Frequently Asked Questions
False alarms are very costly and take police officers away from responding to actual emergency situations. Ordinance 10.38 requires Placentia private property owners and business owners with alarm systems to obtain and maintain an alarm permit and reimburse the City for excessive false alarm activity.
Yes, they are. Across the nation, the growth of alarm system ownership has resulted in a tremendous amount of false alarms. The response to false alarms has created an additional burden on our law enforcement agencies. Nationwide, approximately 99% or more of all the burglar alarms police respond on are false.
“False alarm” means an alarm signal activated from any alarm system that 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. False alarm shall not include an alarm for which personnel of the police department or fire department do not actually arrive at the alarm location, or any alarm caused by earthquakes, severe storms or other extraordinary circumstances determined by the alarm officer to be clearly beyond the control of the alarm subscriber.
Permit Required. No alarm subscriber or person utilizing a proprietor alarm system shall install, replace, maintain, or operate an alarm system within the city, except government and public school buildings, without first applying for and receiving an alarm system permit in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Following ten (10) days' prior written notification, any alarm system which has been installed, replaced, maintained, or operated without a valid permit may be placed on nonresponse status by the alarm officer according to the procedures set forth in Section 10.38.110 of this chapter until a permit has been issued or renewed. Permits for the installation, replacement, operation and maintenance of automatic dialing devices are subject to the provisions of Section 10.38.130 hereof.
Initial Registration / Renewal Fee (Residential) : $54
Initial Registration / Renewal Fee (Commercial) : $162
Permit Period : Permit is valid for two (2) years from the issue date
Permit Transfer : All permits are non transferable from one location to another or one person to another. Exception should be made in case of transfer to immediate family member if the permit holder is deceased
Exempt Locations : Government entities, including but not necessarily limited to the City, County, State, Federal and Public Schools are exempt from all provisions of the ordinance
Alarm permits must be renewed every two years, renewal notices will be sent out forty-five days ahead of the permit expiration date. The cost to renew a permit is:
Initial Registration / Renewal Fee (Residential) : $54
Initial Registration / Renewal Fee (Commercial) : $162
Yes. Anytime there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, a new alarm permit is required. Exception should be made in case of transfer to immediate family member if the permit holder is deceased.
Yes. Anytime there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, a new alarm permit is required.
The fees are used to offset the City's administrative costs of the program.
The City wants to substantially reduce the number of false alarms that the police department respond to.
No, you will never be charged for an alarm activation that is not false. This ordinance allows charges for false alarms only.
Billing Type
False alarms are accumulated within a 12 month permit year based on the start and expiration date.
Burglary / Robbery / Panic
Residential / Commercial - Permit Holder:
1st and 2nd FA: No charge
3rd FA and onwards: $254 each
Yes, you can pay for any fees due on your account via this website by clicking on the home tab and logging in with credentials initiated by CitySupport and secured by the alarm user. Placentia Police Department - Alarm Unit Website
Alarm user, Installation company or Monitoring company have a right to appeal any assessed fee
No Appeal fee required.
Alarm user, Installation company or monitoring company must submit the appeal in writing within 10 business days after the receipt of notice of action setting forth the reasons for the appeal.
Appeal must be entitled “Appeal from Alarm Administrator’s Action”. Submit a written request/statement as to why you feel the charge and/or occurrence should be waived or removed from your account, along with any supporting documentation (police reports, alarm company documentation, etc).
*Submit via email using the Contact Us page or via email placentiaca@citysupport.org.
Failure to pay the fees/fines within 30 days can result in suspended police response to a location and outstanding fees will be turned over to the Placentia Collection Department.
If you received a duplicate alarm invoice, please email us at placentiaca@citysupport.org; give us your street address and let us know you received a duplicate invoice(s) and we will delete the incorrect invoice. Or contact us by phone at (888) 865-9770.
The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website: Placentia Alarm Ordinance
We can be reached at (888) 865-9770 or you can email any questions to the alarm unit.