HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9932 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9932
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 27, 2016
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*a SUBJECT: ALARM SYSTEMS AND PERMITTING
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Chapter 12 of the City Code addresses Emergency Reporting Equipment and Procedures,
including the requirements for alarm systems and alarm system companies.
Alarm systems can be either monitored or unmonitored. Unmonitored systems will not
automatically summon a police response. Monitored alarm systems can provide either direct or
indirect reporting to the Police Department. Direct alarm notification is only permitted for
government entities and financial institutions. Residential and typical commercial alarm systems
provide indirect alarm reporting to the Police Department, meaning that the notification goes
through an alarm company prior to notifying the Police Department of activity indicative of criminal
behavior. Property owners that install a monitored alarm system and wish to have a police
response to an alarm activation must have an alarm permit issued by the Planning and
Development Department. An alarm permit is valid for one year and has an annual cost of
$50.00.
A property owner is responsible for keeping an alarm system in good working order and to
minimize false alarms. Alarm monitoring companies are responsible for attempting to verify alarm
signals prior to notifying the Police Department and for providing the alarm permit number and
alarm site address to the Police Department.
False alarms have a negative impact on public safety because they divert resources
unnecessarily and first responder personnel responding to false alarms are consequently not
available to respond to actual emergencies. Alarm permit holders are assessed a fee for all false
alarms in excess of three in a 12-month period on a sliding scale. Alarm permits may be revoked
if a property owner has more than eight false alarms in a year.
If you have any questions about this topic, please contact Randle Harwood, Planning and
Development Director, at 817-392-6101.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS