A. 
It is the purpose of this chapter to subject security alarm systems to reasonable regulation to protect the safety and welfare of the residents of the City from false alarm impact generated by the volume and frequency of nuisance alarms which threaten the safety of the public by causing a serious drain upon limited police services and equipment needed at other locations and which threaten the welfare of the public by causing unnecessary expenditure of tax dollars through responses to nuisance alarms.
B. 
Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to alarm systems used by institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or to alarm systems affixed to automobiles, boats, boat trailers, recreational vehicles and aircraft, or to municipal, county, state and federal agencies.
(Ord. 91-26)
"Alarm agent"
is any person who is self employed or employed directly or indirectly by an alarm business operator whose duties include, but are not necessarily limited to: selling, maintaining, installing, monitoring, demonstrating or causing others to respond to an alarm in or on any building, place or premises. This definition shall not apply to local safety officers as defined in Government Code Section 20019.4.
"Alarm business"
is any business which installs, maintains, alters, or services alarm systems or which responds to such alarm systems. "Alarm business," however, shall not include a business which merely sells alarm systems from a fixed location or manufactures alarm systems, unless such business services, installs, monitors or responds to alarm systems at the protected premises.
"Alarm business operator"
is any person who operates an alarm business.
"Alarm system"
is any device designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry on the premises where the system is located or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, and when activated emits an audible or silent signal or message and to which City law enforcement personnel are expected to respond. It shall include those devices which emit a signal within the protected premises only and supervised by the proprietor of the premises where located, and otherwise known as a proprietary alarm. Auxiliary devices installed by a telephone company to protect its systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system are not included in the definition.
"Alarm user"
shall mean any person who uses an alarm system within the City.
"Audible alarm"
shall mean an alarm system designed to emit an audible sound outside of the protected premises to alert persons of an unauthorized entry on the premises or of the commission of an unlawful act.
"Direct dial device"
shall mean a device which is connected to a telephone line and upon activation of the alarm system automatically dials a predetermined telephone number and transmits a message or signal indicating a need for emergency response by the City.
"Nuisance alarm"
shall mean the activation of an alarm system due to other than an unauthorized intrusion on the premises or the commission or attempted commission of an unlawful act, which the alarm system is designed to detect. Except that: an activation of an alarm system caused by any malfunction of telephone line circuits or violent natural catastrophic conditions does not constitute a nuisance alarm.
The City Manager or designee is the issuing authority for the Operations Permit: Alarm System User.
(Ord. 2020-15)
A. 
The permit application as required under this section shall state:
1. 
The number of alarm systems;
2. 
The specific purpose for which the alarm system or systems shall be used;
3. 
The alarm user's name and the telephone number;
4. 
The address of the premises in or upon which the alarm system has been or will be installed;
5. 
The alarm business operator or operator's agent for selling, installing, monitoring, inspecting, responding to and/or maintaining the alarm system; and
6. 
The name and telephone number of at least two persons who can be reached at any time, day or night and who are authorized to respond to an alarm signal and who can open the premises in which the system is installed.
B. 
The existing alarm permit shall become invalid and a new permit is required if one of the following occurs:
1. 
There is a change in alarm user, address location of the alarm system, type of alarm permit; or
2. 
The existing alarm permit is revoked under the provisions of Section 6.30.070 of this chapter.
The permittee shall file a renewal application within 10 days from the date such change or revocation occurs and the appropriate fee paid.
C. 
Fees. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the applicant for an alarm permit shall, at the time of filing the application, pay a fee established by the City Council.
A. 
No person shall operate an alarm business within the City without registering the operator's name, and filing with the issuing authority a copy of the operator's valid state license for conducting the alarm business, as required by the State of California. No fee, application or permit shall be required for such registration.
B. 
No person shall act as an alarm agent within the City without registering the person's name and filing with the issuing authority a copy of the person's valid state identification card for acting as an alarm agent, as required by the State of California. No fee, application or permit shall be required for such registration.
C. 
No person shall use an alarm system within the City without first obtaining an Operations Permit: Alarm System User in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
D. 
Within 10 days after any changes in information regarding the use of the permitted alarm system, the permittee shall notify the issuing authority of such changes.
E. 
If an alarm business operator or agent uses an alarm system to protect its premises, it shall obtain a user permit as required in this chapter.
F. 
It shall be unlawful to use an alarm system for purposes other than those listed in the permit.
G. 
No alarm system shall be equipped with a direct dial device or any direct line equipment which will automatically dial a telephone number in or signal directly any office of the City's law enforcement personnel when the alarm system is activated.
H. 
An audible alarm system shall terminate the emission of its audible signal within 30 minutes of its being activated, and the City's law enforcement personnel shall have the right to take such steps as may be necessary and reasonable to disconnect any activated alarm.
I. 
It shall be the responsibility of the alarm business operator or the alarm agent, or both, to inform their respective alarm system users of the provisions of this chapter. An alarm business operator may obtain the necessary permits for the alarm user.
J. 
For every audible alarm system, the permittee shall furnish to the issuing authority the names and telephone numbers of persons to be notified to render repairs or service 24 hours a day.
A. 
The cause for activating an alarm system shall be determined by the City's law enforcement personnel. Upon failure to find any evidence of an illegal entry on the protected premises or the commission or intended commission of an unlawful act, it shall be presumed that a nuisance alarm has occurred.
B. 
A nuisance alarm fee shall be paid for each nuisance alarm, message or signal in excess of two activations in any 12-month period in accordance with a fee schedule adopted from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
C. 
The City Clerk shall cause a bill to be issued for the amount of the fee with collection pursuant to administrative regulations approved by the City Council pertaining to collection of funds.
(Ord. 93-06)
A. 
The following shall be grounds for revocation of any permit issued pursuant to this chapter:
1. 
Any false statement or information given by the permittee to the City;
2. 
Failure to notify the issuing authority of any changes in the written permit information within the time limits provided; or
3. 
Four violations or more of subsection A or B of Section 6.30.060 within any 360-day period.
B. 
Following revocation of the permit, the alarm system may not be used until a new permit application is filed and a new permit is issued. A new permit will only be issued upon a determination by the issuing authority that the underlying causes of the revocation have been fully remedied, removed, or otherwise corrected.
To the extent authorized by state law, the information furnished and secured pursuant to this chapter shall be confidential in character and shall not be subject to public inspection and shall be kept so that the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons charged with the administration of this chapter.