San Antonio alarm permit and false alarm fees
A San Antonio business needs a $200 police alarm permit and a separate $200 fire alarm permit. A residence pays $50 for both. Silent false alarms start costing money on the second call: $200, then $300, $400 and $500 each after that.
Checked against the city's published material on 14 September 2026. Ordinances change. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the city.
What it costs
| Annual police permit, commercial | $200 |
|---|---|
| Annual police and fire permit, residential | $50 |
| Free burglar alarms, 12 months | 3 |
| 4th and 5th false burglar alarm | $50 |
| 6th and 7th false burglar alarm | $75 |
| 8th and every one after false burglar alarm | $100 |
The part that catches people
Separate commercial permits. A commercial police alarm permit costs $200 a year. The commercial fire alarm permit is a separate $200 a year. The $50 residential permit covers both.
Senior residential permit. Residents 65 or older pay $30 for the annual residential permit.
Silent alarms. Robbery, hold-up, panic and duress alarms share a twelve-month count. The first call is free, the second costs $200, the third $300, the fourth $400, and the fifth and every one after costs $500.
False fire alarms. For an active permitted location in twelve months: the first is free, the second through fourth cost $125 each, the fifth through ninth $250 each, and the tenth and every one after $500 each.
Canceled fire alarms. Charges apply upon notification. For an active permitted location in twelve months: the first is free, the second through fourth cost $50 each, the fifth through ninth $125 each, and the tenth and every one after $250 each.
Unpermitted false alarms. The fee is $250 for a residential false alarm or a commercial false burglar alarm, $500 for a commercial false robbery alarm, and $75 for a senior false alarm.
Unpermitted false fire alarms. The fee is $250 for a residential or commercial false fire alarm, or $125 for a senior false fire alarm.
Police response. SAPD responds to every alarm call regardless of permit status or outstanding fines or fees. Violations can still bring additional fees and fines.
How this compares
Most cities in this comparison charge $50, then $75, then $100 for false burglar alarms. Grand Prairie charges $50 from the fourth through the tenth and lists suspension at the eleventh. Permit fees, separate alarm counts and response rules need their own check.
Compare all ten Texas cities side by side.
Source
City of San Antonio alarm response and permits; San Antonio Code Chapter 25, Article IV. Primary source. SAPD Alarms Investigation Office.
City of San Antonio alarm permit application and annual permit fees.
Other Texas cities
- Dallas keeps its $50 band through the sixth false alarm
- Austin charges $110 for a commercial alarm permit
Recurring false alarms need a closer look. Start with the call list, the monitoring contract and the panel settings. Our alarm ordinance and nuisance alarm review traces which of the three is doing it. We do not install, service or monitor anything.