Frequently Asked Questions
The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website - City of Glendale Alarm Ordinance 8.12.010
The policy is aimed at cutting down on unnecessary police response, which is taxing on law enforcement resources. Last year, the Glendale Police Department responded to over 4,000 calls triggered by burglar alarms approximately 98% were false alarms.
Yes, they are. Across the nation, the growth of alarm system ownership has resulted in a tremendous number of false alarms. The response of false alarms has created an additional burden on law enforcement agencies. Nationwide, over 98% percent of all burglar alarms police respond too are false alarms.
False Alarm means the activation of any alarm system because of malfunction, mechanical or electrical defect, improper operation or procedure by any person and no fire, crime or other emergency occurred requiring an immediate or emergency response by the city police or fire division. "False alarm" does not include an alarm system activated as a result of any malfunction of equipment owned or operated by the telephone company or resulting from the authorized servicing, testing, maintenance, adjustments, alterations or installations of such alarm system, provided that the respective permittee or authorized agent thereof, notifies the police division emergency communications supervisor prior to commencement of any of the aforesaid activities. "False alarm" also means a report including any oral or written statement, made by any person to any agency of the city that an emergency exists, and who knows, or should know under the existing circumstances, that such report is false.
The three Major Causes of False Alarms are:
- User errors.
- Installation or service errors.
- Equipment failures.
Other reasons for false alarms
- Inadequate training of people allowed access to your security system - children, neighbors, cleaning personnel, real estate agents, guests, relatives, babysitters, service and delivery personnel, etc.
- Weak system batteries.
- Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows.
- Drafts from heaters and air conditioning systems that move plants, curtains, balloons, etc.
- Wandering pets.
- Before activating your system . . .
- Lock all protected doors and windows.
- Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations, etc. away from motion sensor areas.
- Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.
- Educate alarm system users . . .
- All users, key holders or any person with legal access to your property must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.
- Have your security company check and service your system regularly, routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.
- Notify your security company if . . .
- You think, your system isn’t working properly.
- You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors or windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, installing attic flooring or basement ceiling, changing phone systems, installing intercoms, siding, ceiling fans or skylights, fumigating, installing wiring or cable or other electronics, installing anything near the system control panel or keypads.
- If you hire help for your residence or business, get a new pet, plan to sell your house, or are testing your system.
- Contact the alarm program if you have a phone service or name change, or if situations change, such as a disabled person now residing at the residence, etc.
- Your central monitoring station should not request a police dispatch for power outages, low battery signals or loss of telephone connections.
- Replace monitoring equipment with newer, high security monitoring technology. Dirty or wet phone lines, telephone repairmen and service interruptions do not require police response.
- Upgrade old alarm systems to current equipment conforming to Security Industry Association (SIA) false alarm prevention standards, further reducing false alarms.
- False alarms are costly and dangerous because they divert police officers from proactive crime prevention efforts. They also delay response to calls that may be true emergencies.
- False alarms are a nuisance to you and your neighbors.
- False alarms make your security system less reliable.
- False alarms make you reluctant to use your system.
Please complete the online registration form
You may also contact the City of Glendale Alarm Program at (888) 865-9770, Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm PT
An Alarm user must obtain an alarm registration from the City for each property that utilizes an alarm system. The registration fee for residential location is $114.00 and commercial location is $170.00.
All registrations are valid for 1 year from the issue date and will be automatically renewed at no fee if there are no false alarms during the permit year. If an alarm location has one or more false alarms during the course of a permit year, a renewal fee will be charged for the next permit year ($114 residential; $171 commercial).
Alarm registration cannot be transferred to another person or location.
Everyone operating an intrusion detection alarm system inside the city limits is required to register their alarm system.
The fees are used to offset the City’s administrative costs of the program.
False Alarm Fines: Registered location
Burglary/Robbery/Panic - Residential/Commercial Fine Schedule
1st false alarm - No fine
2nd false alarm - $123.00 (waived if taken online education course)
3rd false alarm - $252.00
4th false alarm and above - $340.00 each
False Alarm Fines: Locations where the permit has not been registered or has not been renewed
Burglary/Robbery/Panic - Residential/Commercial Fine Schedule
1st false alarm - $340.00
2nd false alarm - $450.00
3rd false alarm and above - $564.00 each
No, you will never be charged for an alarm activation that is not false.
A false alarm is defined in the ordinance as the activation of an alarm system when, upon observation by law enforcement, there is no evidence of unauthorized entry, robbery, or other such crime attempted in or on the premises.
Yes, you can pay for any fees due on your account via this website by clicking on the home tab and logging in with credentials initiated by CitySupport and secured by the alarm user.
City of Glendale Alarm Program
PO BOX 10147
Glendale, CA 91209
APPEALING A FALSE ALARM RESPONSE CHARGE
*There is a non-refundable fee of $50 for all false alarm appeals. Payment must be made to initiate the appeal process.
*Submit a written request/statement as to why you feel the charge and/or occurrence should be waived or removed from your account, along with any supporting documentation (police reports, alarm company documentation, etc.)
*Submit via email using the Contact Us page.
*Be sure to include Permit License #, alarm location address, and incident date(s) in question.
*Submit within fifteen (15) calendar days of the notice imposing the charge.
An additional interest at the rate of 12% per annum shall be charged for the past due unpaid false alarm invoices. Ageing past due balances will be sent to collections.
If you received a duplicate alarm invoice, please contact us via email (glendaleca@citysupport.org) or call us at (888) 865-9770, Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm PT so we can delete the incorrect invoice(s). If you are directed to a voicemail box, please leave a message with your name, address, phone number and the account/permit numbers that need to be combined or deleted.
Please contact us via email (glendaleca@citysupport.org) or call us at (888) 865-9770, Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm PT and let us know the date alarm service was cancelled and with which alarm company.
Alarm registration cannot be transferred to another person or location.
This City of Glendale has enabled residents to enroll in a false alarm prevention program. This course is entirely online and can be completed from any computer in about 30 minutes. It can be taken whether or not you have caused a false alarm. The City provides a one time waiver in assessed false alarm fines for permitted residents on the second false alarm upon course completion - once in a 365 day period.