It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, install or operate any alarm system for use within the city that does not meet the minimum standards as prescribed as follows:
(A) Audible alarms.
(1) All audible alarm systems shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the system, (visible from the exterior), with the name and telephone number of the person responsible for the service and maintenance of the system. The notice shall be conspicuously posted and readable from ground level.
(2) All audible alarms, including vehicle alarms, shall be equipped with a device that will deactivate the alarm system not more than ten minutes after activation. In addition, should an alarm fail to be silenced within the time limits prescribed in this chapter, the Alarm Administrator shall have the authority to hire an alarm agent to silence the alarm. All costs and expenses incurred by the city in hiring an alarm agent to silence the alarm, costs incurred from damage to the alarm site or vehicle as a result of silencing the alarm, and costs incurred to obtain materials and security personnel to re-secure the alarm site, shall be borne by the permittee or owner.
(3) Any alarm system that has an automatic shut-off with a re-arming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit; and, if the circuit is open, will not rearm.
(4) No audible alarm shall be installed, maintained or activated which emits the sound of a siren similar to those utilized on emergency vehicles or for civil defense disaster warnings.
(B) Alarms.
(1) No alarms shall have an automatic dialing system as defined in this chapter. This chapter does not apply to alarm devices that relay a digital coded signal to the alarm company.
(2) All alarm systems shall have a standby back-up power supply which will automatically assume operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system. The transfer of power from the primary source to the back-up source must occur in a manner that does not activate the alarm. Back-up power supply must be capable of at least 12 hours of operation.
(3) All silent burglar alarm systems installed after the effective date of this chapter shall have a pre-alert or pre-alarm unit allowing the user to reset the system if activated in error, before the system goes into full alarm activation. This section does not apply to banks, savings and loans and other high-risk businesses as determined by the Alarm Administrator.
(4) An alarm user shall maintain at each alarm site a set of written operating instructions for each alarm system.
(5) Homeowners shall test systems in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall have every household fire alarm system having a control panel tested by a qualified service technician every three years.
(C) The Alarm Administrator reserves the right to inspect all alarm systems after giving 48 hours advance warning to the permittee to ensure that the alarm standards have been met.
(Ord. 921-C.S., passed 9-7-21)