La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 11.92 Regulation of False Activations of Fire Alarms

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions will apply:

"Alarm system" means any device designed for the detection of any fire or fire-related product of combustion or for the detection of the activation of an automatic fire-suppression system or for alerting others of a fire or fire-related product of combustion or for the detection of the activation of an automatic fire-suppression system and when activated, emits a sound and/or transmits a signal to indicate that an emergency exists, and to which the fire department is expected to respond.

"Alarm user" means any person using an alarm system at his or her place of business, residence or property.

"Audible alarm" means a device designed for the detection of a fire emergency or activation of an automatic fire-suppression system or both, and which, when activated, generates an audible sound on the premises.

"City" means the city of La Quinta.

"Day" means calendar day.

"False alarm" means the activation of an alarm system necessitating response by the fire department when an emergency situation does not exist; provided that alarm activations generated by natural disaster or other violent conditions of nature not subject to the control of the alarm user shall not constitute a false alarm.

"Fire chief" means the fire chief of the fire department or his/her designee providing contract fire protection service to the city of La Quinta.

"Fire department" means the fire department of the county of Riverside providing fire protection services to the city of La Quinta.

"Person" means natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.

"Service fee" means a fee paid to the city after an excessive number of false alarms within the specified period of time.

(Ord. 260 § 1, 1994)

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth regulations governing the use of alarm systems, provide for service fees for excessive responses necessitated by false alarms, and to provide penalties for violations of provisions of this chapter.

A. The provisions of this chapter and the requirements therein shall become effective thirty (30) days after the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

B. The provisions of this chapter are not applicable to audible alarms affixed to motor vehicles or smoke and heat detectors in single-family residential units, unless the alarm is connected to a central monitoring system.

C. The provisions of this chapter are not applicable during the first thirty (30) days of activation of a newly installed alarm system.

(Ord. 260 § 1, 1994)

A. No person shall use or cause to be used any telephone device or telephone attachment that automatically selects a public telephone trunk line to the fire department and then reproduces any prerecorded message to report any fire act or other emergency.

B. All alarm systems sold for installation and installed within the city shall utilize approved Underwriters Laboratories or equivalent rated and protected equipment.

C. No person shall operate or use, or cause to be operated or used, any alarm system that emits a sound similar to that of any emergency vehicle siren or civil defense warning system.

D. This section does not prohibit a test of an alarm system if procedures are taken to ensure that the fire department is notified of the intended test prior to the activation.

(Ord. 260 § 1, 1994)

A. If the fire chief (or designee) determines that a false alarm has occurred, the fire officer responding to the alarm shall leave a notice at the premises which shall include the date and time of the response and a statement that the alarm was a "false alarm." The notice shall also state that the user should take action to correct the causative problems and a warning that more than two (2) false fire alarms in any one (1)-year period is excessive. This chapter shall require a service fee to be paid per Section 11.92.050. Notice may be left at the premises pursuant to any method authorized pursuant to Section 1.01.300, or successor section, of the code.

B. Multiple activations of an alarm system within a calendar day shall count as only one (1) false alarm for the purposes of this chapter.

C. An alarm user may contest the responding officer's determination of a false alarm by contacting the fire chief or designee, within ten (10) days of the notification of the false alarm. The fire chief, or designee, will make a decision concerning the determination that there was a false alarm. Any such decision may be appealed to the director of the building and safety department within ten (10) days of said determination.

D. An audible alarm shall terminate its operation or the audible alarm shall automatically reset within fifteen (15) minutes of its being activated. If an audible alarm has emitted an alarm signal in excess of thirty (30) minutes within a one (1)-hour period, it may be declared a nuisance, and the fire department may cause such alarm to be disconnected by an alarm agent licensed by the department of consumer affairs, and the cost thereof to be charged to the alarm user. If the alarm is connected to a central monitor, a responsible party must deactivate the alarm within thirty (30) minutes of being notified of the nuisance.

(Ord. 558 § 3, 2017; Ord. 260 § 1, 1994)

A. A service fee shall be paid to the city by an alarm user after an excessive number of false alarms have been received from a particular business, residence or property. For purposes of this section, three (3) or more false alarms within a one (1)-year period, commencing from the date of the first false alarm, is deemed an excessive number of false alarms. Fees shall be set according to resolution adopted by the city council, and the amount of the fee after five (5) or more false alarms shall be up to the amount of full cost recovery, per each false alarm, for responses to false alarms as established by the resolution adopted by the city council.

B. An alarm user may appeal to the fire chief or designee, if extenuating or mitigating circumstances can be presented to satisfy the fire chief that extraordinary circumstances exist which preclude the alarm user's good faith attempts at rectifying the causative problems with his or her alarm system. The final decision as to assessment of the service fee will be made by the director of building and safety upon the written request of the alarm user.

C. The service fees are to be paid to the city within fifteen (15) days of the notification being mailed in the U.S. Postal Service. Failure to pay a service fee is a violation of this code and subject to fines in the amounts set forth in Section 1.09.020(D), or successor section, of the code.

D. The United States Government, the state of California, other county departments, and other governmental agencies are exempt from fees required in this chapter.

(Ord. 558 § 3, 2017; Ord. 260 § 1, 1994)