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Alarm Permits

Alarm System Permit Application In PDF Format

City of Burbank Alarm Program                                                

The alarm notification left at your home or business is part 1 of a 2-part form.  Part 2 is turned in to the Police Department.  It contains the officer's comments on the reverse side (his/her contact, out-of-the ordinary weather conditions, unusual findings such as open windows/doors, etc) 

We do not charge for extreme weather (significant wind/rain, earthquakes) 

We do not charge for evidence of forced or attempted entry (pry marks, torn screens, open doors/windows) Old damage doesn't count. 

We do not charge for power outages 

We do charge for cleaning crew activated alarms, dog/cat/bird activations, Paints, Gardner, repair people, roofers, etc are negotiable. 

We do charge for alarm company errors (most are aware of the procedure for calling the PD to advise of any testing).

You can be assigned to NO RESPONSE status if invoices are not paid, permit not obtained in a timely manner, renewal fees not paid, or excessive false alarm activity. 

Police response time is generally 1 to 3 minutes, depending on field activity. 

You only pay one time for the original permit fee. The original permit remains valid as long as you have 2 or less false alarms in a calendar year.  If you have 3 or more false alarms, you are billed at $75 per false alarm and have to pay a $25 renewal fee the following year.

The purpose of the Alarm Ordinance is to establish regulations governing the use of alarm systems within the City of Burbank. It is through this regulation that the City anticipates the reduction of false alarm responses by the City’s safety personnel.  Such unwarranted calls for service reduce our ability to respond to those valid calls of a high priority nature immediately upon receipt, thereby resulting in less than an optimum level of overall service to our community. You and/or your business represent an integral facet of this community and your compliance can assist in providing the highest level of services to all with the resources available.  Please see below for municipal code information and fees.  Thank you for your cooperation.

City of Burbank

BURBANK MUNICIPAL CODE ALARM FACT SHEET

Section 17-601.  Title

This article shall be referred to as the "Public Safety Alarm Systems Ordinance".

Section 17-602.  Purpose

The purpose of this article is to set forth regulations governing burglary, robbery, fire, and medical assistance alarm systems within the City; to reduce false alarms; to require registration of alarm systems, and to provide the authority to establish fees.

Section 17-603.  Definitions

Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this article.

"Alarm Agent" means any person who is registered as an alarm agent with the Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services pursuant to the provisions of Division 3, Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of the Business and Professions Code and doing business as such within the corporate limits of the City of Burbank.

"Alarm company operator" means any person licensed as an alarm company operator by the Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services pursuant to the provisions of Division 3, Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of the Business and Professions Code and doing business as such within the corporate limits of the City of Burbank.

"Alarm Officer" means, with regard to burglary or robbery alarm systems, the Chief of Police of the City of Burbank, and with regard to fire or medical assistance alarms, the Fire Chief of the City of Burbank, or their respective designees.

"Alarm subscriber" means any person who purchases, leases, contracts for, or otherwise obtains an alarm system or contracts for the servicing or maintenance of an alarm system.

"Alarm system" means any mechanical or electrical device which is designed or used for the detection of burglary, robbery, fire, or need for medical assistance within a building, structure, or facility, or for alerting others to a hazard or to the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or both, which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message when activated and which is designed to elicit a response from the Police Department or Fire Department.  Devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible outside the protected building, structure or facility are not included within this definition.  An alarm system includes all of the necessary equipment designed and installed for the detection of burglary, robbery, fire, need for medical assistance, or other hazard in a single building structure, or facility or for alerting others to the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility.

"Audible alarm" means a device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on certain premises which generates an audible sound on such premises when it is activated.

"Director" means the officer or employee of the City designated by the City Manager as having direct authority and responsibility for the business licensing functions of the City or the designee of such Director.

"Emergency" means any condition which results in, or which could result in, the response of police or fire personnel or any condition which jeopardizes or could jeopardize public safety.

