Tuolumne County Municipal Code Ch. 5.26 Registration of Fire Alarm Systems

5.26.010 Definitions. 5.26.015 Direct Dial Alarms. 5.26.020 Mandatory Response by Owner/Agent. 5.26.030 Registration. 5.26.040 False Alarm Fees. 5.26.050 Permit Requirement. 5.26.060 Permit Denial, Suspension and Revocation. 5.26.070 Administrative Appeal. 5.26.080 Displaying of Alarm System Permit Number. 5.26.090 Dispatch Notification. 5.26.100 Impermissible Systems and Uses.

chapter, the following terms shall mean: A. "Fire alarm” means any mechanical or electrical device emits a sound or transmits a signal that gives warning of heat, smoke, fire sprinkler activation, and/or any other fire-related emergency. B. “Fire alarm system” system that has a number of devices working together or independently to detect and warn people through visual and/or audio means when smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, or other fire related emergencies are present. The alarms may be activated automatically from smoke detectors, heat detectors, or other means, and/or may be activated via manual fire alarm activation devices such as pull stations. Alarms may include, but are not limited to motorized bells, wall mountable sounders or horns, and speaker strobes which sound an alarm, followed by a voice evacuation message which warns people inside the building of the emergency and actions to take, that is monitored by a third- party. C. "Canceled response" mean a response to a reported alarm emergency which has been canceled by the alarm system owner or agent prior to the arrival of departmental response personnel. D. "Department" means the Tuolumne County Fire Department. E. "Failure to respond" is a situation wherein the owner of an alarm system, and/or their agent, fails to arrive at the location of the alarm to secure the alarm or premises within thirty minutes of notification by the department. F. "False alarm" means a report received by the department from any source resulting in a response by the department’s personnel to the premises on which an alarm system is located, where an emergency situation does not exist. G. "First false alarm” means the first false alarm incident experienced by an alarm system at a location within a rolling twelve-month (365 days) period. H. “Second through third false alarm” means the second and third false alarm incidents experienced by an alarm system at a location within a rolling twelve-month (365 days) period. I. “Fourth and subsequent false alarms” means the fourth or additional false alarm incidents experienced by an alarm system at a location within a rolling twelve-month (365 days) period. J. "Owner or agent" means any person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation, or any owner or lessee of premises on which an alarm system is installed or maintained, or the agent or representative of the above, which or who utilizes an alarm system on premises located within the department jurisdiction. K. "Premises" means any private residential, commercial, or industrial land and/or buildings located within the department jurisdiction (excluding land or buildings owned, rented or leased by the federal, state or local government) including school districts. L. "Registered alarm system" means an alarm system which has been registered with the department during the period of one year from the date of original or renewal registration.

shall use direct dial alarms to contact 9-1-1.

Upon telephone notification by the department, an alarm owner or their authorized agent shall proceed within thirty minutes to the scene of the alarm and render any necessary service, which includes, but is not limited to, opening the premises so that the premises may be searched, and renders the alarm and premises secure.

within the department jurisdiction shall be registered with the department on a form provided by the department. Registration forms shall include, but are not limited to, the name and telephone number of persons authorized to secure the premises and deactivate the alarm system who can respond to the premises within 30 minutes, and any conditions present on the property that would constitute a hazard to responding personnel. Each alarm system shall be registered on an annual basis and renewed upon the anniversary date of the initial registration. An alarm user shall not operate, or cause to be operated, any alarm system without a valid alarm registration. A separate alarm registration is required for each alarm site having a distinct address. The initial alarm permit fee must be paid by the alarm user to the Alarm Administrator within ten (10) days after any alarm system installation or alarm system takeover.
The fee for initial registration and renewal of an alarm system will be charged as stated in Section 3.40.010(DD). Details of alarm system, as reported on the registration form, will be entered in the department's computer system to assist only in the efficient response of department personnel to fire- related emergencies. Records relating to individual registrations are not public records.

be maintained in a condition to minimize the incidents of false alarms. If an alarm system falsely renders an alarm, the owner or agent is responsible for fees as established in this section. The fees for response to a false alarm are contained in Section 3.40.010(DD). The fees for the first fire alarm may be waived if the responsible party attends an online alarm school.

install, connect, activate, operate or use a third- party monitored Alarm System without a valid Alarm System permit having been issued for that purpose.

Revocation. The department head or designee may suspend or revoke the permit of any Alarm System User whose Alarm System has experienced more than ten (10) False Alarms within a 365-day period. Failure to pay a False Alarm fee or penalty assessment within sixty (60) days of billing shall be grounds for revocation of a permit. Beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter, no permit shall be issued or renewed until all Alarm System permit fees, False Alarm fees, late fees or penalty assessments due and owing are paid

agents of alarm systems may appeal the application of false alarm fees in writing to the Fire Chief within thirty days of initial billing. A hearing on the appeal will be conducted by a person designated by the department head within fifteen days. The decision of the department head will be final.

Number. The Alarm System User shall display on the premises, building or structure, at or near the main entrance, the Alarm System permit number and the telephone number of the person designated to respond to the location in the event of an alarm. Numbers shall be clearly visible and readable from the exterior of the premises. The premises shall display the street address at or near the front of the premises and at other places where access is available, such as, from an alley or parking lot. The street address shall be clearly visible.

notifications to the department shall begin with the Alarm System User's name, complete address including unit or apartment number, Alarm System permit number and shall include the state alarm company operator license number.

1. No person shall operate or use any Alarm System that emits a sound similar to that of an emergency vehicle siren or a civil defense warning system.
2. No person shall operate or use an Alarm System for any purpose other than reporting actual or perceived emergencies involving serious bodily injury or death or property damage.
3. No person shall operate or use an Alarm System that has been disapproved by the Fire Chief or designee.
4. No Alarm Company Operator shall cause a request for service to be placed with the department until such time as it has made (2) attempts to verify the need for service by telephonic means.
5. No person shall provide false information which causes the department to dispatch personnel to the location of an Alarm System.
6. Violation.
   a. Any person who does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, not exceeding one year, or by a fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment:

(i) Willfully and maliciously tampers with, molests, injures, or breaks any fire protection equipment, fire protection installation, fire alarm apparatus, wire, or signal. (ii) Willfully and maliciously sends, gives, transmits, or sounds any false alarm of fire, by means of any fire alarm system or signal or by any other means or methods. b. Any person who willfully and maliciously sends, gives, transmits, or sounds any false alarm of fire, by means of any fire alarm system or signal, or by any other means or methods, is guilty of a felony and upon conviction is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, if any person sustains as a result thereof, any of the following: (i) Great bodily injury. (ii) Death. (Ord. 3402 § 1, 2021)