Town of Niskayuna, NY Chapter 55 Alarm Systems, Emergency

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Niskayuna 9-18-1979 by L.L. No. 5-1979; amended in its entirety 8-25-2020 by L.L. No. 6-2020.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: Previous amendments included 5-21-1991, L.L. No. 13-1991, L.L. No. 3-1994, L.L. No. 1-2006, and L.L. No. 4-2017.

§ 55-1 Applicability; exceptions.

This chapter shall apply to the installation of all emergency alarm systems in buildings of all types and occupancies, except:

A. Battery-operated, single-station smoke and/or heat detectors installed by a property owner in an owner-occupied dwelling unit.

B. The installation by a general electrical contractor of alarm systems required by the provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

§ 55-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, any word or phrase which is defined in the most recently adopted New York State Building Codes has the meaning prescribed in such standard; and, in addition, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

EMERGENCY ALARM

Any assembly of equipment or any device to signal the presence of a hazard to which the Town of Niskayuna Police, Fire or Emergency Medical Services are expected to respond, including self-monitored equipment and devices.

EMERGENCY ALARM INSTALLER

Any person or party who constructs or installs emergency alarms in the Town of Niskayuna.

FALSE ALARM

Any emergency message or signal that is transmitted directly or indirectly to the Unified Communications Center and is not canceled by the resident before a Town police officer arrives at the residence and which signal or message is not the result of a robbery, burglary or other crime or emergency, excluding:

A. Alarms occurring during electrical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and acts of God.

B. The intermittent disruption of the telephone circuits beyond the control of the alarm company and/or alarm user.

C. Electrical power disruption or failure.

D. Alarms caused by a failure of the equipment at the Unified Communications Center.

LICENSE TO INSTALL EMERGENCY ALARMS

A license issued pursuant to the provisions of § 55-4 of this chapter.

UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

A centralized emergency and public safety dispatch center for Schenectady County that answers calls and dispatches appropriate service entities for public safety and emergencies in the Town of Niskayuna.

§ 55-3 Installation standards.

All emergency alarms shall be installed in accordance with the appropriate standards of the most recently adopted New York State Building Codes.

§ 55-4 Installer licensing requirements.

No emergency alarm installer shall be permitted to do business in the Town of Niskayuna without first having obtained a New York State license to install security and fire alarms.

§ 55-5 Permit requirements.

A. No emergency alarm shall be installed in the Town of Niskayuna until a permit for such installation has been obtained from the Building Department.

B. Permits for the initial installation of emergency alarms shall be issued only to parties possessing a valid license to install emergency alarms, with the exception of single-family homeowners installing emergency alarms within their primary single-family residence.

C. Fees for permits to install emergency alarms shall be set by the Town Board in a fee schedule to be established and revised from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.

§ 55-5.1 (Reserved)

§ 55-5.2 Registration requirements.

A. All emergency alarms require registration with the Town of Niskayuna Police Department at the time of installation and annually thereafter.

B. Every person who is the owner of or who is in charge of premises on which an emergency alarm system is installed shall register such emergency alarm device with the Town of Niskayuna Police Department on or before April 1 of each year.

C. There will be an annual registration fee for all emergency alarms, to be established and revised from time to time by resolution of the Town Board. The registration fee will be based on a fee schedule according to the alarm termination option.

D. If the alarm is installed after June 30, the annual fee will be half for the year of installation and then will revert to the full fee thereafter.

E. If there is a change of ownership or person in charge of the premises, the new owner or person in charge of the premises is required to complete the emergency alarm system registration form and pay any pending fees before use of the alarm.

F. Any unpaid alarm registration fees shall be assessed as a lien against the subject property and added to the owner's property taxes.

§ 55-6 Maintenance.

A. All emergency alarm systems shall be maintained in accordance with the appropriate standards of the most recently adopted New York State Building Codes.

B. Maintenance of emergency alarm systems shall be carried out only by personnel licensed by the Town pursuant to § 55-4 of this chapter.

C. All emergency alarms shall be maintained so as not to result in the transmittal of false alarms. A fee for each false alarm will be assessed by the Town against the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises from which the false alarm originates in accordance with a fee schedule to be established and revised from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.

§ 55-7 Direct-dialer telephone restrictions.

No signaling system for police or fire assistance shall be so installed or programmed as to terminate in the regular police telephone system.

§ 55-8 through § 55-9. (Reserved)

§ 55-10 Penalties for offenses.

Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or 30 days in jail, or both.