The Alarm Enforcement Division of the Billing and Collections Department
The St. Petersburg Police Department responds to over 11,000 false alarms each year. When an alarm call is received, two law enforcement units are dispatched. Most importantly responding to false alarms places the safety of citizens truly in need of law enforcement response in jeopardy and also consumes thousands of personnel hours at a high cost to taxpayers. Unfounded alarm calls reduce the effectiveness of the St. Petersburg Police Department and undermine our ability to respond to more critical calls. In January 1995 the City of St. Petersburg adopted alarm legislation (City Ordinance 20-147) due to concerns over law enforcement safety and to eliminate the misuse of resources. We can be reached at (727) 892-5969, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours please leave a message on the voice mail for a return phone call the next day. If you have been issued a false alarm notification and have discovered actual evidence of criminal activity, contact the police department using the non-emergency number, (727) 893-7780, and request an officer to document the damage in a report. Do not contact the police department or the Alarm Enforcement Office to cancel your alarm activation; you MUST contact your alarm monitoring company.
City Ordinance 20-147 requires all commercial and residential security alarm systems to be registered with the City with a permit. The cost of the initial Security Alarm Permit is a registration fee of $15.00 payable to the City of St. Petersburg. Security Alarm Applications are available at the City of St. Petersburg Police and Fire Departments, Police Resource Centers, City Hall at the Mall, on the link below or by calling the Alarm Enforcement Office. City ordinance 20-147 governing excessive false alarms allows for two (2) free false alarms within the calendar year.
Ordinance 20-147 was passed by City Council and went into effect in January 1995.
The ordinance was passed to decrease the number of false alarms police department responds to. This number has dropped from over 16,000 per year in 1995 to 11,318 in 2004.
A security alarm permit is required for every security alarm system in the City of St. Petersburg. If the alarm system makes an audible signal it must be permitted, whether that signal is monitored by an alarm monitoring company or not. Self-monitored, self-installed, do-it-yourself alarm systems must be permitted.
The initial security alarm permit requires completion of the application and a $15.00 registration fee. Permits are valid for 365 days from date of issuance and must be renewed annually. You will be notified by mail 30 days prior to the expiration of your permit. The cost to renew a permit is $10.00 per year.
Alarm companies do not permit their customer's alarm systems. Some companies will provide the application but the completion and payment are the responsibility of the alarm user. Alarm companies will obtain the electrical permit for business customers, but not the permit required by the City Police Department.
Alarm Ordinance 20-147 allows 2 free false alarms per calendar year and then penalizes the permit holder for excessive false alarms per the following schedule:
1 - 2 False Alarms = Free
3 - 5 False Alarms = $ 50.00 each activation
6 - 8 False Alarms = $ 100.00 each activation
9 -13 False Alarms = $200.00 each activation and revocation of permit until documented inspection/repair of system
14 and above = $300.00 each activation
A false alarm is any alarm activation that the police department responds to where there is no evidence of criminal activity. If the police dispatch is cancelled before the police officer arrives on scene, the call is considered cancelled; but if the officer reports 10-97 (on-scene) before your alarm company's cancellation is received by our communication center, it will be regarded as a false alarm.
Failure to permit your alarm system within the given grace period will result in an Ordinance Violation which will require the owner/user to appear in court and pay a $100 to $500 fine. It is much easier to pay the $15.00 registration/permit fee than to suffer the consequences (cost and inconvenience) of an Ordinance Violation.
Any questions can be answered by calling the Security Alarm Enforcement Office at 727-892-5969.
False Alarm Prevention Tips
Make sure that anyone who has a key to your premises (children, employees, neighbors, caretakers, domestic or cleaning crews, delivery personnel, realtors, and all temporary staff) is fully trained to use the system. This means that they need to know how to arm and disarm the system, including cancellation procedures.
Communicate to your alarm company any changes in phone numbers of contacts and any changes in your normal routine (i.e., vacation, renovations, in case of businesses, changes in opening/closing times, etc).
Before activating your alarm system, be sure that doors and windows are CLOSED and securely LOCKED. This reduces the chance that friends, neighbors, or customers will enter and cause the alarm to activate. It also reduces the chance of the wind blowing open a door or window and activating your alarm.
If you have left the premises and wish to re-enter and immediately leave again, disarm your system when you re-enter and arm it again before you leave. Often alarm users will remember that they have left an item in the premises and attempt to "beat the clock" by getting in and out before the alarm goes off. If you feel there is any chance that you have tripped the alarm, either contact your alarm company to confirm your cancellation or remain on the scene until they contact you.
Make sure that your system is programmed to give you enough time to leave your premises before the alarm activates and to enter your premises and key in your code before the alarm sounds. If you feel you need more time, call your alarm company as this can be adjusted per your own personal needs.
Restrict your pets to areas without motion detectors. Even with "pet alleys", they can jump or climb into the view of the sensors. Consider whether you want a motion detector if your pets have free run of the house when the alarm is on.
Check your system's batteries. If the batteries don't work properly, neither will your system. The life of your back up battery will depend on its use. Since we have numerous thunderstorms in our area and therefore frequent power surges, batteries should be checked and changed more frequently.
Be aware that motion detectors can be activated by drafts from fans and air conditioners which can cause movement of helium balloons, decorations, or curtains. Move these items away from drafts or secure them. Clean any cobwebs or dust from around your motion sensors. Plug any ventilation holes in the sensor covers to prevent any insects from entering it and activating it when crawling over the lens.
Some alarm systems are easily set off by thunderstorms or power outages. If this is the case with your system, it is malfunctioning and you should have it repaired.
Test your alarm annually.
Consider having your alarm system serviced annually.
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