The City’s alarm ordinance has been amended to help maintain more accurate response information and to reduce expensive false alarms. The new ordinance took effect January 10, 2003.

New Permit Requirements and Fees

Anyone with a City alarm permit issued before September 30, 2002 must get a new permit.

Q. How much is the new permit?
A. The fee is $20 for your new one-year permit. The annual renewal charge is $5.

Q. How often do I have to renew?
A. Permits must now be renewed every year. Your annual renewal deadline will be the last day of the month we issue your permit.

Q. Will the City let me know when its time to renew?
A. Yes. We will mail renewal forms to all permit holders.

Q. I’ve never had an alarm permit—who is required to get a permit?
A. Anyone with an automatic fire or security alarm system in a home or business within the Oklahoma City limits must have a permit.

Q. I have a fire alarm and a security alarm. Do I have to get two permits?
A. No. Only one alarm permit is required per address.

Getting Your New Permit

An application must be filled out and returned with the fee to get the new alarm permit.

Q. What’s the process for getting my new alarm permit?
A. Fill out the Alarm Permit application and mail it with a $20 check or money order to: Oklahoma City Police Department

Permit & ID Section
PO Box 268837
Oklahoma City, OK 73126.

Q. Will you be mailing applications to current permit holders?
A. We will mail applications to addresses on file in late January, but our database is incomplete. If you don’t receive one in the mail, you still have to get one.

You can pick one up at any Police or Fire station, Water Utility Payment Center or at City Hall. You can also request call the Action Center, 405 297-2535, or request an application on-line at www. okc-cityhall.org.

Q. What’s the actual application deadline?
A. Permits issued before September 30, 2002, expire March 31, 2003. (Permits issued after September 30 are valid for a year.)

False Alarms

False alarm limits and penalties have changed

Q. I understand the new ordinance is tougher on false alarms.
A. Yes, that’s true. We can now assess a penalty if you have more than three false alarms a year. The old ordinance allowed four false alarms every 90 days.

Q. How much is the penalty now?
A. The ordinance provides for an “excessive false alarm fee” of $50 when the police department responds and $75 if the Fire Department is called out.

Q. Are those fees the only penalty?
A. No—the City can actually revoke alarm permits under certain circumstances. This would involve serious actions such as making false statements in an application, refusing to fix faulty equipment when officially notified or making bogus check payments. Six false alarms in 365 days can also result in revocation.

Q. If my alarm goes off by accident, can I do anything?
A. Yes. You can cancel the call. If you know your alarm has gone off improperly, call your alarm company or 9-1-1 immediately. If the call is cancelled before officers or firefighters arrive, it won’t count as a false alarm.

Q. What can I do to prevent false alarms?
A. Talk to your alarm company and follow its recommendations for your system. The Oklahoma City Police and Fire Departments appreciate your cooperation in implementing this new ordinance.