# False alarm ordinances and permits

Compare Seattle and Calgary examples, then check the rule for your own address.

Updated 2026-11-10. Also on the [web page](https://alarminstallers.fyi/guides/false-alarm-permits).

Ask about permits before the alarm goes live. A monitoring contract does not explain every city rule. Record who applies, who renews and who receives a false-alarm bill.

## Seattle example

Seattle's Alarm System Monitoring page, fetched 2026-11-10, lists a USD $10 annual licence fee for burglary, panic and robbery alarm systems. It lists USD $115 for a false burglar alarm, USD $230 for a false panic, duress or robbery alarm and USD $30 for a cancelled dispatched burglar alarm. The page explains the billing relationship with alarm companies. These figures are not a prediction of your bill. Ask whether and how the company passes fees to subscribers.

Seattle Police's Monitored Alarms page explains that the city bills the alarm company. Ask the company to explain the current dispatch policy and the evidence it must provide when it requests police attendance. Do not assume that every signal leads to a response.

## Calgary example

Calgary Police's Alarm Permit Information page, fetched 2026-11-10, says an alarm user needs an alarm permit for a residence or commercial property. It provides a portal to apply, update, renew and pay. Its response page says police may not be dispatched for an alarm without a valid permit. It also describes penalties billed to the licensed alarm company that requested police.

The fetched Calgary pages do not give a complete fee table. Check the linked bylaw and current permit portal. Do not substitute Seattle's fees or currency.

## Before activation

Ask the installer to identify the permit authority for the exact property. Confirm the account holder and property address. Record the permit number with the company. Ask how a renewal notice arrives and who must update contact details.

## Reduce avoidable activations

Request practical training for each user. Ask the installer to review entry routes, sensor placement, pets, door movement and cleaning activity. Keep the key-holder list current. Arrange a test through the provider's procedure before trying a siren or panic function.

## When a notice arrives

Keep the notice, event log and service record. Ask which event caused the charge and who requested attendance. Use the review route on the official notice. Do not ignore an invoice while a contractor investigates.

## Sources

- City of Seattle, Alarm System Monitoring. Public page fetched 2026-11-10: https://www.seattle.gov/business-regulations/alarm-system-monitoring.
- Seattle Police, Monitored Alarms. Public page fetched 2026-11-10: https://www.seattle.gov/police/community-policing/false-alarm-program.
- Calgary Police, Alarm Permit Information. Public page fetched 2026-11-10: https://www.calgarypolice.ca/services/security-and-alarm-permits/alarm-permit-information.html.
- Calgary Police, Responding to Alarms and False Alarms. Public page fetched 2026-11-10: https://www.calgarypolice.ca/services/security-and-alarm-permits/responding-to-alarms-and-false-alarms.html.

## Questions

### Can I use this guide instead of a site assessment?

No. Ask an alarm company for a written assessment. Confirm local requirements with the authority that applies to the property.