[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Plymouth 4-7-1986 ATM by Art. 16; amended in its entirety 4-5-2010 ATM by Art. 29 (Ch. 14 of the 1999 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM or ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices or a single device, such as, but not limited to, a solid state unit which plugs directly into a 110-volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the police are expected to respond. Fire alarm systems and alarm systems which monitor temperature, smoke, humidity or any other condition not directly related to the detection of an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this article. The provisions of § 110-6 of this article shall apply to all users.
FALSE ALARM
A. 
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an alarm system or his or her employees or agents.
B. 
Any signal or oral communication transmitted to the Police Department requesting or requiring or resulting in a response on the part of the Police Department when in fact there has been no unauthorized intrusion, robbery or burglary or attempted threat.
C. 
For the purposes of this definition, activation of alarm systems by acts of God, including but not limited to power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and similar weather or atmospheric disturbances, shall not be deemed to be a false alarm.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
Every alarm user shall submit to the Police Chief the names and telephone numbers of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted by an alarm system and who can open the premises wherein the alarm system is installed. It shall be incumbent upon the owner of said premises to immediately notify the Plymouth Police Department of any changes in the list of authorized persons so named in the business listing to respond to alarms.
A. 
All alarm systems installed after the effective date of this chapter which use an audible bell, horn or device shall be equipped with a device that will shut off such bell, horn or device within 15 minutes after activation of the alarm system. All existing alarm systems in the Town of Plymouth must have a shutoff device installed within six months of passage of this chapter.
B. 
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him or her under § 110-2 of this chapter and which disturbs the peace, comfort or repose of a community, a neighborhood or a considerable number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located shall constitute a public nuisance.
No alarm system which is designed to transmit emergency messages or signals of intrusion to the Police Department will be tested until the Police Dispatcher has been notified.
[Amended 11-20-1989 STM by Art. 9; 4-4-2009 STM by Art. 8; 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
A. 
The Police Chief or his designee shall provide the alarm user with written notice of a violation by regular mail. Fines shall be paid in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Fines for false alarm service shall be as follows:
Offense
Fine
First 3
None
Fourth
$50
Fifth
$125
Subsequent
$200
B. 
The owner of a system which occasions six or more false alarms within a calendar year and/or an installer who is not in conformance with this chapter may be ordered to disconnect and otherwise discontinue the use of the same by the Select Board after a public hearing.
C. 
Any user, owner or installer found to be in violation of any provision of this article for which no other penalty is specified shall be punished by a fine of no less than $20.
D. 
This article may be enforced by any available means in law or equity, including but not limited to enforcement by noncriminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, and §§ 1-4 and 1-5 of the Town Code.
In the event that any provision, section or clause of this article is hereafter judicially found to be invalid, such decision, invalidity or voidance shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this article.
When used in this article, unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the following words shall have the following meanings:
FALSE ALARM
For the purposes of this regulation, a false fire alarm shall be defined as follows:
A. 
The operation of a faulty smoke or heat detection device (defined as no smoke, odor, or fire observed).
B. 
Faulty control panel or associated equipment.
C. 
A water pressure surge in an automatic sprinkler system.
D. 
Accidental operation of an automatic sprinkler system.
E. 
An action by an employee of the owner or occupant of the protected premises or a contractor employed by the owner or occupant, causing accidental activation of the internal fire alarm system.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Any heat-activated, flame-energy-activated or other such automatic device capable of transmitting a fire alarm signal to the Plymouth Fire Department by way of a master box, central station, or any other automated means.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
The transmittal of a fire alarm to the Plymouth Fire Department by way of a master box, central station, automatic dialer or any other automated means, which alarm is caused by improper installation of a fire alarm system, a mechanically defective fire alarm system, lack of maintenance or some other reason that causes a fire alarm to sound even though there is no actual fire or situation that reasonably could evolve into a fire.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM OWNER
An individual or entity who owns the title to and/or has on his business or residential premises a fire alarm system equipped to send an automatic fire alarm signal to the Plymouth Fire Department.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Plymouth Fire Department.
The fire alarm system owner shall provide the Fire Chief with the following information:
A. 
The name, address, and home and work telephone numbers of the fire alarm system owner.
B. 
The street address where the fire alarm system is located.
C. 
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons or businesses protected by the fire alarm system.
D. 
The names, addresses and home and work telephone numbers of at least two persons other than the owner who can be contacted 24 hours a day, who are authorized by the fire alarm system owner to respond to an alarm signal and who have access to the premises in which the fire alarm system is located.
E. 
Such other information as the Fire Chief may require.
Every commercial fire alarm system user shall be required to install a Knox-Box® by the entrance door located in the immediate vicinity of the fire alarm panel. They shall be required to provide the Fire Department with a key, to be kept in the Knox-Box®, which will allow access to any areas that contain a fire signaling device.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
Any alarm system emitting a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 15 minutes, after the arrival of the Fire Department, which signal has been determined to be a false alarm, which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due to the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him or her under § 110-9 of this article and which disturbs the peace, comfort or repose of a community, a neighborhood or a considerable number of inhabitants of the area where the alarm system is located shall constitute a public nuisance.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
No alarm system which is designed to transmit emergency messages or signals of fire alarm system activation to the Fire Department will be tested until the Fire Dispatcher has been notified.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
A. 
All fire alarm systems which are designed to transmit emergency messages or signals of fire alarm system activation to the Fire Department will be of a type approved by the Fire Chief.
B. 
Restrictions on tape dialers and similar automatic telephone devices. No fire alarm system shall be equipped with a tape dialer or similar automatic telephone device which will transmit an alarm message to any telephone lines of the Plymouth Fire Department. If a fire alarm system is equipped with such a tape dialer or similar automatic telephone device, the fire alarm system owner shall have 60 days to disconnect such tape dialer or similar automatic telephone device. If a fire alarm system owner fails to comply with this section, the Fire Chief may assess a fine of no less than $50.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
A. 
The Fire Chief or his designee shall provide the alarm user with written notice of a violation by regular mail. Fines shall be paid in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Fines for false alarm activation in any 12-month period shall be as follows:
Offense
Fine
1st through 3rd false alarm
No fine
4th through 6th false alarm
$50
7th through 11th false alarm
$100
Each false alarm after the 11th
$200
B. 
Any user, owner or installer found to be in violation of any provision of this article for which no other penalty is specified shall be punished by a fine in accordance with MGL c. 148A.
C. 
Upon the recording of the third false alarm by the Fire Department, the Fire Chief shall notify the owner of the building, in writing and by certified mail, of such fact, and at this time inform the owner of the Department's policy with regards to charging for false alarms. (Send copy of the policy at this time.)
D. 
This article may be enforced by any available means in law or equity, including but not limited to enforcement by noncriminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D, and §§ 1-4 and 1-5 of the Town Code.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
Any fire alarm system owner who is aggrieved by an action taken by the Fire Chief under this bylaw may, within 10 days of such action, file an appeal, in writing, to the Municipal Appeals Officer. After notice, the Municipal Appeals Officer shall hold a hearing, after which it shall issue a decision in which it affirms, annuls or modifies the action taken by the Fire Chief, giving its reasons therefor. The Municipal Appeals Officer shall send its decision to the owner by first class mail with 10 days after the hearing. The decision of the Municipal Appeals Officer shall be a final administrative decision.
In the event that any provision, section or clause of this article is hereafter judicially found to be invalid, such decision, invalidity or voidance shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this article.