The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations applicable to alarm systems, their installation by alarms business or agents, and their operation by alarm users as defined in this chapter. This chapter is not enacted pursuant to the power to license or tax business for revenue purposes. Any fee or charge authorized by this chapter is for the sole purpose of defraying the actual cost and expense of investigation and regulation of the above-mentioned standards.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 231-83 § 1, 1983)
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms listed in this section shall have the following meanings:
"Alarm agent"
means a person employed by an alarm company operator whose duties include selling on premises, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, servicing, responding to an alarm system.
"Alarm business"
means any person, business, or other entity who, for any consideration whatsoever, engages in the business or accepts employment to install, maintain, alter, sell on premises or service alarm systems. Alarm business does not include a business which merely sells from a fixed location or manufactures alarm systems unless the business installs, sells on premises or responds to alarm systems at the protected premises.
"Alarm system"
means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police are expected to respond. "Fire alarm system" is a system which automatically detects a fire condition and actuates a fire alarm signal device.
"Alarm user"
means any person, business or other entity which owns or is entitled to possession of any premises on which an alarm system has been installed and operates.
"Audible alarm"
means any device or system designed to signal the presence of a potential hazard which when activated is capable of being heard within the premises and the immediate area thereof.
"Central station"
means an office to which monitored alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits and where guards are maintained continuously to investigate signals, and which are listed by Underwriters Laboratory.
"False alarm"
means any signal from an alarm system which has not been activated by an attempted illegal entry or in the course of the commission of a crime. Fire alarms are considered false if not activated by actual or attempted fire. Employee negligence or errors or other improper activation of the alarm system as well as equipment malfunctions constitute false alarms. Alarm activation caused by events out of the control of both the alarm user or business shall not constitute a false alarm. These events include earthquakes, tornados, regional power outages or other similar violent uncontrollable acts of nature.
"Monitored alarm system"
means an alarm signaling system which, when activated by an alarm device, transmits a signal from an alarm signaling device to a central location, where appropriate action is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
"System options or additions"
such as robbery, panic, or medical alarms which may be operated with or separate from intrusion alarms are permissible and are subject to standards of Police and/or Fire Department Administrative Policy.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 231-83 § 2, 1983)
A. 
Except as authorized by law, it is unlawful for any alarm agent, business, or user to buy, sell, install, or operate any burglar or intrusion alarms system which does not meet the minimum standards prescribed in this chapter.
B. 
Except as authorized by law, it is unlawful for any alarm agent, business or user to operate any alarm system which through malfunction, lack of maintenance, human error, or improper installation, continues to fail to meet the minimum standards prescribed in this chapter.
C. 
The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Police Chief. The Police Chief is authorized to make inspections of alarm systems and of the premises whereon the systems are located, and to make and enforce such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions prescribed in this chapter.
D. 
Fire alarms shall comply with City and State Fire Codes as well as regulations mentioned in this chapter and these shall be enforced by the Fire Chief.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 231-83 § 3, 1983)
A. 
It is unlawful for any alarm business or alarm agent to engage in, conduct or carry on any alarm business as defined in this chapter unless the alarm business has first obtained a business license and an alarm business permit approved by the Police Chief.
B. 
Alarm business permits shall be granted if the alarm business shows that the products and services rendered are in compliance with the standards and regulations of this chapter.
C. 
Alarm business permit may be revoked in the event that it is discovered that the alarm business or alarm agent fails to maintain a current business license or any of the other provisions of this chapter.
D. 
Each alarm business or alarm agent, or anyone who sells or installs an alarm system, shall provide accurate and complete instructions to the alarm system user in the proper use and operation of the alarm system. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of false alarms.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982)
A. 
After the adoption of this chapter, all alarm business or alarm agents are required to notify the Police Department each time the business sells, installs, operates or maintains an alarm system within the City. This notification shall include:
1. 
The name, address, and phone number of the alarm system business or agent;
2. 
The name, address, and phone number of the alarm user;
3. 
The name, address, and phone number of at least one other person responsible to respond to the alarm site.
