False-alarm cost calculator

No permit, no response. The Chief of Police shall refuse police response to an alarm notification from a site without a valid permit, unless the call is a duress, hold-up or panic alarm, or somebody other than the alarm company reported it to 9-1-1.

Operating without a permit. A conviction carries a fine of $200 to $500 the first time and $250 to $500 each time after that, under Sec. 15C-16(b).

Panic and hold-up alarms. These run on their own count. A residence pays $100 for every false one. A business pays $100 for the first, $200 for the second, $300 for the third and $400 for each one after that.

Robbery and panic alarms. Two free in any 12 month period, then $60 for each manually activated alarm after that. That is a separate count from the burglar alarm tally.

Slow response. An alarm is not counted toward fees or revocation when more than 30 minutes pass between the call reaching police communications and an officer arriving, under Sec. 12-16(c).

The 30 minute clause. Arlington defines a false alarm as one where the responding officer finds no evidence of an attempted or actual intrusion, burglary, robbery or hostage taking, and the officer reached the site within 30 minutes of the city receiving the notification. If the response took longer than 30 minutes, it does not count against you.

When the count starts. The one-year period begins on the date of the first false alarm.

Permit fee exemptions. Residents over 65 and 100 percent disabled veterans pay no permit fee at their primary residence.

Robbery alarms. Two free in twelve months, then $200 for each one after that.

Panic alarms. Two free, then $75 for each one after that.

Two keyholders. A commercial permit application has to name two people who will reach the site within 30 minutes when police or fire call them.

Fire alarms. Two free in twelve months, then $200 for each one after that, the same as a robbery alarm.

Medical alarms. Two free in twelve months, then $75 each.

Late fee. A false alarm fee unpaid 30 days after the city's determination notice carries a 10 percent late fee.

Permit revocation. The Chief of Police may revoke a permit for a violation of the ordinance, a false statement on the application, non-payment of an assessed fee, or an alarm system that generates more than twelve false alarms in any twelve months.

Senior and disability rate. Permit holders 65 or older, or receiving Social Security disability income, pay $10 a year instead of $50. The code applies this reduced rate to annual renewals.

Fire-only systems. Systems that only detect fire, smoke or water flow are outside this chapter.

False fire alarms. A separate and much harsher count. Two free in twelve months, then $150 for every false fire alarm after that, three times the opening burglar alarm rate.

Senior residential permit. Residential permit holders over 65 pay $25 a year.

Robbery alarms. Three free in twelve months, then $75 each, for sites other than financial institutions.

Medical alarms. Two free in twelve months, then $50 each.

Permit suspension. At eight or more false alarms the charge is $100 each and the permit may be suspended.

Robbery and panic alarms. Two free each, then $75 for every one after that.

Fire and medical alarms. Two free in twelve months, then $75 each, the same as robbery and panic.

Slow response or cancellation. No fee when responders take longer than 30 minutes, or when the call is cancelled before they arrive, under Sec. 6-6(c).

Residential response. Response is not terminated solely for excessive false burglar alarms at a residence while a valid permit exists and all fees are paid. Responses to unpermitted sites may be terminated after notice, under Sec. 6-17.

Burglar and fire permits. The annual residential burglar permit is $30, or $50 for burglar and fire. A business pays $50 for burglar only, or $75 for burglar and fire.

Financial permits. The annual financial alarm permit costs $100.

Apartment counts. The multi-family schedule counts false alarms per 100 apartments: three free, $50 per alarm from the fourth through tenth, then suspension at the eleventh.

When the count starts. Billing begins with the first false alarm incident from the previous twelve-month period.

Permit suspension. The fee table lists suspension at eleven false alarms. A permit may also be suspended for a false application statement, ordinance violations, stale contact information, failure to respond within 30 minutes when police require it, or false alarm charges unpaid for 60 days.

Apartment complex principal permit. The principal permit costs $250 per complex for a twelve-month term.

Panic and robbery alarms. These share a count. Two free in twelve months, then $100 for each one after that.

Operating without a permit. The fee schedule lists $220 for operating an alarm system without a permit.

Late payment. The fee schedule lists a $5 late payment fee.

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.

Commercial permit fees. The burglar permit is $134.28 plus a $33.56 administrative fee, for $167.84 total. The combined burglar and panic permit is $268.56 plus $33.56, for $335.68 total.

Residential permits. The residential burglar permit is $50. Do not add the administrative fee to this permit.

Permit revocation. The 2026 schedule states that residential and non-residential permits are subject to revocation and no police response after the seventh false burglar alarm.

Separate alarm counts. Panic alarms use a separate fee schedule. Use the city schedule before budgeting for panic alarms.