Alameda Municipal Code § 6-10 Alarm Systems

As used in this section:

Accidental false alarm shall mean an alarm signal or message initiated or transmitted, either automatically or manually through an alarm system, to the City, eliciting response by Police or fire when fire, heat, smoke, robbery, burglary, vandalism, or unauthorized intrusion has not in fact occurred. It does not include an alarm signal caused by catastrophic acts of God not reasonably subject to control by the alarm manufacturer, installer, or alarm subscriber.

Alarm agent shall mean any person employed by an alarm company operator and whose duties include altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing or servicing an alarm system or responding to same.

Alarm company operator shall mean any person, business or other entity operating for any consideration which engages in the installation, maintenance, alteration or servicing of alarm systems, or which respond to such systems.

Alarm system shall mean an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention.

a. Automatic dialing device shall mean a device which is interconnected to a telephone line or other means and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice, message, or code signal a message indicating a need for emergency response.

b. Interconnected alarm system shall mean an alarm system which directly or indirectly, automatically or manually, uses a telephone line or other means to transmit an alarm or message upon activation of the alarm system.

c. Local alarm system shall mean an alarm system that when activated sounds a horn, bell, buzzer, or other type of audible or visible alarm at the premises being served, but which does not result in the transmission of a signal to any other location.

Subscriber shall mean any person, business or other entity which owns or is entitled to occupy any premises on which an alarm system has been installed.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

The provisions of this section shall be administered and enforced by both the Police and Fire Chiefs. They, or their representatives, are authorized to make inspections of alarm systems and of the premises whereon the systems are located and to make and enforce such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

The Police and Fire Chiefs are authorized to implement such procedures and practices as may reasonably be necessary to reduce false alarms in this City. This may include a no response policy on the part of either the Police or Fire Departments to alarms at locations which have repeated incidents of accidental/ false alarms.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

Any alarm company and/or operator, conducting business within the City shall file a copy of his/her California State alarm license in the City Clerk's office within thirty (30) days of having applied for a City business license.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

All residential or business alarm systems that may require police response and that are installed after July 1, 1990, will require an alarm permit. This permit may be purchased at the Records counter of the Alameda Police Department. The fee schedule for alarm permits will be set by City Council resolution.

(Ord. No. 2495 N.S. 2)

Any alarm company and/or operator shall, within thirty (30) days of discontinuing business within the City, notify the City Clerk's office in writing of same.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

a. It shall be unlawful to install or sell an alarm system which, upon activation, emits a sound similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or for civil defense purposes. This subsection shall not apply to sirens mounted inside the building which cannot be clearly heard from outside the building.

b. For the purpose of this subsection, any electronic sounding device that produces a variable tone instead of one (1) steady pitch shall be considered to be similar to an emergency vehicle siren.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

The provisions of this section are not applicable to home smoke or heat detectors not intended to be heard outside the dwelling unit, nor to local alarm systems or audible alarms affixed to automobiles, boats, boat trailers, house trailers, and recreation vehicles or other motor vehicles.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

Any alarm system which, when activated, causes an alarm to be sent by a self dialing, prerecorded voice notification unit must meet the standards established by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. for such equipment and for its installation.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

It shall be unlawful for any alarm system to terminate directly at the Alameda Police/Fire Communications Center, whether or not the alarm system signal is transmitted by prerecorded dialing device, telephone lines, or any other means, unless specifically authorized in writing by either the Police or Fire Chiefs.

Any alarm system authorized to terminate at the Alameda Police/Fire Communications Center must meet the equipment and installation standards established by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

It shall be unlawful to operate an audible alarm system which does not shut off within a maximum time of thirty (30) minutes from time of activation. This may be accomplished with either an automatic shutoff or by manual operation. If the alarm system has an automatic cutoff with a rearming phase, the rearming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit, and if the circuit is broken, the system shall not rearm.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

All alarm systems shall have a standby backup power supply which will automatically assume the operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system. The transfer of power from the primary source to the backup source must occur in a manner which does not activate the alarm.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

At the time an alarm system is instituted, it shall be classified as either a burglar alarm, robbery alarm, fire alarm, or a medical assistance signal. Once established, the alarm shall be used only for the designated classification. Panic alarm systems are prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

Each alarm company director shall provide accurate and complete instruction to the alarm system user in the proper use and operation of the system. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of accidental/false alarms. All businesses which sell alarm systems but which are not alarm company operators as defined in this section, are similarly responsible for instructing the buyer in the proper use of same.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

Every audible alarm system shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the audible device indicating the name and telephone number of the person or company responsible for the maintenance of the system. The notice shall be posted in such a position as to be readable from outside ground level and adjacent to the building. Silent alarm system shall also have a notice on the premises which provides the same information.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)

Upon proper notification by Alameda Police/Fire Communications Center personnel, the person or company named in the notice required by subsection 6-10.15 or the representative of such person or company shall promptly proceed to the scene of the alarm and render the necessary service, within forty-five (45) minutes of said notification. This service shall include, when necessary, the opening of the premises.

(Ord. No. 2123 N.S.)