"False alarm" means an alarm signal activated from any alarm system which is responded to by personnel of the Police Department or Fire Department and for which no emergency situation exists or existed as determined by the responding personnel.  The "false alarm" shall not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other extraordinary circumstances determined by the Alarm Officer to be clearly beyond the control of the alarm subscriber.

"Non-response status" means that category of police or fire service whereby the Police Department or the Fire Department will not respond to a specified alarm system.

"Proprietor alarm" means an alarm which is not serviced by an alarm agent or alarm company operator.

Section 17-604.  Alarm System Registration Certificate

(a)        REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.

No alarm subscriber shall install, replace, maintain, or operate an alarm system without applying for and receiving an alarm system registration certificate in accordance with the provisions of this section.

 (b)        APPLICATIONS 

Applications for an alarm system registration certificate shall be filed with the Director on forms provided by the Director.  The application shall be signed and verified by the alarm subscriber and     shall contain such information as the Director may deem necessary.  If the Director finds the application is complete, a registration certificate shall be issued.  Registration certificates for alarm systems shall not be transferable.  Applications for alarm system registration certificates, and the information contained thereon, shall be confidential and the Alarm Officer and Director shall not release such application, or the information contained thereon, to any person except as may be necessary in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article.

 (c)        FEES    

An alarm subscriber applying for or renewing an alarm system registration certificate shall pay the   fee designated in the Burbank Alarm Fee Schedule.  Such fee shall not exceed the cost to the City in processing the application.

 (d)        ALARM REQUIREMENTS 

The alarm subscriber shall supply on the application for registration certificate the names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three (3) persons to notify in the event of an alarm activation.  If the alarm subscriber has arranged for a service contract with an alarm company operator, or any other service company, which operates on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, emergency telephone numbers of such company shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement.

 (e)        DURATION 

Each registration certificate issued pursuant to this article shall be valid for such period or periods    as may be established by the Director.

(f)         DISPLAY OF REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE 

The registration certificate shall be kept on the premises where the alarm system is located and shall be posted according to regulations promulgated by the Director. 

 (g)       RULES AND REGULATIONS 

The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this section and Sections 17-606 and 17-607.  Such rules and regulations may include, but need not be limited to, establishing criteria for the waiver of fees required under this section and Section 17-607 consistent with the intent and purpose of this article.           

 Section 17-605.  Silencing Alarm Systems

 Upon notification by the Alarm Officer that an alarm system is activated, the alarm subscriber, or the representative or alarm agent of the alarm subscriber, shall immediately proceed to silence the alarm.  The silencing shall be completed within fifteen (15) minutes after notification when the alarm system is protecting a residential structure or within thirty (30) minutes when the alarm system is protecting a commercial or industrial structure.  Alternately, the alarm system may be equipped with an automatic shut-off device which shall silence the alarm within fifteen (15) minutes after the activation when the alarm system is protecting a residential structure or within thirty (30) minutes of activation when the alarm system is protecting a commercial or industrial structure, thus eliminating the need for personal responses otherwise required by this section.

Section 17-606.  Alarm Businesses and Agents

All alarm company operators and alarm agents shall register their name and file a copy of their state identification card, license, or registration certificate with the Director.    Each alarm agent, while engaged in the duties of an alarm agent, shall carry on such agent's person at all times the state identification card, license, or registration certificate and shall display same to the Alarm Officer when requested.

Section 17-607.  Notice of Change

Whenever any change occurs relating to any information required by this article, the person required to provide such information shall give written notice thereof to the Director within ten (10) days of such change.

Section 17-608.  Alarm Systems Standards

All alarm systems shall conform with the provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 12 of the Burbank Municipal Code (Uniform Electrical Code), if applicable.

Section 17-609.  Maintenance and Inspections

(a)        MAINTENANCE 

Each alarm subscriber shall maintain each alarm system in good working order and provide the necessary services to prevent malfunctions.

