For the purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
Alarm notification.
A notification intended to summon the police, which is designed either to be initiated purposely by a person or by an alarm system that responds to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion. (Recorded messages to any police or fire station are prohibited by law.)
Alarm site.
The specific property served by an alarm system that is under the control of one (1) owner, tenant or lessor.
Alarm system.
Any electrical, mechanical, or electronic device or assembly of equipment that emits, transmits, or relays a signal intended to summon, or that would reasonably be expected to summon, by direct or indirect means, the aid of the police services of the city. For purposes of this article, the following types of alarm systems are exempted:
(1) 
An alarm system installed on a motor vehicle, unless the vehicle is permanently located at a site;
(2) 
An alarm system designed to alert only the inhabitants of the premises which does not have a local alarm;
(3) 
An alarm system installed upon premises occupied by the United States government, or the state government when they occupy property owned by the state;
(4) 
Any alarm system designed solely to detect or give notice of fire or smoke; and
(5) 
Any communication device not designed solely for alarm notification.
Chief of police.
The chief of police of the city or the designated representative of the chief of police.
City manager.
The city manager or the designated representative of the city manager.
False alarm.
An alarm notification to which the city responds within thirty minutes and the responding officer of a subsequent investigation finds no evidence of unauthorized intrusion or attempted unauthorized intrusion, or other illegal activity for which the alarm was intended to report.
Master alarm permit.
A permit issued to the owner or property manager of a residential apartment complex which provides an alarm system operated in one (1) or more of the individual residential units. The fees for a master alarm permit shall be the same as those for an alarm permit.
Person.
An individual, corporation, partnership, or association, organization or any legal entity.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-11; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 1, adopted 10/30/12)
The police department will not respond to a permitted alarm site if the permit holder fails to pay a false alarm penalty within 21 days of notice of same. A location may be reinstated to a response status upon payment of all unpaid penalties and a fee as listed in the fee schedule of this code for a residential location or a fee for a commercial location.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-12; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 1, adopted 2/6/07; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 2, adopted 10/30/12; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
(a) 
The owner or property manager of an apartment complex which provides alarm services shall obtain a master alarm permit if any alarm system is operated on the premises.
(b) 
A tenant of an apartment complex shall obtain a permit before operating or causing the operation of an alarm system in his residential unit.
(c) 
The permit of the tenant supersedes the master permit of the apartment complex, and the tenant is responsible for payment of fees for false alarm notifications emitted from the alarm system in the tenant’s unit. The master alarm permit holder is responsible for payment of service fees for false alarm notifications emitted from unoccupied units.
(d) 
The owner or property manager of an apartment complex shall obtain a separate alarm permit for any alarm system operated in a nonresidential area of the apartment complex, including, but not limited to, common tenant areas and office, storage and equipment areas.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-18; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 3, adopted 10/30/12)
(a) 
The chief of police shall institute policies and procedures to implement this article.
(b) 
The chief of police shall publish standards of operation for alarm systems. Each permit holder will be provided copies of these standards and all changes thereto.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-19)
(a) 
The response, if any, made to a signal from a permitted alarm system shall be subject to the policies and procedures of the police department and will be in accordance with the priorities set for police response.
(b) 
The issuance of a permit authorizing the use of an alarm system is not intended to nor shall it create a contract, either express or implied, nor does it create a duty or guarantee of response by the police department. Any and all liability and consequential damages resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-20)
(a) 
A permit holder shall:
(1) 
Maintain the premises containing an alarm system in a manner that ensures proper operation of the alarm system;
(2) 
Maintain the alarm system in a manner that will minimize false alarm notifications;
(3) 
Respond or cause a representative to respond within one (1) hour when notified by the city to repair or inactivate a malfunctioning alarm system, to provide access to the premises, or to provide security for the premises;
(4) 
Not manually activate an alarm system for any reason other than occurrence of an event that the alarm system was intended to report.
