Anaheim Municipal Code Ch. 16.35 False Alarms — Fire Department

As used in this chapter:

.101 "Alarm" means the giving, signalling or transmission to any public fire station or company or to any officer or employee thereof, whether by telephone, spoken word or otherwise, information to the effect that a fire or emergency situation exists at or near the place indicated by the person giving, signalling or transmitting such information.

.020 "Automatic fire sprinkler system" means an integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection standards, and which is normally activated by heat from a fire, and discharges water over the fire area.

.030 "City" means the City of Anaheim, California.

.040 "City Council" means the legislative body of the City.

.050 "False alarm" means an alarm necessitating response by the Anaheim Fire Department where a fire or emergency situation does not exist.

.060 "Fire alarm system" means a system consisting of a control unit and a combination of electrical interconnected devices designed and intended to detect a fire condition and to actuate an alarm or warning of fire in a building or structure by either manual or automatic activation, or both, and includes the systems installed throughout any building or portion thereof.

.070 "Fire Chief" means the Fire Chief of the City, or his designee.

.080 "Notice" means written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or given by the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service, or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.

.090 "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation. (Ord. 5381 § 1 (part); June 29, 1993.)

Persons shall notify the Anaheim Fire Department through the Metro Cities Joint Powers Communications Center ("Metro Net") prior to any service, test, repair, maintenance, adjustment, alterations, or installations of automatic fire sprinkler or fire alarm systems which might activate a false alarm, which would normally result in an emergency response. Any alarm activated where such prior notice has been given shall not constitute a false alarm for the purpose of this chapter. (Ord. 5381 § 1 (part); June 29, 1993: Ord. 5966 § 4; April 26, 2005.)

The following fees are hereby imposed regarding false fire alarms:

.010 The owner or lessee of any premises containing a fire alarm system shall be assessed a fee as provided in this chapter for each false alarm in excess of two occurring within any thirty-day period, or in excess of three occurring within any six-month period.

.020 The owner or lessee of any premises containing an automatic fire sprinkler system or fire alarm system shall be assessed a fee as provided in this chapter for any false alarm activated following a failure to notify the Fire Department prior to service, testing, repair, maintenance, adjustment, alterations, or installation of automatic sprinkler systems or alarm systems.

.030 Any person who intentionally initiates or reports an alarm where no fire or emergency situation exists shall be assessed a fee as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 5381 § 1 (part); June 29, 1993.)

The City Council shall by resolution establish the amount of all fees imposed pursuant to this chapter which fees shall constitute debts owing to the City of Anaheim. (Ord. 5381 § 1 (part); June 29, 1993.)

It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to collect fees pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 5381 § 1 (part); June 29, 1993.)