As used in this chapter:
"Alarm"
means the giving, signaling or transmission to the Fire Department, its station(s) or companies, or to any officer or employee thereof, whether by telephone, spoken word or otherwise, an indication or information to the effect that there is a fire or other emergency at or near the place indicated by the person, devices or system giving, signaling or transmitting such information.
"Alarm business"
means the work, occupation or profession of any person who performs, authorizes, directs or causes the selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, inspection, repairing, altering, replacement, moving or installing of any alarm system, including any business that monitors alarms.
"Alarm subscriber"
means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for or otherwise obtains an alarm system or the servicing or maintenance of an alarm system.
"Alarm system"
means any manual, mechanical or electrically operated circuits, instruments, and/or devices, which when activated, emit a sound or transmit alarms, a message, and/or trouble signals for the protection of life and property from heat, smoke, fire, hazardous materials or medical emergency. Provided, however, that this definition shall not include domestic smoke, fire, or burglar alarm devices whose primary purpose is to awaken or alert persons on the premises and which emit a light or sound only within the protected premises.
"Automatic communication device"
means any electrical, electronic or mechanical device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded message, when activated, over a telephone line or dedicated circuit to a central station.
"Central station"
means an office to which remote and supervisory signaling circuits are connected, where personnel are in attendance at all times to supervise the circuits and investigate signals.
"Direct alarm system"
means alarm systems electrically or otherwise connected directly to the emergency response agency from the protected premises.
"False alarm"
means an alarm necessitating response by the Fire Department where an emergency situation does not exist. This shall include mechanical failure, accidental tripping, misoperation, malfunction, misuse, or neglect of an alarm system.
"Fire Department"
means the Orange County Fire Authority. Fire Department includes and also means the emergency response agency.
"Person"
means any individual, occupant, business owner, partnership, corporation or other entity.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
All alarm systems shall meet or exceed the standards established by the Fire Department including National Fire Protection Association Codes 72A and 72C, and such other regulations as may be adopted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. All alarm systems, equipment, installations, and repairs and all fire and other emergency drills shall comply with rules and regulations promulgated by the emergency response agency or the Fire Department regulating the times and conditions under which such installations, repairs, tests or drills may be made. All audible alarm systems shall, after activation, limit the generation of the audible sound to a maximum of 15 minutes when the system is protecting residential premises, and 30 minutes when an alarm is protecting any other premises. This limitation shall be incorporated into the equipment at the protected premises. Said systems may include an automatic resetting device causing the alarm system to rearm upon automatic shutoff. The Director or designee of the Fire Department may exempt any alarm system, or kind or type of alarm system, from any or all of the requirements of this chapter if in his opinion such system does not create a substantial danger of generating false alarms necessitating a response by an emergency response agency or the Fire Department.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
All central stations or any business which receives signals that an emergency exists at a protected premises and transmits that information to the emergency response agency or the Fire Department shall be required to have a permit from the Fire Department which shall be renewed annually.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
A. 
No automatic communication device shall be programmed to the "911" emergency line.
B. 
Direct alarm systems shall not be connected to an emergency response agency or the Fire Department except with permission of the Emergency Response Agency or said department.
C. 
No person shall lease, maintain, install or use any alarm system which automatically direct dials the telephone number of the Fire Department.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
A. 
Each alarm business shall provide accurate and complete instructions to the alarm system user in the proper use and operation of said system which is provided to the user by that business or which is monitored by that business. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of false alarms.
B. 
The alarm subscriber or user shall maintain the alarm system and equipment in proper working order at all times.
C. 
When an alarm system has been activated for an alarm subscriber, the alarm business or central station shall arrange for a representative to have the ability to be present at the location of the alarm within one hour after being requested by the Fire Department. The use of an alarm system which is not connected to an alarm business or central station shall designate a person to be available to respond to the protected property within one hour after being requested by the Fire Department.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
No person shall intentionally initiate a false alarm except for purposes of testing an alarm system and then only if made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Fire Department therefor and after having given the emergency response agency or the Fire Department prior notice thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be also subject to such other penalties prescribed by law.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
It is unlawful for any person to tamper with, render inoperative or maliciously damage any alarm system maintained for the purpose of sounding or transmitting alarms excepting alarm systems undergoing approved maintenance or repairs.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
Each fee designated in this schedule of fees for fire prevention, false alarm, and miscellaneous services, as adopted by the Board of Supervisors for the County of Orange on July 18, 1990 (Resolution No. 90-1011), and as may be amended, modified, or adjusted, from time to time by the Board of Supervisors is adopted as the Lake Forest fire prevention, false alarm, and miscellaneous fire services fees. In addition to the fees established in Attachment A of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the City of Lake Forest will establish an administrative fee for the collection of said fees. Said fees may be amended by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
A. 
In addition to any other fines or penalties established by law, the Orange County Sheriff's Department shall collect costs from any subscriber of or operator of an alarm system which signals three or more false alarms within a calendar year.
B. 
No person shall intentionally initiate a false alarm except for purposes of testing an alarm system and then only after having given the Sheriff's Department prior written notice thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and also shall be required to pay to the City of Lake Forest costs in addition to any fines or penalties established by law. The Sheriff's Department is authorized to collect such costs on behalf of the City of Lake Forest.
C. 
For purposes of this section, "alarm system" means any manual, mechanical or electrically operated circuits, instruments, and/or devices, which when activated, emit a sound or transmit alarms, a message, and/or trouble signals which necessitates, solicits, or requests response from the Sheriff's Department.
D. 
For the purposes of this section, "costs" means the costs incurred by the Sheriff's Department in responding to the false alarm, which shall be established by the City Council through resolution.
(Ord. 205 § 1, 8-4-2009)