The city of Elk Grove recently mandated that residents and business owners who have alarm system must have an alarm permit on file with the police department, according to a newspaper report. The permit is required whether an alarm company monitors the system or not.
The police department began tracking and billing for false alarms in December. Under Elk Grove’s alarm ordinance, alarm system owners pay no fee for the first two false or panic alarms in a calendar year, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The fee for a false burglary alarm is $75 for a third incident, $100 for the fourth, $200 for the fifth and $250 for the sixth and any subsequent false alarm. For a false panic alarm, the fee for a third incident is $150, $200 for the fourth, $250 for the fifth and $300 for the sixth and subsequent false panic alarm.
Within 15 days of the installation of an alarm system, businesses and homeowners are required to obtain an alarm permit from the department, the newspaper reported. The one-time fee for a new alarm permit is $50.
Once on file, the permits must be renewed every three years. The renewal is free as long as the application is submitted before the deadline.
