Alhambra Municipal Code Ch. 9.74 Alarm Systems

All words and phrases used in this chapter, which are defined in Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7590 et seq., entitled the Alarm Company Act, shall have the same meaning as in the Act, and certain additional words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

ALARM AGENT. Any person who owns or operates or is employed by an alarm business whose duties include the installing, altering, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, responding to or causing others to respond to an alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility.

ALARM BUSINESS. The business carried on by any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm system or causing to be sold, leased, maintained, serviced, repaired, altered, replaced, moved or installed any alarm system in or on any building, structure or facility.

ALARM SYSTEM. Any mechanical or electrical device or combination thereof which is designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on or into any building, place or premises or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, and which when actuated emits a sound or transmits a signal or message. ALARM SYSTEMS include, but are not limited to, direct dial telephone devices, audible alarms and proprietor alarms. Devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible outside of the protected building, structure or facility are not included within this definition, nor are auxiliary devices installed by the telephone company to protect telephone company systems which might be damaged or destroyed by the use of an alarm system.

AUDIBLE ALARM. A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated.

COMMUNICATIONS SECTION. The Police Department facility used to receive emergency and general information from the public to be dispatched to the respective police units or other emergency equipment.

DAY. Calendar day.

DIRECT ALARM. Any alarm system connecting an authorized source to the Police Department by a leased telephone line or any other direct line that has no intermediate station, and terminates at an independent terminal monitor module at the Police Department communications section.

DIRECT-DIAL TELEPHONE DEVICE (AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE). Any device which is interconnected to a voice-grade telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmits by prerecorded voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.

FALSE ALARM. Any alarm signal, either silent or audible, necessitating response by the Police or Fire Department where an emergency situation for which the alarm system was designed or used does not exist due to mechanical failure, accidental tripping or actuation (human error), misoperation, malfunction, misuse or the neglect of the owner or lessee of an alarm system, or of his employees or agents. Upon failure of the Police or Fire Department to find any evidence of intrusion, fire or attempted intrusion, or other need or cause for activating an alarm system, a presumption of FALSE ALARM will arise. FALSE ALARM shall not include alarms caused by earthquakes, violent winds, malfunction of telephone line circuits or external causes beyond the control of the owner or lessee of the alarm system.

POLICE ALARM BOARD. The alarm-receiving center located in the Police Department communications section which receives, by direct connection, alarm and trouble signals from subscribers' alarm systems.

POLICE CHIEF and POLICE DEPARTMENT. The Police Chief and the Police Department, respectively, of the city.

PROPRIETOR ALARM. An alarm system which is serviced by an alarm company operator and which the police do not normally respond to unless called by telephone after an alarm has indicated evidence requiring law enforcement response.

SUBSCRIBER. Any person who purchases, leases, contracts for, or otherwise obtains an alarm system or for the servicing or maintenance of an alarm system from an alarm business.

('86 Code, § 9.74.010) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

Fees required by this chapter shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

(‘86 Code, § 9.74.020) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 4537, passed 3-9-09)

(A) No person shall engage within this city in the activities of an alarm agent as defined in this chapter, unless the person holds a valid permit in accordance with this chapter.

(B) No alarm company operator or alarm agent or their employees, shall install, maintain or repair any alarm system within the city, unless the alarm company operator and/or alarm agent have, prior to obtaining a business license, registered their names and addresses and affixed a copy of their state identification card to their written application to the Finance Department as indicated in this section.

(C) The following written information shall be included on the permit application of a subscriber to an alarm system:

(1) The name of the applicant and the address at which the system is to be installed.

(2) Name, address and phone number of the alarm company and/or alarm agent installing, maintaining or repairing their alarm system.

(3) A description as to the type of alarm, (such as, but not limited to silent, audible, direct dialer or central office).

(4) If the application will not have a service contract with the alarm company or business, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two persons to call in case of an emergency or activation of the alarm.

(5) Any other information required in order to process this application.

(D) Each subscriber that files an application with the city shall submit a permit fee and thereafter be required to pay an annual permit fee.

(E) Each subscriber shall give written notice whenever any change occurs in any information required under this section within 24 hours after the change is effective.

(‘86 Code, § 9.74.030) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 4537, passed 3-9-09) Penalty, see 9.74.160

(A) All new alarm systems shall meet or exceed the minimum standards for alarm systems as set forth in this ordinance. All existing alarm systems shall meet these standards within one year of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, unless the City Council modifies the requirement upon a showing of good cause.

(B) All premises entry alarm systems terminating at the police alarm board shall include a device which will provide a minimum of 15 seconds delay of the original transmission, and activate a signal immediately in such a manner as to be perceptible to a person legitimately entering, leaving or occupying the premises. Alarm systems not equipped with such a delay device must comply or not be connected to the police alarm board.

(C) All alarm systems shall be applied with an uninterrupted power supply in such a manner that the failure or interruption of the normal electric utility service will not activate the alarm system.

