(A) An alarm user shall not operate, or cause to be operated, any alarm system without a valid alarm registration. A separate alarm registration is required for each alarm site having a distinct address or business name. A registration fee including a completed alarm registration application shall be received and approved by the Alarm Administrator prior to any alarm system activation. A 30-day grace period shall be granted from the date of all new alarm installations or takeovers between two alarm users, to accommodate the registration application process.
(B) Owners of local alarm systems are required to adhere to all sections of this chapter and are subject to all fees, fines, suspensions, penalties or other requirements that are applicable.
(C) The fee for a new initial alarm registration and the alarm registration renewal fee shall be collected by the Alarm Administrator.
(D) Existing alarm systems.
(1) Any alarm system that has been installed before the effective date of this chapter shall be registered and a registration fee collected by the Alarm Administrator.
(a) The alarm agreement holding company shall provide to the Alarm Administrator within 40 days of the effective date of this chapter, an alarm user list of existing alarm users in the city, in a format approved by the Alarm Administrator, including name, address, billing address and telephone number.
(b) The alarm agreement holding company may apply to the Alarm Administrator for an extension of the time limit in division (D)(1)(a) based on extenuating circumstances.
(2) The alarm agreement holding company may, through a mutual written agreement, have another alarm company provide the alarm user’s list.
(E) New alarm systems.
(1) Any alarm installation company that installs an alarm system on premises located within the city shall notify the Alarm Administrator within 20 days that an alarm system has been installed and send the Alarm Administrator the required information.
(2) In the case of self-installed alarm systems that are to be monitored by a monitoring company, the monitoring company shall act as the alarm installation company regarding the duties to notify the Alarm Administrator.
(3) Failure of an alarm installation company to notify the Alarm Administrator of a new alarm system installation within 20 days of installation shall result in a fine as established by resolution of the City Council to be imposed on the alarm installation company.
(4) The initial alarm registration fee shall be collected by the Alarm Administrator. Failure of the alarm user to submit an application and registration fee within the 30 days after notice shall result in the alarm system being classified as non-registered and late charges being assessed.
(F) Alarm registration and renewal fees.
(1) An alarm registration shall expire one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually by the alarm user. The Alarm Administrator shall notify the alarm user of the need to renew the registration 30 days prior to the expiration of the registration. It is the responsibility of the alarm user to submit the updated information and renewal fees prior to the registration expiration date. Failure to renew shall be classified as use of a non-registered alarm system and subject the alarm site to a suspension and late charge.
(2) Registration fees shall be collected annually based on a one-year registration period. The amount of the registration and renewal fees required are established by resolution of the City Council.
(G) Late charge. Alarm users who fail to make payment for an alarm registration prior to the registration’s expiration date will be assessed a late charge as established by resolution of the City Council.
(H) Refunds. No refund of a registration fee or registration renewal fee will be made.
(I) Upon receipt of a completed alarm registration application form and the alarm registration fee, the Alarm Administrator shall issue a registration number or alarm registration renewal to the applicant unless:
(1) The applicant has failed to pay any fee or fine assessed under this chapter; or
(2) An alarm registration for the alarm site has been suspended, and the condition causing the suspension has not been corrected; or
(3) The alarm installation company and/or the monitoring company listed on the registration application are not in possession of a current valid State of California Department of Consumer Affairs alarm company operators license.
(4) Any false statement of a material fact made by an applicant for the purpose of obtaining an alarm registration shall be sufficient cause for refusal to issue an alarm registration.
(J) Exceptions.
(1) Government entities (including but not necessarily limited to the city, county, state, federal and school districts) and places of worship, must obtain alarm registrations for all alarm systems on property under their control within the boundaries of the city, but are exempt from payment of alarm registration and renewal fees.
(2) All registration-fee-exempted alarm sites are required to obtain and maintain a valid alarm registration for a police response and are exempt from all other fees, fines and suspension enforcements.
(3) A fee/fine-exempted alarm site may lose its exempt status at the discretion of the Police Chief, if it fails to maintain the operational reliability of the alarm system or refuses to work with the Alarm Administrator or city in reducing or eliminating false alarm dispatch requests.
(Ord. 2161-C-S, passed 2-26-19)