 (b)        INSPECTIONS 

Each alarm subscriber shall cause each alarm system to be inspected regularly by a representative of the company with a service contract or other person qualified to inspect and service such equipment at least once every twelve (12) months.  Inspections shall be complete enough to detect any likely malfunctions and may include testing of the equipment.  Particular attention shall be paid to the conditions that have the potential of causing false alarms.  The person making the inspection shall provide a written report to the alarm subscriber, and the report shall be kept on the premises for two (2) years, subject to being shown to the Alarm Officer when requested.

 Section 17-610.  Reimbursement for False Alarms

An alarm subscriber shall reimburse the City for the cost of the Police or Fire Department personnel and equipment response to each false alarm in the amount designated in the Burbank Alarm Fee Schedule.

Section 17-611.  Maintaining a Public Nuisance Alarm

An alarm subscriber shall not operate an alarm system which generates more that two (2) false alarms in a ninety (90) day period, or five (5) false alarms in a one hundred eighty (180) day period, or six (6) false alarms in any twelve (12) month period.  Any alarm system operated or maintained in violation of this section shall be deemed a public nuisance.  In addition to any other remedy available to the City, including the collection of any charge or fee required by this article, the Alarm Officer may, in such officer's discretion, place an alarm system operated or maintained in violation of this section on non-response status according to the procedures delineated in this section.

(a)        NOTICE 

The Alarm Officer shall provide the alarm subscriber ten (10) days written notice of non-response status.  The non-response status shall not become effective until the notice period has elapsed. 

(b)        REVIEW 

The alarm subscriber may request the Alarm Officer to review and reconsider the decision to place an alarm system on non-response status.  In the event a request for review is filed during the ten (10) day notice period, non-response status shall not become effective until the fifth (5th) day following notice of the Alarm Officer's decision on such request for review.  The request for review shall contain all pertinent information and evidence the alarm subscriber deems appropriate for the Alarm Officer's decision.

 (c)        COMPLIANCE 

An alarm system shall remain on non-response status until such time as the alarm subscriber provided a written report, and such other evidence as the Alarm Officer deems appropriate, describing the causes of the false alarms which resulted in the alarm system being placed on non-response status and the action taken to terminate or remedy such causes.  Non-response status shall not terminate until the Alarm Officer finds that repair and corrective action adequate to remedy the causes for the false alarms have been effected and the alarm subscriber has paid the fee specified in the Burbank Alarm Fee Schedule.

 Section 17-612.  Exempt Alarms

(a)        AUTOMOBILE ALARMS 

            The provisions of this article shall not apply to audible alarms affixed to automobiles.

(b)        ALARM OFFICER 

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any alarm system installed or maintained by the Alarm Officer.

(c)       TELEPHONE SYSTEMS 

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any auxiliary devices installed by a telephone company to protect telephone company systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system.

 Section 17-614.  Prohibited Alarm Systems

 (a)        AUDIBLE ALARM SYSTEMS SIMILAR TO SIRENS 

It is unlawful to install or maintain on the exterior or interior of a building a public safety alarm system which, upon activation, emits a sound which is similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or in vehicles used for civil defense purposes. 

(b)        MISCELLANEOUS 

It is unlawful to install or maintain any alarm system designed to detect burglaries or robberies for any purpose other than reporting such burglaries, robberies, or other crimes involving potential serious bodily injury or death.  No person shall operate or use a public safety alarm system for any purpose other than detecting and reporting a burglary, robbery, fire, or need for public assistance.

 Section 17-615.  Enforcement

The conviction or punishment of any person for violation of the provisions of this article shall not release such person from paying any business taxes, charges, fees, license fees, or reimbursement for false alarms due and unpaid at the time of such conviction, or shall payment of any fee or reimbursement for false alarms prevent criminal prosecution for violation of any of the provisions of this article.  All remedies shall be commutative and the use of one or more remedies by the City shall not bar the use of any other remedy.

Section 17-616.  Limitation of Liability

The City shall be under no duty or obligation to an alarm subscriber or to any other person by reason of any provision of this article or the exercise of privileges by a subscriber hereunder, including but not limited to any defects in an alarm or failure to respond to such alarms.

Alarm Fees