(D) All audible alarm systems shall include a device which will limit the duration of the audible sound to a period of 15 minutes. Those alarm systems installed prior to the passing of the ordinance codified in this chapter and not equipped with an automatic deactivator must comply with this requirement within 90 days after the effective date of the ordinance.

(E) Any audible alarm system which does not automatically reset and/or rearm itself as herein provided, or which generates an audible sound in excess of the time limitations herein prescribed, is declared to be a public nuisance and may be summarily abated by the Police Chief or Fire Chief or their designated representative. Such summary abate-ment shall not be a bar to any other remedy provided herein, or at law, including but not limited to revocation and/or suspension of any permit issued for such alarm or alarm system and/or criminal prosecution.

('86 Code, § 9.74.040) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ) Penalty, see § 9.74.160

Any person who maintains or has an alarm connected to the Police Department alarm board and any person who maintains any alarm system regulated by this chapter shall be subject to pay an assessment for false alarm as follows:

(A) Against the permittee for each false alarm in excess of three within the same calendar year.

(B) Against any person owning, maintaining, or using an alarm system when such system is the source or cause of any false alarm resulting in a police or fire response and no permit has been issued for such alarm system or, if issued, has been suspended or revoked.

(‘86 Code, § 9.74.060) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 4537, passed 3-9-09; Am. Ord. 4845, passed 4-28-25)

When emergency messages are received by the Police Department that show a failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter or a permit issued hereunder, the owner or lessee of an alarm system initiating such messages, or his representatives, shall disconnect the alarm system until it is made to comply with the requirements immediately upon written notification of the Police Chief to do so.

('86 Code, § 9.74.070) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

(A) Any alarm license or permit pursuant to this chapter may be revoked or suspended up to 30 days if any of the following conditions exist or occur:

(1) If the licensee has knowingly made any material misstatement in his applications for the license;

(2) If the licensee has violated any provisions of this chapter or any rules or regulations made pursuant to this chapter;

(3) If the licensee conducts such business in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance or a breach of peace or to be a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the people of the city;

(4) If the licensee has not paid fees as provided herein;

(5) If the number of false alarms for any alarm system exceeds six in any calendar year;

(6) If any conditions then exist which would have been grounds for denial of the application for the license.

(B) Suspension or revocation of any alarm license issued shall be pursuant to Chapter 5.82 of this code.

('86 Code, § 9.74.080) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

No license or permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be transferable or assignable.

('86 Code, § 9.74.090) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ) Penalty, see § 9.74.160

A subscriber shall notify the Police Department and/or Fire Department prior to any service, tests, repair, maintenance, alteration or installation of an alarm system which might produce a false alarm. An alarm activate subsequent to notification shall not be counted as a false alarm for the purposes of this section.

('86 Code, § 9.74.100) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

When any false alarm caused by a malfunction occurs, the subscribers shall cause the alarm system to be repaired, to eliminate the malfunction, before the alarm is again put into service. The repair must be certified in writing by a registered alarm agent.

('86 Code, § 9.74.110) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ) Penalty, see § 9.74.160

No alarm system shall emit a sound resembling an emergency vehicle siren or Civil Defense warning. The Police Chief shall make the final determination regarding any question of compliance of an audible alarm within this section.

('86 Code, § 9.74.120) (Ord. 4164, passed - - ) Penalty, see § 9.74.160

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impose upon the city or any office or employee of the city any duty or any obligation of any kind to a subscriber or any other person.

('86 Code, § 9.74.130) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

No persons shall install, use or maintain any alarm system which directly dials any telephone number in any office of the city. All systems which directly dial telephone numbers in any office of the city, and which are in existence prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, shall be eliminated or the system shall be reprogrammed to dial another number.

('86 Code, § 9.74.140) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

(A) The Police Chief may discontinue response by city officers to an alarm at a location when any of the following conditions exist:

(1) When there are more than six assessments against a specific location for false alarms in a calendar year.

(2) When an assessment for a false alarm has been levied against an alarm location and the party responsible for payment of the assessment fails to pay the assessment within 15 days following notification of the levy of the assessment.

(B) At least 15 days prior to discontinuance of response by city officers, the Police Chief shall notify the subscriber by mail of the action. The subscriber may, within ten days after mailing of such notice, request a meeting with the designate of the Police Department to present material to rebut the basis of the discontinuance. The subscriber may appeal the decision to the City Council within five days of the effective date of the decision by the Police Depart-ment.

(C) Reinstatement will occur when the subscriber and/or the alarm operator and/or alarm agent have remedied the problem causing the false alarms or when the past due assessment has been paid.

(D) Nothing in this chapter is intended to prevent a police officer from responding to a person who calls and advises of a crime in progress or who needs police assistance.

('86 Code, § 9.74.150) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )

(A) Any person(s) violating the provisions in this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction.

(B) Any alarm installed or maintained in violation of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated as provided by law.

('86 Code, § 9.74.160) (Ord. 4164, passed - - )