(A) 
The owner or person in control of a proposed alarm site must obtain a permit from the city before installing an alarm system or possessing an activated alarm system. A separate permit is required for each alarm site and for each individual alarm system on the same alarm site.
(B) 
A permit is not assignable or transferable to another person.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96 Penalty, see § 97.99)
The Chief may issue a permit if the permittee satisfies the following conditions:
(A) 
The permittee submits a complete application;
(B) 
The permittee pays an initial fee for each alarm system:
(1) 
Residential: $25.00 per application.
(2) 
Commercial: $35.00 per application.
(C) 
The permittee pays any fees required by this chapter for any previous permits; and
(D) 
The permittee installs and will operate the alarm system in compliance with this chapter.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96; Ordinance 1560-22-09-13, passed 9/13/2022)
A permit issued under this section is valid until December 31 of the year of its issuance. The permittee may renew the permit annually by filing a renewal request and paying a $10 renewal fee before January 1 of each year.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) 
An application for a permit must contain the following information:
(1) 
Name, business address, home address, business telephone number and home telephone number of the permittee;
(2) 
Name, business telephone number, and home telephone number of two persons who have been authorized by the permittee to receive, and who have agreed to receive, notification that they must come to the alarm site within 30 minutes of receiving the notification from responding emergency personnel;
(3) 
Classification of the alarm site as residential, commercial, or banking institution;
(4) 
Purpose of the alarm system, i.e., burglary, robbery, fire or medical assistance; and
(5) 
Any other information required by the Chief to insure compliance with all provisions of this chapter.
(B) 
The permittee must notify the Chief of any change in information contained in the application within five days of the change.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) 
The Chief may deny a permit application for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
The permittee makes a false statement on the application or in connection with the application;
(2) 
The permittee has not paid a false alarm fee assessed under § 97.99; or
(3) 
The Chief has revoked the permittee’s permit and the permittee has not corrected the violation that caused the revocation.
(B) 
The Chief may deny a permit application for an alarm system that does not comply with Article 5.33A, Section 6(a)(2) of the Texas Insurance Code, which requires that: “All exterior structure openings are contacted; the system includes an interior AND exterior siren; all equipment is Underwriter’s Laboratory approved and is Underwriter’s Laboratory approved and monitored by a U.L. approved central station; and, sales, services, installation, and monitoring of the system are done in compliance with the Private Investigations and Private Security Agencies Act (Articles 4413 (29bb)), Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes).”
(C) 
The Chief may set standards for issuing permits for burglary alarm systems and may refuse to issue a permit for particular systems that he determines have a history of unreliability.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
The Chief may revoke a permit if he determines that:
(A) 
The permittee made a false statement of a material nature in the application for a permit;
(B) 
The permittee has violated any provision of this chapter; or
(C) 
The permittee is delinquent in payment of fees for false alarm notifications assessed under § 97.99
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
The Chief may cancel a permit for non-renewal after providing at least 30 days notice.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
If the Chief refuses to issue or renew a permit, or revokes a permit, a written notice must be sent to the permittee by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice must explain the action and the reason(s) for the action, and state the permittee’s right to an appeal.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) 
The permittee may appeal the Chief’s decision to the City Manager by filing a written request for a hearing within ten days of receipt of the notice. The request must explain the reasons for the appeal. If the permittee does not appeal within the ten day period, the Chief’s action is final.
(B) 
If the appeal is from the revocation of a permit, the permittee may continue to use the alarm system after filing the request for a hearing and during the administrative appeal process.
(C) 
Upon receipt of a proper appeal, the City Manager will hold a hearing. He will serve as the hearing officer and may consider evidence presented by any interested person. Formal rules of evidence do not apply at an appeal hearing. The City Manager will decide based upon a preponderance of evidence, and may affirm, reverse or modify the Chief’s decision.
(D) 
The City Manager will notify the permittee of the decision in writing within 15 days of the hearing. The City Manager’s decision is final.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)