority, the alarm business shall notify the police department in writing of such state action within three days thereof.
C. Every person engaged in, conducting, or operating an alarm business within the city shall post on the premises where the alarm business is located a copy of a valid state alarm company operator’s license.
D. No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on an alarm business within the city without a valid city business license issued pursuant to this code.
E. Each alarm business or alarm agent that installs, services, possesses, maintains, operates or uses an alarm system shall keep accurate records of inspection or repair of any installed alarm system and shall furnish such records to the chief of police upon request to do so.
F. Each alarm business or alarm agent that installs, services, possesses, maintains, operates or uses an alarm system shall instruct all appropriate persons in the proper use and operation of such system, as frequently as necessary, especially as to those factors which can cause false alarms. (Ord. 597, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-18.17).