BURGLAR ALARMS, PANIC ALARMS AND OTHER SIMILAR ALARM SYSTEMS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 11, art. III

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-50 Application; purpose.

Sec. 11-50. - Application; purpose. It is the purpose of this article to: (1) Regulate the activities and establish the responsibilities of persons who purchase, rent, operate or use an alarm system subject to this article and, to the full extent permitted by Texas law, persons who engage in the business of selling, leasing, renting, installing, maintaining or monitoring such alarm systems pursuant to a permit or license issued by the State of Texas; and (2) Promote the improved reliability of alarm systems governed by this article to ensure that police department and HEC personnel will not be unduly diverted from responding to actual criminal activity as a result of responding to false alarms. This article is intended to specifically encompass "burglar alarms," "holdup alarms," and "panic alarms," whether audible or inaudible (silent), and other such alarm systems, but not audible alarms affixed to motor vehicles, personal emergency response system alarms, or fire alarms. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-51 Definitions.

Sec. 11-51. - Definitions. In this article, unless the context clearly otherwise requires: Activate means the completion of all steps necessary to render an alarm system capable of carrying out its intended function of producing an alarm notification under appropriate circumstances. Alarm notification means the receipt of notice transmitted to HEC or the police department that an alarm signal has been detected and that a police department response is being requested. Alarm permit means a certificate issued by the department pursuant to this article authorizing a person to operate or use an alarm system in accordance with this article. Alarm signal means the transmission of a signal, whether by electronic or other means, by an alarm system to an alarm systems company in response to an incident at the alarm site. Alarm site means the single fixed premises or location where an alarm system is operated, used, installed or rendered capable of being activated. Alarm subscriber means a person who directly or through another person contracts with an alarm systems company. Each alarm subscriber is deemed to be a person who operates or uses, causes or allows the operation or use of the alarm system and will be liable for the payment of permit fees, fines or penalties, or the performance of other duties and responsibilities as provided in this article. Alarm system means any mechanical, electrical, electronic or radio-controlled alarm device or equipment designed to or that does emit or transmit an alarm signal that is designed or intended to produce an alarm notification. Alarm system includes, but is not limited to, silent, audible, panic, holdup, burglar and local alarm systems. Alarm system also includes a device designed and installed for the purpose of transferring video images reflecting existing conditions at an alarm site to an alarm systems company. The term does not include a personal emergency response system alarm, a fire alarm system designed solely to detect fire or smoke, or an alarm installed in a motor vehicle solely to prevent theft of the vehicle. Alarm systems company means any person who engages in the business of monitoring, selling, leasing, renting, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, or installing alarm systems or rendering such systems capable of generating an alarm signal. Applicant means a person who makes application to the department to obtain an alarm permit and will be liable for the payment of permit fees, fines or penalties, or the performance of other duties and responsibilities as provided in this article. The term does not include a person who merely fills out an application for another person. Automatic dialer or automatic dialing device means any electrical, electronic, mechanical or other device capable of being programmed to send an alarm notification in the form of a prerecorded voice message to the police department or HEC over a telephone line, radio or other communication system when an alarm signal is generated. Burglar alarm system means an alarm system designed to detect an attempted or actual unauthorized entry into the alarm site and transmit a signal to an alarm systems company for the purpose of generating an alarm notification. Common cause means a technical difficulty or malfunction that causes an alarm system to generate a series of two or more false alarms. Deactivate means to disconnect or render an alarm system disabled so as to prevent any possibility that the alarm system will generate an alarm signal. Department means the department of administration and regulatory affairs. Director means the director of the department or his designee. False alarm means an alarm notification generated when an emergency of the kind for which the alarm system was designed did not in fact exist and a response is made by the police department within a reasonable time after the alarm notification and the police department determines from an inspection of the interior or exterior of the premises that the alarm was false. The term false alarm does not include an alarm caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to the control of a permit holder. Houston Emergency Center or HEC means the city's emergency response communications center and any employee of such center assigned to perform any duty prescribed by this article. Individual facility means, in the context of a multi-unit housing facility, each unoccupied individual residential unit (including an apartment unit), office, storage room, utility room, shop, game room, exercise room, laundry room, hallway, vending area, lobby or similar non-residential facility. Local alarm system means an alarm system designed and operated to generate audible or visual alarm signals at the alarm site when activated. Multi-unit housing facility means a residential multi-unit apartment complex, town homes, condominiums, or similar housing facilities. Non-permitted alarm system means an alarm system for which no valid alarm permit has been issued. Non-residential alarm site means an alarm site that is not a 'residential alarm site' as defined by this section. Panic or holdup alarm system means an alarm system that, when manually triggered by a person at the alarm site, generates an alarm signal indicating a holdup or other life-threatening emergency requiring a police department response. Permit holder means a person to whom an alarm permit has been issued. The permit holder shall at all times be deemed a person-in-control of the alarm site. Person shall have the meaning set forth in section 1-2 of this Code but shall not include the city or any of its departments. Person-in-control means a person holding an alarm permit or a person who owns, leases, possesses, resides at, or manages any part of the alarm site. Police chief means the chief of the police department, or his designee or any employee of the police department assigned by the police chief to perform any duties prescribed by this article. Police department means the city police department. Residential alarm site means an alarm site used solely for residential purposes, including an occupied apartment or other residential unit located in a multi-unit housing facility. Each occupied apartment or other individual residential unit in which an alarm system is operated, used, installed, or placed shall be a separate residential alarm site. All other alarm sites are non-residential. Verify an alarm signal means to attempt to contact the alarm site and alarm subscriber or other person-in-control of the alarm site by telephone calls of at least six rings each to two separate telephone numbers, regardless of whether actual contact with an individual is made, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2017-960, § 2, 12-13-2017; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 2, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-52 Alarm permit required; violation; penalty.

Sec. 11-52. - Alarm permit required; violation; penalty. (a) Unlawful conduct. It is unlawful for any person to operate or use, cause or allow the operation or use of an alarm system unless a valid alarm permit is in effect for that alarm system. (b) Non-permitted alarm system. All duties and responsibilities for the use or operation of a non-permitted alarm system at an alarm site and the obligation to pay all fines, penalties and other amounts authorized in this article in connection with such system shall be imposed, jointly and severally, on the alarm subscriber and any person-in-control at the alarm site. (c) Separate alarm permit required. Each alarm system must have a separate alarm permit. An alarm system may not be operated, used, installed or monitored to protect more than one alarm site. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-53 No duty created.

Sec. 11-53. - No duty created. The issuance of an alarm permit authorizing the use of an alarm system shall not create any duty or liability on the part of the city or guarantee any police department or other response from the city. Nothing in this article shall be construed to waive the city's governmental immunity from suit or from liability. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-54 Right to inspect.

Sec. 11-54. - Right to inspect. The police chief shall have the right to inspect any alarm system at an alarm site at any reasonable time to determine whether it is being used in conformity with this article. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-55 Police response to alarm notification.

Sec. 11-55. - Police response to alarm notification. (a) Policy. Any police department response to an alarm notification shall be governed by the provisions of this section and the rules and regulations, as applicable, promulgated by the police chief pursuant to section 11-76 of this Code, provided that any police response to the alarm site shall be evidenced by the responding officer's placement of a notice or decal at or on the doorway or principal entry to such site noting the responding officer's name and the date and time of the response. (b) Non-permitted alarm systems. The police chief may refuse to respond to an alarm notification from a burglar alarm system that according to department records does not have a current and valid alarm permit. (c) Information to be provided by alarm systems company. An alarm systems company shall provide an alarm subscriber with information concerning the police department's policy regarding whether or not the police department will respond to an alarm notification from a system that according to department records does not have a current and valid alarm permit. The police chief will make available to an alarm systems company a copy of such police department policy upon written request. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-56 Disclosure of alarm permits.

Sec. 11-56. - Disclosure of alarm permits. The director shall maintain a complete record of all alarm systems installed or capable of being activated in the city, based upon the reports required to be provided by alarm companies pursuant to Section 1702.286(b), Texas Occupations Code, or information regarding such alarm systems derived from other sources. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-57 Alarm system companies—Duty to maintain and provide records.

Sec. 11-57. - Alarm system companies—Duty to maintain and provide records. (a) Records to be provided. It shall be the duty of each alarm systems company to maintain a record of all alarm systems the company has installed or rendered capable of being activated in the city, as required by § 1702.286(b), Texas Occupations Code. The records required to be maintained by this subsection shall be maintained for at least two years from the date of their creation and shall be available for inspection and duplication upon demand by the police chief or director. At the discretion of the police chief or director, any such request may be made electronically or in writing by mail or by personal delivery to an alarm systems company. (b) Periodic reports to be provided. A true and correct list of all alarm systems installed, rendered capable of being activated, maintained or monitored in the city by an alarm systems company shall be provided to the police chief and director annually, or more frequently if requested by the police chief or director. Such list shall be provided in an electronic or other format as may be required by the police chief or director. (c) Violation; penalty. A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a separate offense for each day or portion of a day during which the violation is committed, continued or permitted. Each offense is punishable as provided in section 11-74 of this Code. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 3, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-57.1 Same—Duty to inform person-in-control.

Sec. 11-57.1. - Same—Duty to inform person-in-control. (a) Upon installation or activation of an alarm system, the installation company shall distribute to the person-in-control information concerning: (1) How to apply for an alarm permit; (2) How to operate the alarm system; (3) How to prevent false alarms; and (4) The applicable law relating to false alarms, including the potential for penalties and revocation of the alarm permit. (b) Upon installation or activation of an alarm system, the installation company shall ensure the person-in-control of an alarm system equipped with a panic, holdup, duress or burglar alarm is trained on the proper use of the panic, holdup, duress or burglar alarm. (Ord. No. 2019-189, § 4, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-58 Alarm systems in multi-unit housing facilities.

Sec. 11-58. - Alarm systems in multi-unit housing facilities. (a) Residential alarm sites. The lessee, tenant or other adult occupant lawfully residing in the individual residential unit shall apply for and, upon approval by the department, be issued a residential alarm permit. The alarm permit application shall provide, in addition to other requirements in this article, the name and contact information such as telephone number or email address of a representative of the multi-unit housing facility owner or property manager who will grant access to the alarm site in the absence of the permit holder. (b) Non-residential alarm sites. Areas of the multi-unit housing facility other than occupied individual residential units in which an alarm system is operated, used, installed or placed shall constitute one or more separate non-residential alarm sites, and the following provisions shall apply: (1) Individual facility. Each individual facility shall be a separate non-residential alarm site, requiring a separate alarm permit, separate alarm system monitoring, and payment of the alarm permit fee required by this article, except as otherwise specifically provided in any applicable policies and procedures established pursuant to section 11-76 of this Code. (2) Identification of facility. Each individual facility shall be clearly identified and designated by a unique individual facility number by the applicant in the alarm permit application, and the applicant shall attach a corresponding map or diagram of the premises showing the location of each such facility. (3) Visible markings. Each individual facility shall be clearly and visibly marked and identified with its individual facility number at the physical premises. (4) Separate monitoring of facilities. Each individual facility shall be separately monitored by the alarm systems company to ensure that the individual facility where an alarm system may be triggered can be readily identified. (5) Information required. An alarm notification to the police department shall include the individual facility number. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-59 Alarm permit—Application.

Sec. 11-59. - Alarm permit—Application. (a) Application for an alarm permit shall be made to the department in a format designated by the director for that purpose. Each application shall be set forth: (1) Applicant. The name, address, telephone number(s), email address, federal employee identification number, state sales tax number, corporate charter number, and state driver's license number of the applicant, as applicable. An applicant who is an individual who does not have a valid Texas driver's license must provide his social security number. (2) Alarm subscriber. If different from the applicant, the name, address, telephone number(s), email address, federal employee identification number, state sales tax number, corporate charter number, and state driver's license number of the alarm subscriber, as applicable. (3) Assumed names; other entity names. Copies of the assumed name registration if the alarm site will be operated under an assumed name; the partnership registration, if any, and the names and addresses of all general partners if the applicant is a partnership; or a copy of the alarm subscriber's the Texas corporate charter or, if the alarm subscriber is a foreign corporation, a copy of the corporation's certificate of authority to do business in Texas, along with the names and addresses of all officers of the corporation and the corporation's registered agent. (4) Alarm site. The street address of the alarm site at which the alarm system is or will be installed, placed, operated or used, including the particular suite, apartment number, unit number, or other similar occupancy number(s) or designation(s), if applicable, and a statement specifying whether the premises is used solely for residential or non-residential purposes. (5) Business names. Any business names used for the alarm site. (6) Alarm system. A description of the alarm system to be permitted and the type of alarm system. (7) Alarm system installer. The name, address, Texas Department of Public Safety/Texas Private Security Bureau license number and type, and telephone number of the alarm systems company that has installed or will install and activate the alarm system. (8) Alarm systems company. The name, address, Texas Department of Public Safety/Texas Private Security Bureau license number and type, and telephone number of the alarm systems company or other person that will monitor the alarm system. (9) Contact information. In addition to the applicant information: a. The names and telephone numbers of two individuals, or the name and local telephone number of an alarm systems company that is able to and has agreed to: [1] Receive an alarm notification at any time; [2] Come to the alarm site within one hour after receiving a request from a member of the police department to do so; and [3] Grant access to the alarm site and to deactivate the alarm system if necessary; or b. The name and telephone number of an alarm systems company that is able to and has agreed to receive calls at any time and to give the police department and the director the names of individuals listed with that company as set out below if: [1] The applicant has given the alarm systems company the names and local telephone numbers of two individuals who are able and have agreed to receive alarm notification at any time; to come to the alarm site within one hour after receiving a request from a member of the police department to do so; and to grant access to the alarm site and to deactivate the alarm system if necessary; and [2] The applicant has authorized the alarm systems company to provide the names and telephone numbers of those two individuals to the chief of police and director whenever the police chief or director has requested that information in order to obtain assistance after an alarm system has been activated. (10) No unpaid fees. A statement that all fees and penalties due and owing to the city under this article by the alarm subscriber, the applicant and its partners, officers, owners and other principals have been paid or that any such outstanding fees and penalties are being paid under a payment arrangement with the director. (11) Compliance statement. A statement that within the 12 months preceding the date the alarm permit will be issued, there has been no denied application for an alarm permit, denied renewal or revocation of any alarm permit, or penalty imposed for operation of an alarm system without an alarm permit that is connected to the alarm site, the alarm system, the alarm subscriber, the applicant, any person-in-control of the alarm site, or a person described in item (10) of this subsection. (12) Other required information. Such other information as the police chief and the director in their discretion, individually or jointly, determine to be reasonably necessary. (b) Signature required. The application shall be signed by an owner, officer, or partner of the applicant if the applicant is not an individual, or by the individual applicant, acknowledging that he has read the application, affirming the correctness and accuracy of the information given on the application, and authorizing the release to the department of information specified in subsection (a) of this section. (c) Issuance of alarm permit. The director shall issue an alarm permit upon submission of an application that fully complies with this article and the alarm permit fee; provided that the application shall be denied and no alarm permit shall be issued if the director finds that: (1) Any statement made in the application is incomplete, misleading, or false; (2) The application truthfully states matters sufficient to deny the alarm permit application; (3) The applicant, its partners, officers, owners and other principals have not paid to the city all fees and penalties due under this article; or (4) The alarm system installed at the alarm site has, or is of the type that has had, a history of unreliability. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, §§ 5—7, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-60 Same—Amendments to application.

Sec. 11-60. - Same—Amendments to application. The permit holder has an affirmative duty to promptly submit updated alarm permit application information to the department in writing when any information contained in or relevant to the alarm permit application has changed or is out of date. In all circumstances, the updated information must be provided not later than 15 days after the information changed or became out of date. Submission of updated alarm permit application information shall not prevent revocation, termination, denial of application or renewal, or other remedy authorized by this article. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-61 Same—Term; expiration; renewal.

Sec. 11-61. - Same—Term; expiration; renewal. (a) Term of alarm permit. Each alarm permit shall be valid for a 12-month period from the date of issuance stated on the alarm permit. (b) Notice of expiration. The department shall give at least 30 days written notice to the permit holder of the expiration date of an alarm permit. A permit holder who wants to renew the permit shall file the renewal fee with the director not less than ten business days before expiration of the alarm permit. The director shall issue the renewal alarm permit for the 12-month period following the expiration date of the current permit. (c) Grounds for denial or renewal of alarm permit. The director shall deny the renewal application for any of the reasons set forth in section 11-70(a) of this Code. (d) New alarm permit required. If the alarm permit is not renewed as of the expiration date, then a new alarm permit must be applied for and obtained as provided in this article. Upon expiration of an alarm permit that is not renewed, the provisions of section 11-68(d) of this Code regarding penalties for non-permitted alarm systems shall apply until a new alarm permit is issued. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 8, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-62 Same—Fees.

Sec. 11-62. - Same—Fees. (a) Residential alarm site. The fees for a new or renewal alarm permit for a residential alarm site are stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. For purposes of this subsection, a burglar alarm system with a remote control that may be used to trigger the alarm shall not be deemed a panic alarm system. The fees charged for burglar alarm permits under this subsection are subject to a state law maximum amount and shall not be subject to the annual fee increase under section 1-13 of this Code. (b) Non-residential alarm site. The fee for a new or renewal alarm permit for a non-residential alarm site is stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. (c) Refunds. A permit holder who, within the first 30 days of the current permit term, vacates his alarm site because it has become uninhabitable as a result of violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to the control of the permit holder may receive a refund of the permit fee upon request submitted in writing or by email. No refund of any other fee paid pursuant to this article shall be made by the city for any reason except as follows: (1) Duplicate payments; (2) Payments clearly intended for another purpose; or (3) Payments submitted for alarm systems located outside the city limits. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08); Ord. No. 2010-1016, § 2, 12-15-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2017-960, §§ 3, 7, 12-13-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-63 Same—Transfer.

Sec. 11-63. - Same—Transfer. (a) Residential alarm permits. A permit holder who relocates his residence may transfer a valid and current residential alarm permit to the new residential alarm site at no expense by submitting updated alarm permit application information to the department in writing or by email. Residential alarm permits are not transferable for any other reason. (b) Non-residential alarm permits non-transferable. Non-residential alarm permits are not transferable to any other person, premises, alarm system or alarm subscriber. Each alarm permit shall be valid only for the permit holder, alarm site and alarm system as they existed when the alarm permit was originally issued, and the alarm permit shall terminate immediately upon change of any such items or persons. If the permit holder voluntarily or involuntarily ceases to have ownership, leasehold, possession or management rights to the alarm site, or upon revocation or expiration of the alarm permit, the alarm permit shall terminate, and a new alarm permit must be applied for and a new alarm permit fee paid as required by this article. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2017-960, § 4, 12-13-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-63.1 Same—Re-application required following revocation or termination.

Sec. 11-63.1. - Same—Re-application required following revocation or termination. (a) Effect of termination of alarm permit. Upon termination of the alarm permit and before a new alarm permit is issued for that alarm site, the provisions of this article concerning a non-permitted alarm system shall apply. (b) Liability of permit holder. If the permit holder fails to deliver written notice of the cessation of the permit holder's rights in the alarm site to the department at least 30 days prior to such cessation of rights, he shall remain liable as if he were a person-in-control of the alarm site, for all subsequent fees and penalties, jointly and severally with any other persons liable as provided in this article, until a new alarm permit is issued for an alarm system at the alarm site. (Ord. No. 2017-960, § 4, 12-13-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-64 Duties of permit holder.

Sec. 11-64. - Duties of permit holder. The permit holder shall: (1) Ensure that as set forth under section 11-59(a)(9) of this Code, the individuals or the alarm systems company listed with the police department and the director, and the individuals listed with the alarm systems company have agreed and are able to: a. Receive an alarm signal at any time; b. Come to the alarm site within one hour after receiving a request from the police department to do so; and c. Grant access to the alarm site and, if necessary, deactivate the alarm system. (2) Train all persons who may operate or use the alarm system in the proper operation or use of the alarm system. (3) Pay when due all fees and penalties associated with the alarm permit and the operation or use of, including the generation of any false alarm signal from, the alarm system. (4) Maintain the alarm site in a manner that ensures proper operation or use of the alarm system. (5) Maintain or cause to be maintained the alarm system in a manner that will minimize the occurrence of false alarms. (6) Respond or cause a representative to respond within a reasonable period of time when notified by the police department to repair a malfunctioning alarm system, to provide access to the alarm site, or to provide security for the alarm site. (7) Ensure that the alarm system is not manually triggered for any reason other than an occurrence of an event that the alarm system was intended to report. (8) Maintain at the alarm site a complete set of written instructions for the alarm system, excluding any special codes, combinations, or passwords. (9) At least 30 days prior to relinquishing control of the alarm site, deliver written notice of cancellation or transfer, as applicable, of the alarm permit to the department. (10) Upon the giving of written notice of the cancellation of his alarm permit to the department, or upon receipt of notice from the director that his alarm permit has been terminated, revoked or otherwise has become invalid under this article, immediately notify the following persons that it is unlawful to operate or use the alarm system, or to cause or allow it to be operated or used until a new alarm permit has been applied for and issued by the department: a. Persons-in-control of the alarm site; b. Persons who will be in control of the alarm site after the permit holder's relinquishment of control; c. The alarm subscriber; and d. The alarm systems company. (11) Keep the alarm permit at the alarm site and produce the alarm permit for inspection upon the request of the police chief or the director. (12) Promptly give updated alarm permit application information to the department in writing when any information contained in or relevant to the alarm permit application has changed or is out of date. The updated information in all circumstances must be provided within 15 days after the information changed or became out of date. (13) Comply with all requirements of this article and applicable city and police department policies, procedures, standards and regulations. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2017-960, § 5, 12-13-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-65 Duty of person notified by police department to provide access to premises.

Sec. 11-65. - Duty of person notified by police department to provide access to premises. Any person who is notified by a member of the police department that an alarm signal has been received from an alarm system and who is able to give access to the alarm site shall come to the alarm site within one hour of the time such person is notified of such signal and shall provide the police department any necessary access or assistance. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-66 Other requirements for operation of alarm systems; prohibitions.

Sec. 11-66. - Other requirements for operation of alarm systems; prohibitions. No person shall install or cause or allow to be installed and no person shall operate or use or cause or allow the operation or use of any alarm system unless all of the following requirements are met: (1) An alarm system that can be activated as a result of more than one type of emergency situation shall generate a unique alarm signal to designate that it has been triggered as a result of a holdup, a burglary, or any other different type of emergency situation to ensure that the proper alarm notification and a proper response, if any, can be made. (2) A local alarm shall have an automatic 30-minute shutoff from the time it generates an alarm signal and must not sound similar to a siren, an emergency vehicle, or a civil defense warning system. For purposes of this subsection, any alarm system that emits any variable tone (as opposed to a steady pitch or a ringing sound as is made by a bell) shall be considered to be emitting a sound that is similar to a siren, an emergency vehicle, or a civil defense warning system. (3) No holdup alarm shall include a money clip, pressure pad, or similar device that can cause the alarm system to be triggered inadvertently and shall be designed to ensure that it may be triggered only by deliberate human action. (4) No person shall use or permit the use of an automatic dialer or automatic dialing device. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-67 False alarm signals prohibited; exceptions.

Sec. 11-67. - False alarm signals prohibited; exceptions. (a) No person shall intentionally or knowingly cause an alarm system to be triggered for any purpose other than an emergency or threat of emergency of the kind for which the alarm system was designed to give notice; provided, however, it shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this subsection that the alarm system was triggered solely for the purpose of testing the alarm system and the person who tested the alarm system was a representative of the department, police department, or duly licensed under Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code and took reasonable precautions to avoid any alarm notification being sent to the police department. (b) This section shall not be deemed to apply to conduct prohibited by Chapter 42.06 of the Texas Penal Code, as presently enacted or subsequently amended. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 9, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-68 Penalties for false alarms and non-permitted alarms; collection fees; hearing on false or non-permitted alarm determination.

Sec. 11-68. - Penalties for false alarms and non-permitted alarms; collection fees; hearing on false or non-permitted alarm determination. (a) False alarm. For a burglar alarm system, the permit holder will be charged a penalty based on the following table for each false alarm in excess of three during the preceding 12-month period, provided a response is made by the police department to the alarm site within a reasonable time after the alarm notification: False Alarm Penalty 4 th false alarm .....$ 50.00 5 th false alarm .....$ 50.00 6 th false alarm .....$ 75.00 7 th false alarm .....$ 75.00 8 th false alarm .....$ 100.00 Each additional .....$ 100.00 (b) False residential panic or holdup alarm. For a residential alarm site, the permit holder of a panic or holdup alarm system will be charged a penalty based on the following table for each false panic or holdup alarm in excess of one during the preceding 12-month period: False Alarm Penalty 2 nd false alarm .....$ 140.09 3 rd false alarm .....$ 280.20 4 th false alarm .....$ 420.29 5 th false alarm .....$ 560.39 Each additional .....$ 560.39 (c) False non-residential panic or holdup alarm. For a non-residential alarm site, the permit holder of a panic or holdup alarm system will be charged a penalty based on the following table for each false panic or holdup alarm in excess of one during the preceding 12-month period: False Alarm Penalty 2 nd false alarm .....$ 280.20 3 rd false alarm .....$ 560.39 4 th false alarm .....$ 700.50 5 th false alarm .....$ 700.50 Each additional .....$ 700.50 (d) Alarm generated by a non-permitted alarm system. If HEC or the police department receives an alarm notification, regardless of whether the alarm is false, from an alarm system that does not have a valid alarm permit, the alarm subscriber and the persons-in-control of any portion of the alarm site shall be charged a penalty for each such alarm notification and shall be jointly and severally liable to the city for payment thereof. The penalty per alarm notification for each type of alarm notification received shall be: (1) Residential burglar alarm system: $116.75 (2) Non-residential burglar alarm system: $233.50 (3) Residential panic or holdup alarm system: $308.21 (4) Non-residential panic or holdup alarm system: $490.34 (e) Notice. A notice of each false alarm or alarm generated by a non-permitted alarm system shall be mailed to the permit holder by the director, or to any general addressee at the alarm site address if there is no valid alarm permit, within 30 days from the date of the alarm. The notice shall include: (1) The date of the alarm; and (2) The address of the alarm site, and if the alarm site is a multi-unit housing facility, the identification of the individual facility where the false alarm occurred. Except for collection fees added pursuant to subsection (l) of this section, the permit holder or owner of a non-permitted alarm system shall pay all fees and penalties assessed under this section to the department or make an arrangement with the director to cover the cost of such fees and penalties within 30 days following the date that the city places the false or non-permitted alarm notice in the mail, unless a hearing has been timely requested under subsection (f) of this section. (f) Hearing on false or non-permitted alarm. If the permit holder, or an alarm subscriber or other person-in-control if there is no valid alarm permit, disputes any part of the false or non-permitted alarm notice, such person (appellant) may appeal by filing a written request for a hearing by mail or personal delivery to the director. The request for hearing and supporting documents must be received by the director not later than the 30th day next following the date that the city places the false or non-permitted alarm notice in the mail. Failure to timely request a hearing shall render the notice and imposition of penalties final. (g) Purpose of hearing. The sole purpose of the hearing set out in the preceding subsection shall be to ascertain whether the disputed alarm was false or generated by a non-permitted alarm system. The request for hearing shall specify facts and have documents and records attached that prove the alarm was not false or generated by a non-permitted alarm system. (h) Rules and procedures for hearing. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules established for that purpose by the director. The proceedings shall be informal. Without limitation of other provisions that may be established in such rules, the records generated by the police department personnel who responded to the alarm shall be admissible as proof of their contents, and the police department personnel who responded shall not be required to testify at the hearing. (i) Authority of director. The director shall have the discretion at any time prior to the hearing to reverse a determination that an alarm was false or generated by a non-permitted alarm system if the records clearly establish the alarm was: (1) Not in fact false or generated by a non-permitted alarm system; or (2) Generated by or as a result of disaster for which the mayor has declared a state of disaster and emergency exists. (j) Burden of proof. At the hearing, the burden shall be upon the appellant to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the alarm was not false or generated by a non-permitted alarm system. (k) Final decision. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final, and fees and penalties assessed, if applicable, shall be paid within 15 days following the date that notice of the decision is mailed or hand delivered to the appellant. (l) Collection fee. A collection fee of 30 percent of the false alarm penalty amount shall be added to each false alarm penalty assessed under this section if the false alarm penalty remains unpaid on the 61 st day after it is due. Collection fees are due and payable on the day they are added to the false alarm penalty. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2017-960, § 6, 12-13-2017; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 10, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-69 Common cause for a series of false alarms.

Sec. 11-69. - Common cause for a series of false alarms. (a) In general. Notwithstanding other provisions in this article to the contrary, false alarms of an alarm system may be accounted for as provided in this section to the extent the false alarms are attributable to a common cause. (b) Establishment of common cause; conditions. A series of false alarms shall be deemed as originating from a common cause and counted as one false alarm if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The series of false alarms occurs within a 72-hour period; (2) The alarm system has a valid alarm permit at the time of the false alarms; (3) The cause of the series of false alarms is repaired before it generates additional false alarms; (4) Within 15 days after the end of the 72-hour common cause period, an alarm systems company duly licensed under Chapter 1702 of the Texas Occupations Code provides the police chief with documentation verifying the technical difficulty or malfunction that caused the series of false alarms, and that all necessary repairs have been completed; (5) During the 30-day period following the repair, the alarm system generates no additional false alarms from the documented common cause; and (6) There are no unpaid fees or penalties under this article due and owing from the permit holder. (c) Application of section. This section shall not apply to: (1) The same alarm site, alarm system, alarm subscriber or permit holder more than once in any 24-month period; or (2) Non-permitted alarm systems. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, §§ 11, 12, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-70 Revocation of alarm permit; denied renewal; termination of police department response.

Sec. 11-70. - Revocation of alarm permit; denied renewal; termination of police department response. (a) Grounds for revocation or denial. An alarm permit shall be revoked or denied renewal by the director for any of the following reasons: (1) Unpaid amounts. The permit holder has failed to make full payment to the city for any fees and penalties due under this article within 90 days after the date the director mailed a notice to the permit holder that the fees and penalties are due and owing, or within 15 days following the date of mailing or delivery of the decision notice adverse to the permit holder if an appeal has been timely filed; (2) Burglar alarm system; excessive false alarms. The permit holder of a burglar alarm system on a residential or non-residential alarm site accrues more than seven false alarms during the preceding 12-month period; (3) Panic or holdup alarm system; excessive false alarms. The permit holder of a panic or holdup alarm system accrues more than: 3 ..... | false alarms in the preceding ..... | 1-month period; 4 ..... | false alarms in the preceding ..... | 3-month period; 5 ..... | false alarms in the preceding ..... | 6-month period; or 6 ..... | false alarms in the preceding ..... | 12-month period. (4) Code violations. The permit holder has violated any applicable provision of this article or has failed to perform any duty imposed by this Code; or (5) Other grounds. Any fact or circumstance exists that would be a basis for denial of an application for issuance or renewal of an alarm permit, or the alarm permit was otherwise obtained or issued in error. (b) Effect of alarm permit revocation or expiration. Upon revocation or expiration of the alarm permit by the director, the alarm system becomes a non-permitted alarm system, and all penalties, fees and punishments authorized by this article for a non-permitted alarm system are applicable. (c) Notice of alarm permit denial or revocation. If the director denies an application for an alarm permit or revokes an alarm permit, the director shall cause a denial or revocation notice to be sent to the applicant at the address set out in the permit application and shall maintain a copy thereof. The notice shall state the reasons for the denial or revocation and advise the applicant of the right to a hearing as provided in section 11-71 of this Code. (d) Termination of police response. The police department may decline or terminate police department response to any alarm site at any time without notice at the discretion of the police chief, except in those instances where a denial of response would be prohibited by state law. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, §§ 13, 14, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-70.1 Exclusion of alarm system by owner.

Sec. 11-70.1. - Exclusion of alarm system by owner. (a) A property owner or person-in-control of an alarm site may elect to exclude the city from receiving an alarm signal from an alarm system located on the owner's property or at the alarm site by submitting to the city, on a form promulgated by the director, a request for exclusion. If an election is made under this section, the city shall not require the property owner or person-in-control to obtain a permit and shall not impose any fee to obtain a permit for the alarm system. (b) A property owner or person-in-control who makes an election under this section shall pay to the director a penalty of $250.00 for each Houston police department response to a signal from the alarm system requested by an alarm system monitor. (Ord. No. 2019-189, § 15, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-71 Appeals.

Sec. 11-71. - Appeals. (a) Appeal; written request required. A person may appeal the denial or revocation of an alarm permit by delivering a written request for an appeal to the director not later than 30 days after the first date of mailing written notice of denial or revocation. (b) Hearing officer. All appeal hearings shall be held by a hearing officer appointed by the director. The director shall not designate any person to perform the duties of appeal hearing officer under this section who has participated in the investigation of false alarms from the alarm site in question or has prior knowledge of the particular allegations or circumstances discovered in such investigation. The appeal hearing officer may, prior to the hearing, receive a copy of the notice given to the permit holder or applicant. (c) Assistant city attorney. An assistant city attorney may be present at the hearing to advise the appeal hearing officer as to procedural matters; however, that assistant city attorney shall not participate in any determination of the facts. (d) Conduct of hearing; rules and procedures. All appeal hearings shall be informal and conducted under rules established by the director consistent with the informal nature of the proceedings; provided, however, the following rules shall apply to all appeal hearings conducted under this section: (1) All parties shall have the right to representation by an attorney licensed to practice in Texas, though an attorney is not required. (2) Each party may present witnesses in his own behalf. (3) Each party shall have the right to cross examine all witnesses. (4) The appeal hearing officer shall consider only the evidence presented at the appeal hearing in rendering a final decision. (e) Authority of hearing officer. The appeal hearing officer may affirm or reverse an alarm permit denial or revocation; however, no proceeding under this section may be used to address or reconsider whether an alarm signal was false or generated from a non-permitted alarm system. The exclusive remedy for determining whether an alarm was false or non-permitted shall be the review process established in section 11-68(f)—(k) of this Code. (f) Decision of the hearing officer. The decision of the hearing officer shall be final. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, §§ 16, 17, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-72 Mandatory verification of burglar alarm; alarm notification.

Sec. 11-72. - Mandatory verification of burglar alarm; alarm notification. (a) Verification. Prior to generating an alarm notification, an alarm systems company shall verify the alarm signal and determine the permit status of the alarm system at the location of the alarm signal. (b) Notice; requirements. An alarm notification to HEC or the police department shall include all of the following: (1) For a burglar alarm notification, whether the mandatory verification has been completed; (2) Type of alarm signal; (3) Alarm permit number and name of the permit holder; (4) Street address of the alarm site, including the particular suite, apartment, or individual facility number or other designation, if applicable; (5) If requested by the official receiving the alarm notification, the name(s) and local telephone number(s) of the person(s) to notify, if so authorized by the permit holder; and (6) Such additional information as HEC or the police department may reasonably require. (c) Policies and procedures; effect. Policies and procedures instituted by the police chief may include provisions that if the alarm notification provided in subsection (b) of this section is incomplete or erroneous: (1) The request for dispatch shall be assigned a lower priority than would otherwise be the case; or (2) No officer shall be dispatched. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 18, 3-27-2019)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-73 Alarm systems performance reviews.

Sec. 11-73. - Alarm systems performance reviews. If the police chief believes that an alarm system is not being used or maintained in a manner that reasonably ensures proper operation and prevention of false alarms, the police chief may require a conference with the permit holder and the individual or other entity responsible for maintenance of the alarm system to review the circumstances of each alarm. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-74 Violations; penalty; corporations; partnerships and associations.

Sec. 11-74. - Violations; penalty; corporations; partnerships and associations. (a) Except where a fine is specifically stated herein, whenever in this article an act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense or misdemeanor, or whenever in this article the doing of any thing or act is required or the failure to do any thing or act is prohibited, the violation of the provision shall be and constitute a misdemeanor punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than $250.00 nor more than $500.00. Each violation shall constitute and be punishable as a separate offense. Prosecution or conviction under this provision is cumulative of and shall never be a bar to the imposition or collection of false alarm penalties, non-permitted alarm penalties, fees or any other civil or administrative remedy provided or allowed in this article. (b) In addition to prohibiting or requiring certain conduct of individuals, it is the intent of this article to also hold a corporation, partnership, association, limited partnership, limited liability corporation or other such entity criminally responsible for acts or omissions performed by an agent acting on its behalf. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-75 Certain notices; procedure.

Sec. 11-75. - Certain notices; procedure. Any notice required or allowed by this article to be sent by the director to a permit holder or other person, unless expressly provided otherwise in this article, shall be considered sufficient if sent by first class U.S. Mail to the permit holder's address, billing address or alarm site address as set forth in the alarm permit application or the most recent amendment thereto, or the address specified by the permit holder in writing to the department. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-76 Standards and procedures.

Sec. 11-76. - Standards and procedures. Development of policies and procedures. The director and the police chief, as applicable, shall have the authority to institute standards and procedures necessary to implement and enforce this article to ensure the effective utilization of police department and HEC resources, and the enhancement of public safety. In establishing any rules, regulations and policies regarding the administration of the permitting process, hearings or appeals, the director and the chief of police shall consult with each other to ensure to maximum efficiency and coordination between their departments. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-77 Use and allocation of revenues.

Sec. 11-77. - Use and allocation of revenues. Revenues from alarm permit fees and penalties collected pursuant to this article shall be placed in the General Fund and used to defray the costs associated with administering this article, including the costs of responding to alarm calls, and for other purposes of the department or the police department, except as may be limited by state law, including Local Government Code, Chapter 214, Subchapter F-1. (Ord. No. 08-387, § 2, 4-30-08; Ord. No. 2012-589, § 13, 6-20-2012; Ord. No. 2019-189, § 19, 3-27-2019)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH11BUFIALPRSE_ARTIIIBUALPAALOTSIALSYFetched: 10/26/2026