Alarm Permit Information

When police are dispatched for an alarm call, 98.4 percent of these calls nationwide are false. The City of Irving is no different. A relatively low number of business and residential addresses generate the vast majority of repeat false alarm calls.

Cost of False Alarms

False alarms cost the City of Irving and its citizens thousands of dollars per year and take police officers and firefighters away from actual emergencies. To prevent unnecessary emergency response to false alarms, an ordinance was adopted to encourage all alarm users to maintain the mechanical reliability of their alarms and to properly use their alarm equipment.

Alarms Systems Ordinance

On Nov. 16, 2006, Chapter 9 of the City of Irving’s Code, Alarms Systems, was adopted by the city. This ordinance establishes business and residential alarm code requirements. The ordinance creates a registration process, provides for annual alarm permit fees of residential and business alarms, and provides for fees for false alarms to encourage improvement in the reliability of alarm systems.

Registration of Alarms

The ordinance requires business and residential alarm users to register their systems with the City of Irving, by paying a $50 annual permit fee. The annual permit fee for seniors (65 or older) is $10.

False Alarms Fees

In addition to an alarm permit fee, fees for excessive false alarms will be assessed during each registration period as follows:

• $50 for each false alarm in excess of three but fewer than six.
• $75 for more than five but less than eight.
• $100 for eight or more false alarms during any 12-month period.

A permit may be revoked when excess of 12 false alarms occur within a one-year period.

 *A location must possess a valid permit for the police department to respond to an alarm.

Appeals

If you are assessed a fee or a permit is denied or revoked, for which you believe an exception should be made, written appeal instructions will be provided to you.

False Alarms Include

• Negligently or accidentally activated signals.
• Signals resulting from mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, improper adjustment, or improper maintenance.
• Signals that are purposely activated in non-emergency situations.

Commonly Negligent Acts Include

• Helium-filled balloons.
• Open, unlocked or loose-fitting doors and windows.
• Wandering pets.
• Weak system batteries.