(a) It is unlawful for an alarm user to operate, or cause to be operated, an alarm system at its alarm site without a valid alarm permit issued by the alarm coordinator. An alarm user permit is obtained from the police department and entitles the holder to operate all burglary and robbery alarm systems at an alarm site.
(1) The alarm user must submit an alarm permit application and permit fee to the alarm coordinator within five days after the installation of an alarm system or an alarm take-over. The alarm user must obtain a separate permit for each alarm site.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, persons making application for an alarm permit must provide all of the information on the permit application. The alarm coordinator shall deny or postpone the issuance or renewal of an alarm permit until all required information is provided.
(3) The annual, nonrefundable alarm permit fee is set at fifty ($50) dollars for residences and one-hundred ($100) dollars for businesses. Persons 65 years of age or older obtaining a permit for an alarm system operated at the person's primary residence, where the person actually dwells, are exempt from this fee.
(4) An alarm permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance, and must be renewed annually by submitting an updated application and an annual renewal fee as established by resolution of the city council, to the alarm coordinator. The alarm coordinator shall notify each alarm user of the need to renew 30 days prior to the expiration of the permit. It is the responsibility of the alarm user to submit the renewal application prior to the expiration date.
(5) An alarm permit cannot be transferred to another person or alarm site. Persons performing a take-over of a permitted alarm system at an alarm site must submit a new application and permit fee prior to operating the alarm system.
(6) An alarm user shall inform the alarm coordinator of any change that alters any information listed on the permit application within five business days.
(b) Alarm systems installed in apartment complexes are treated as follows:
(1) a tenant of an apartment with an alarm system shall obtain an alarm permit from the alarm coordinator prior to operating or causing the operation of an alarm system in the tenant's residential unit.
(2) the owner or property manager of an apartment complex shall obtain a separate alarm permit for any alarm system operated in offices or common areas of the apartment complex.
(3) for purposes of enforcing this article against an individual residential unit, the tenant is responsible for false alarms emitted from the alarm system in the tenant's residential unit.
(4) each apartment unit shall be considered a separate alarm site.
(5) the permit fee and false alarm fees as provided in this article shall be the same as for all other alarm sites.
(c) An alarm user required by federal or state statute, regulation, or rule, to install, maintain and operate an alarm system is subject to this article and payment of the same fees and fines.
(d) An alarm user that is a governmental political unit or taxing entity shall not be subject to this article or payment of the same fees and fines, except that each governmental unit and taxing entity shall be required to obtain an alarm permit.
(Ord. No. 3075, § 2, 10-25-01; Ord. No. 3171, § 2, 12-12-02; Ord. No. 3907, § 2, 12-12-13)