1. No alarm user shall operate or cause to be operated an alarm or alarm system at its alarm site without a valid alarm permit.
2. Alarm permits are required for each alarm site.
3. Alarm permits are issued upon the receipt of a completed application form and the set service fee unless the applicant has had an alarm permit for the alarm site revoked or suspended and/or has unpaid fees.
4. The annual fee shall reflect the administration cost. No refund of a registration or registration renewal will be made.
5. An additional fee established by the alarm administrator shall be assessed for an alarm system programmed with a duress, one-plus duress, or holdup alarm.
6. Alarm permits must be obtained within thirty calendar days of the alarm system installation and/or takeover. Alarm users who fail to register within that time period may be charged a late registration penalty.
7. All service fees owed by an applicant must be paid before a permit is issued or renewed.
8. Each alarm registration application form must include the following information:
A. The name, complete address (including apartment/suite number), and telephone numbers of the person who will be the registration holder and be responsible for the proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system and payment of fees assessed under this chapter;
B. The classification of the alarm site as either residential (includes condominiums, town homes, mobile homes, etc.) commercial or apartment;
C. For each alarm system located at the alarm site, the classification of the alarm system (e.g., burglary, holdup, duress, or other) for each purpose whether audible or silent;
D. Mailing address if different from the alarm site;
E. Any dangerous or special conditions present at the alarm site;
F. The name and telephone numbers of at least two individuals who are able and have agreed to be contact persons that receive notification of an alarm activation at any time; respond to the alarm site within thirty minutes; and upon request can grant access to the alarm site and deactivate the alarm system if such becomes necessary;
G. Type of business conducted at the alarm site;
H. Signed certification from the alarm user stating:
(1) The date of installation, conversion, or takeover of the alarm system, whichever is applicable;
(2) The name, address, and phone number of the alarm business performing the alarm system installation, conversion, or alarm system takeover and responsible for providing repair service to the alarm system;
(3) The name, address, and telephone number of the monitoring company if different from the alarm business that installed the system;
(4) That a written set of operating instructions for the alarm system, including the written guidelines on how to avoid false alarms, have been left with the applicant;
(5) That the alarm business has trained the applicant in proper use of the alarm system, including how to avoid false alarms;
(6) That law enforcement response may be based on factors such as: availability of police units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, staffing levels, etc.
9. Alarm permits are valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed at which time a new permit will be issued.
10. Alarm permits are non-transferable either to a new location or to a new user.
11. Any false statement of material fact made by an applicant for the purpose of obtaining an alarm permit shall be sufficient cause for refusal to issue a permit.
12. An alarm user shall inform the alarm administrator of any change that alters any of the information listed on the alarm permit registration form within five business days of such change.
13. After receiving one alarm call to an alarm site without an alarm permit the alarm administrator will notify in writing both the alarm user and the alarm business that a permit must be obtained within thirty days. If a second or subsequent alarm call is received by the communications center after the thirty-day period and a permit has not been obtained, the alarm user will be in violation of this chapter. Until a permit is obtained, each alarm thereafter will be considered a separate violation of this chapter and will be subject to a citation and assessment of service fees as determined by the alarm administrator and recorded in accordance with this chapter.
14. Alarm businesses are required to maintain a copy of the current alarm permit on behalf of the alarm user if they monitor the system for alarms. However, it is the responsibility of the alarm user to ensure that a current permit is obtained.
15. Alarm permits must be renewed in the month of expiration. Renewals are issued after the applicant has updated his information on the application and a renewal fee paid. Renewals fees are set by the Police Department.
16. Renewals made more than thirty days after alarm permit expiration will be considered a violation of this chapter and an alarm user will have to re-apply for an alarm permit and be subject to a late fee. Failure to renew will be classified as use of a non-registered system and citations and penalties shall be assessed without waiver.
17. Only one permit per year may be issued per alarm site unless a takeover occurs.
18. Landlords of property, which have apartment-provided alarms are required to notify the alarm business of takeovers.
19. Alarm permits are not required for alarm users who have their alarms responded to by non-law enforcement agencies.