Frequently Asked Questions
By checking the “I consent to Protective Sweep (limited police search to investigate alarm activation)” box on the alarm permit application, the permit holder consents, in the event of an alarm activation, to a search of the accessible areas of the property by police officers, for the limited purposes of investigating criminal activity, rendering medical aid, or securing the structure.
All residential and commercial locations in the City of Palo Alto with an active alarm system are required by Ordinance to have an alarm permit (Municipal Code, Chapter 4.39).
Please complete the online registration form
You may also contact the City of Palo Alto False Alarm Reduction Program:
Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm PST
Email: paloaltoca@citysupport.org
Phone: (888) 865-9770
Commercial / Residential Permit Registration Fee: $65
Commercial / Residential Annual Permit Renewal Fee: $49
Failure to Permit will result in the following charges:
Late Fee: $20 (charged at 10 days from Permit Registration/Permit Renewal Notice)
Administrative Citation: $250 (charged at 40 days from Permit Registration/Permit Renewal Notice)
The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website - Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 4.39
An Alarm user shall be subject to fines, depending on the number of false alarms within a rolling 365 day period, based upon the following schedule:
1st false alarm - $0
2nd false alarm - $0
3rd false alarm - $165
4th false alarm - $246
5th+ false alarm - $310/each
Late Fees
A 10% late fee will be added to false alarm penalties at 30/60/90 days past due.
Non Response
Upon the 7th false alarm in a 365 day period, the alarm location will be sent a Non Response Letter. An additional $50 reinstatement fee will be assessed.
Over 99 percent of the alarm signals generated in the United States end up being false. Responding to false alarms takes emergency responders away from actual emergency situations. In an effort to make alarm users aware of this problem and mitigate the incidence of false alarms, the City of Palo Alto enacted an Alarm Systems Ordinance (Municipal Code, Chapter 4.39). The Ordinance requires that all owners of an active alarm system (both residential and business) obtain a permit and pay fines to the City for excessive false alarm activity.
“False alarm” means an alarm signal resulting in a response by the police or fire departments when an emergency does not exist. An alarm shall be presumed false if the responding police or fire personnel do not locate any evidence of an intrusion, the commission of an unlawful act, a fire, or other emergency on the premises which might have caused the alarm to sound. Alarms caused by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other “violent” acts of nature, shall not be deemed false alarms. (Ord 4.39)
No, you will never be assessed a fee for a legitimate alarm/panic signal.
False Alarms Fines
*Submit a written request/statement as to why you believe 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.
*Be sure to include your name, Permit #, alarm location address, incident date(s) in question, and reason for appeal.
*Be sure to include/attach any supporting documentation (alarm company call log, alarm repair receipts, etc.)
*Appeals must be submitted within Fifteen (15) calendar days of the original notice date.
*Appeals require a $250 deposit to process. If appeal granted, the deposit will be refunded. If appeal is not granted, the deposit will be applied to outstanding fees.
Administrative Citations
*Appeal process is the the same, however, the alarm owner has Thirty (30) calendar days from the original notice date.
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 APS/CitySupport and secured by the alarm user: HERE
Palo Alto False Alarm Reduction Program
Dept LA 25484
Pasadena, CA 91185-5484
The Palo Alto False Alarm Reduction Program has a secure bank lock box at this address. All mail and checks are scanned and deposited upon receipt. By using a secure bank-run mailing location, Palo Alto is able maintain a digital record of all correspondence and process payments on the day they are received.
Alarm Permits are not transferable from one property location to another.