If you own an alarm system at your home or business, you must possess a valid alarm permit. For your convenience, the Office of Finance accepts on-line payments for alarm permits, or you can visit the Office of Finance at one of their branch locations.
The cost for an alarm permit is $43. The cost to renew your alarm permit is $26.
For permit fee exemptions, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section on permits.
Once you receive your alarm permit, please display it on the premises, at or near the main entrance, so that an officer can identify the permit and telephone number of the person designated to respond to the location in the event of an alarm activation. In lieu of displaying your alarm permit, displaying the alarm company decal in front of your premises would be sufficient.
False Alarm Fees and Penalties
The city eliminated “free” false alarms under the revised Alarm Ordinance (effective November 8, 2004). In addition to recovering the fee for service, escalating penalties will be imposed for multiple false alarms. An alarm system user with a valid permit will be billed a penalty assessment of $50 for the second false alarm within 365 days of the first false alarm. The penalty assessment will increase by $50 increments for each additional false alarm incurred during a 365-day period.
An alarm system user who does not have a valid permit on the date of the false alarm will be billed a penalty assessment of $100 for the first false alarm. The penalty assessment will increase by $100 increments for each additional false alarm incurred during a 365-day period.
False alarm fees are reviewed yearly to ensure that the City recovers the actual cost in responding to each false alarm. The Council establishes and approves the false alarm fees. The chart below illustrates the current billing schedule.
|
Number of False Alarms |
Fees & Penalties |
|
|
|
Permitted | Un-Permitted |
|
1st False Alarm |
$229 | $229 + $100 =$3329 |
|
2nd False Alarm |
$229 + $50 =$279 | $229 + $200 =$429 |
|
3rd False Alarm |
$229 + $100 =$329 | $229 + $300 =$529 |
|
4th False Alarm |
$229 + $150 =$379 | $229 + $400 =$629 |
*** THE FALSE ALARM FEE OF $229 BECAME EFFECTIVE ON April 17, 2023.***
ALARM SCHOOL FOR PERMITTED ALARM USERS ONLY
The Los Angeles Police Commission, Alarm Section, now offers Alarm School online and mail-in Home Study course, allowing alarm system users with a valid alarm permit who have experienced a false burglar alarm activation to complete Alarm School instead of paying one false alarm charge. The lowest false alarm charge will be waived in case of multiple false alarm charges.
Permitted alarm system users who have incurred a false alarm charge may log onto: https://lapdalarmschool.lapd.lacity.org to participate in the Alarm School online to obtain a waiver of the lowest false alarm activation charge per 365 days. The false alarm charge must also have occurred within the last 75 days. The bill should not be in collections to be eligible for the course. There is only one Alarm School online that is associated with the Los Angeles Police Commission. There is no charge for Alarm School and users are warned not to use any commercial sites offering this type of service. The Los Angeles Police Commission recognizes completion of the curriculum through this website only.
Permitted alarm system users who have incurred a false alarm charge with no computer access may participate in the Alarm School through mail-in Home Study course. Please contact the Alarm Section at 213-996-1200 to register. Similar to Alarm School online, the mail-in Home Study course is available to those who have not completed the course in the previous 365 days. The false alarm charge must also have occurred within the last 75 days. The bill should not be in collections to be eligible for the course.
In the City of Los Angeles, the vast majority of alarm calls are false. The Alarm School curriculum focuses on how to operate an alarm system without false alarm activations which unnecessarily utilize valuable public safety resources such as police officers and 911 operators. The ultimate goal of Alarm School is to reduce the number of false alarms through alarm user training and awareness. Reducing false alarm calls would make optimum use of public safety resources.
Appealing a False Alarm
Permittees questioning service charges billed to them may request a waiver investigation by presenting a written request to the Board of Police Commissioners. You must include documentation to support why a service charge should be waived. A service charge shall be waived or reversed when the Board or its designee has determined that activation of the permittee’s alarm system was caused by:
Criminal activity as evidenced by a Investigative Report (IR) filed within 30 days of the alarm date, or other verifiable evidence of a crime occurring on the alarm date which is deemed acceptable by the Board; or
Acts of nature such as earthquake, flood, hurricane force wind, fire and verifiable power or telephone line failure.
The City contracts with private collection agencies to ensure payment of past due false alarm billings. If you have delinquent false alarm billings, contact the Alarm Section at 213-996-1200.
Misdemeanor Program
The City Attorney may file a case with the Los Angeles Superior Court to ensure compliance with the City’s Alarm Ordinance. If you are the subject of a misdemeanor action, please call the Alarm Section at 213-996-1200 to obtain more information.