B. 
Any person, other than an alarm business or alarm agent, who sells, installs, or operates an alarm system shall be required to comply with subsection A of this section when notified by the Police Department after response to an alarm at the alarm user's site.
C. 
The provisions of this section shall be considered satisfied in the event that the alarm user is a commercial business which has completed an annual business license application wherein the current notification information is contained. However, the alarm user which is a commercial business shall also comply with the permit requirements set forth in Section 9.48.055.
D. 
All alarm businesses or alarm agents are required to notify the Fire Department each time the business sells, installs, operates, or maintains a fire alarm system within the City. This notification shall be made prior to installation or operation and must comply with City and State Fire Codes. All alarm users of fire alarm systems shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 9.48.055.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 231-83 § 4, 1983; Ord. 606-03 § 2, 2003)
A. 
All alarm users shall obtain a permit from the Police Department to operate or maintain their alarm system. In order to register for a permit to operate or maintain an alarm system, all alarm users must provide the Police Department with the following:
1. 
The name, address, and phone number of the alarm user;
2. 
The name, address, and phone number of the alarm system business or agent;
3. 
The name, address, and phone number of at least one other person responsible to respond to the alarm site.
B. 
All alarm users shall renew the permit to operate or maintain the alarm system on an annual basis with the Police Department. The alarm user shall, where applicable, provide updated information as required by subsection A of this section.
C. 
All alarm users shall pay an alarm system registration fee, and an annual renewal fee, as set forth in the fee schedule adopted by the City.
D. 
If an alarm user fails to obtain and/or renew the permit to operate or maintain the alarm system, the Department Chief, after the alarm user has been notified by first class mail that the alarm system has not been registered or the permit renewed, may authorize that the alarm user's site be put on a "no response" status.
(Ord. 606-03 § 1, 2003)
A. 
It is unlawful to buy, sell, install, or operate an audible alarms system, which upon activation, emits a sound similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or for civil defense purposes. For the purpose of this section, any electronic sounding device that produces a variable pitch tone shall be considered similar to an emergency vehicle siren. This section shall not apply to sirens mounted inside a building which cannot be clearly heard from the outside of the building.
B. 
Upon notification of the Police Department, the alarm user or his or her representatives shall promptly proceed within thirty minutes to the scene of the alarm and render any necessary service. This service shall include opening the premises so that they may be searched.
C. 
Every audible alarm system installed and operated after the adoption of this chapter shall have a timing device which automatically shuts off the alarm within fifteen minutes after the alarm is activated. If the alarm system has an automatic shut-off with a re-arming phase, the re-arming phase must be able to distinguish between an open or closed circuit and if the circuit is broken, the system shall not re-arm.
D. 
In addition to subsection C of this section, every audible alarm system without such timing device and installed prior to the adoption of this chapter, shall be required to have such device installed within thirty days after the alarm has been activated and the alarm company and/or alarm user has been notified of such activation.
E. 
In any event, it is unlawful for any alarm business and/or alarm user or person maintaining an audible alarm system to cause, permit, or allow such system to ring for a period in excess of one hour.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 606-03 § 3, 2003)
The provisions prescribed in this section shall apply to all monitored alarm systems whether operated as a silent alarm, audible alarm or a combination of both:
A. 
Except for Municipal Government Building, it is unlawful for any alarm system to terminate directly at the Police Department whether or not the alarm signal is transmitted by telephone lines, radio waves or any other means.
B. 
It is unlawful to buy, sell, install, or operate any alarm system which, when activated, causes an alarm to be sent directly to the Police Department by "self-dialing" prerecorded voice notification unit as described in Chapter 9.52 of this Code.
C. 
It is unlawful for anyone to advertise, sell or install a self-dialing alarm device with the intent or instructions that the device may be utilized or operated to directly call the Police Department or other agency prescribed in Chapter 9.52 of this Code.
D. 
Persons owning or leasing or operating any monitored alarm or self-dialing alarm device may have that alarm or device interconnected to a central station, so long as they meet with the minimum standards set forth in this chapter.
E. 
Any alarm business or alarm agent which operates a monitored alarm shall, if notified by the Police, provide a representative of the alarm user to respond within thirty minutes to the scene of the alarm and render necessary service. This service shall include opening the premises so that they may be searched.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 606-03 § 4, 2003)
All alarm systems, which have a standby backup power source which will automatically assume the operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system, shall be equipped so that the transfer of power from the primary power source to the backup power source occurs in a manner which does not activate the alarm system.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982)
The Police Chief or Fire Chief is authorized to implement such procedures and policies as may be reasonably necessary to reduce false alarms as defined in this chapter. These include but are not limited to the following:
A. 
The Department will notify an alarm user of each false alarm response.
B. 
After the Department has recorded two false alarms within any 12-month period (beginning with the first false alarm received), and after the alarm user has been notified by first class mail that the false alarms have been activated, the Department Chief may authorize the assessment of a fine on the user for each additional false alarm response to recoup any expenses incurred in the investigation of or unneeded public safety response to the alarm user's site.
C. 
After the Department has recorded more than five false alarms within any 12-month period, and after the alarm user has been notified by first class mail that the false alarms have been activated, the Chief of the Department may authorize that the alarm user's site be put on a "no response" status. From that time on, the Department will not respond to any alarm from that alarm user's site until such time as the Department is satisfied that adequate measures have been taken to correct any problem causing the false alarms. Once the Department has been notified that the problem causing the false alarm has been corrected, the Department shall resume response to the alarm user's site. After response is resumed the provisions of subsections A and B of this section shall continue to be enforced.
D. 
If the user of an audible alarm system has been placed on a "no response" status due to excessive alarms as mentioned in subsection C of this section, and continues to operate his or her alarm system without taking adequate measures to correct the problem, the Chief of the Department may order that the audible alarm be disconnected and no longer operated. This order is necessitated by the nuisance caused to a neighborhood by an audible alarm system.
E. 
Failure to pay any assessment within thirty days may cause the Chief of the Department to authorize that the alarm user's site be placed on a "no response" status. The Department will no longer respond to alarms at the alarm user's site until such time as the delinquent assessment is received by the City. After response is resumed, all other provisions of this section shall continue to be enforced.
F. 
Alarm assessments may be appealed by the alarm user. Appeals must be in writing to the Department indicating the dates and times of alarm activation and the reason why each assessment should be waived.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982; Ord. 231-83 § 5, 1983; Ord. 606-03 § 5, 2003)
No provision of this chapter shall be deemed, whether directly or indirectly, to authorize any act which is otherwise prohibited by any law of the State of California or require any act which is otherwise prohibited by any law of the State of California. Nor shall any provision of this chapter be deemed, whether directly or indirectly, to prohibit any act or acts which are prohibited by any law of the State of California.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982)
Alarm systems which, through malfunction, improper maintenance, improper operation, or improper installation, repeatedly activate for reasons other than to detect an unlawful entry or attempted entry, create a nuisance to peace and safety and cause to be expended excessive and unnecessary use of police services in responding to assumed emergencies. This chapter is a measure which is necessary to establish standards for and reduce the abuse of alarm systems which are operated within the City.
(Ord. 214-82 § 1, 1982)
"Telephone number"
includes any additional numbers associated with such emergency or governmental administrative telephone number through the use of a rotary or other system whereby additional telephone calls to the number are connected to other numbers when the first number is in use.
(Ord. 104-73 § 1, 1973; amended during 1990 republication)
No person except a public utility engaged in the business of providing communications, services and facilities shall use or operate, attempt to use or operate or cause to be used or operated, or arrange, adjust, program or otherwise provide or install any device or combination of devices that will, upon activation, either mechanically, electronically or by other automatic means, initiate an intrastate call and deliver a recorded message to any telephone number used for the receipt of emergency or governmental administrative messages by the Police Department, the Fire Department or any administrative office or department of the City.
(Ord. 104-73 § 1, 1973; amended during 1990 republication)