(b) 
A permit holder of a local alarm shall adjust the mechanism or cause the mechanism to be adjusted so that an alarm signal will sound for no longer than fifteen (15) minutes after being activated.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-21)
No person shall operate, cause to be operated or allow the operation of an alarm system:
(1) 
Without a permit issued under the provisions of this article;
(2) 
Without being in compliance with the procedures and provisions of this article; or
(3) 
That automatically dials the 911 emergency communications system.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-22)
(a) 
The failure to comply with the provisions of this article is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) but not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) upon first conviction, and not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) upon second and subsequent convictions. A person who violates a provision of this article is guilty of a separate offense for each day or portion of a day during which the violation is committed or continued.
(b) 
For the purposes of this article a conviction is a finding of guilty or the defendant’s placement on deferred disposition, deferred adjudication, or probation by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) 
During the permit period, a penalty will be charged for the fourth and fifth false alarm, a penalty will be charged for the sixth and seventh false alarm, and a penalty will be charged for each subsequent false alarm as outlined in the fee schedule of this code.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-23; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 6, adopted 2/6/07; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 4, adopted 10/30/12; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
(a) 
An application for a permit shall be made by a person who owns, leases, resides at, or manages the alarm site.
(b) 
The application shall be submitted with a fee as listed in the fee schedule of this code for a residential location or for a commercial location to the city on a form provided by the city. Any false statement made by an applicant on the application may be prosecuted as a violation of section 37.10 of the Texas Penal Code (tampering with governmental record), a third degree felony.
(c) 
An alarm permit is issued to an individual or corporate entity and is nontransferable and nonrefundable.
(d) 
A permit shall be issued for a one-year term beginning on the date of issuance.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; Ordinance 00-25, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/00; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-13; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 2, adopted 2/6/07; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 5, adopted 10/30/12; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
The chief of police shall revoke an alarm permit if he determines that:
(1) 
There was a false statement made in the application for a permit.
(2) 
Any false oral statement was made by the applicant in connection with the permit application.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-14)
A permit may be denied for:
(1) 
Any false statement on the application;
(2) 
Any false statement by the applicant in connection with the application; or
(3) 
Any unpaid false alarm penalties or fees.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 97-65, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/97; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-15; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 3, adopted 2/6/07; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 6, adopted 10/30/12)
An application to renew a permit shall be submitted to the city with a fee as listed in the fee schedule of this code for a residential location or for a commercial location, along with full payment of all outstanding penalties and fees, on or before the expiration date on the permit. Effective January 1, 2014, the renewal fee for a residential location shall be as outlined in the fee schedule of this code for a commercial location, along with full payment of all outstanding penalties and fees, on or before the expiration date on the permit.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; Ordinance 00-25, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/00; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-16; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 4, adopted 2/6/07; Ordinance 12-086, sec. 7, adopted 10/30/12; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
(a) 
If the chief of police refuses to issue a permit or revokes a permit, the chief shall notify the applicant or holder by certified mail, return receipt requested, stating the reasons for the denial or revocation. The applicant or holder may appeal the decision by filing a notice of appeal with the chief of police. This notice setting forth the reasons for appeal must be received within ten (10) calendar days of the date of receipt of the notice of revocation or denial. The receipt of the notice of appeal will stay the revocation of the permit. If the notice of appeal is not timely, the revocation or denial is final.
(b) 
The city manager will designate a hearings officer to hear the appeal. At the hearing the formal rules of evidence shall not apply. The hearings officer shall make his decision on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence presented. The hearings officer must render a decision within thirty (30) days after the appeal is filed. The hearings officer may affirm, reverse, or modify the action of the chief. The decision of the hearings officer is final.
(c) 
When the city mails a notice in accordance with this section, and the United States Postal Service returns the notice marked “refused” or “unclaimed,” the validity of the notice is not affected and the notice is considered delivered.
(Ordinance 95-14, sec. 1, adopted 3/7/95; 1978 Code, sec. 2 1/2-17; Ordinance 07-012, sec. 5, adopted 2/6/07)