City of Oakland California

On average, each response to an alarm involves two police officers and takes up to thirty minutes.

To respond to emergencies more efficiently, the City of Oakland has adopted a Burglar Alarm Ordinance. This ordinance requires people to obtain permits for their burglar alarm system, which will allow the Oakland Police Department to closely monitor alarm activity and identify alarm users. It also will enable us to contact the appropriate individual in response to the alarm call.
 
The Burglar Alarm Ordinance authorizes permit fees and fees for alarm registration violations and services provided. The ordinance requires alarm companies to play a greater role in how customers use and maintain their alarm systems.

Alarm users are responsible for registering their alarms and keeping that registration current. They are also responsible for preventing and responding to malfunctioning alarms.

Service fees are applicable for alarm services provided by the Oakland Police Department. You may pay alarm invoices online.  Please go to www.atbservices.com/Oakland to sign up for online access.

Please be advised:

For your safety and the safety of emergency responders, the City of Oakland is requesting that you notify your alarm company of any changes on your property that police should be made aware of, such as:

• Weapons
• Industrial chemicals
• Dogs (guard, medical, and pets), etc.

The mission of the Oakland Police Department is to provide the people of Oakland an environment where they can live, work, play, and thrive free from crime and fear of crime. To accomplish that mission, our focus is to help citizens in immediate need rather than exhaust valuable resources responding to false alarms.

While maintaining alignment with our mission and goals, OPD will immediately begin enforcing a verified response policy for alarm users experiencing excessive false alarms. (“Excessive false alarms” is defined as more than three false alarms within a one-year permit period.)

For users with excessive false alarms, police will only respond to alarm calls from sites on verified response status if the alarm company or caller can verify through audio, video, an eyewitness, or response from private security guards that a crime is occurring.

Note: Alarm users adhering to current policy should not experience any change in service.

 Notes:

• The Invalid Permit fee can be waived if you register your alarm within 10 days of being billed.
• In the case of an unregistered alarm, your alarm company will also be billed $260.
• If you do not pay your total service fee invoice within 30 days of being billed, you will be assessed an additional $30 late fee.
• Robbery False Alarm fees are more costly because two officers must respond to any Robbery Alarm.

The Burglar Alarm FAQ sheet has answers to these questions:

• What is a false alarm?
• How much are alarm permit fees?
• How do I register my alarm system?
• Links to more information about the Alarm Ordinance