GENERAL FIRE ALARM PROCESS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 11, art. II, div. 1

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-6 Definitions.

Sec. 11-6. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Fire alarm protective service. Any service whereby any person provides or employs electronic or mechanical means to detect the presence of fire on any premises in the city, the report of which is then transmitted to or through the communication system of the fire department or which system is in any manner connected with the fire alarm communication system of the fire department. The term also means the activity of maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing in or on any building, place or premises any device designed or used for detection of fire. Local alarm. A protective signaling system so designed and operated that (1) the equipment for detecting fire, smoke or heat, or for manually activating the alarm and (2) the equipment for signaling a warning thereof by bell, horn, siren or other means are located on the particular premises being protected. Person. A person as defined in section 1-2 of this Code other than the city. (Ord. No. 02-527, §§ 2, 3, 6-19-02; Ord. No. 03-1101, § 2, 11-12-03)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-7 Automatic telephone devices.

Sec. 11-7. - Automatic telephone devices. No person shall use or permit the use of any telephone device or telephone attachment which automatically selects any city telephone trunkline or number leading into the fire department or other offices of the city and then transmits any prerecorded fire alarm message or signal which indicates the presence or possibility of the presence of a fire at any location. (Ord. No. 02-527, § 2, 6-19-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-8 Standards.

Sec. 11-8. - Standards. (a) The fire chief may establish minimum standards and permit fire alarm protective services which meet those standards to connect their systems directly to the dispatcher's office of the fire department by dedicated telephone line when he finds that the methods of operations of companies meeting such standards will give reasonable assurance that the use of such connections will not impose a burden on the fire department. (b) No person shall operate a fire alarm protective service unless it complies in all respects, including the maintenance of runners and appropriate record keeping systems, with the applicable requirements set out in N.F.P.A. Pamphlet No. 71, 1977 edition, entitled "Central Station Signaling Systems" and complies with the applicable requirements of state laws, rules and regulations. (Ord. No. 02-527, § 2, 6-19-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-9 Dispatch personnel.

Sec. 11-9. - Dispatch personnel. All fire alarm protective services shall provide the necessary personnel giving them the capability to respond, upon request by any member of the fire department, to the scene of an activated alarm 24 hours of each day, Saturdays and Sundays included. It shall be unlawful for such fire alarm protective service to fail to dispatch personnel, after being notified that such alarm is sounding, to come to the premises to shut off such alarm or to assist firemen in an inspection of the premises. (Ord. No. 02-527, § 2, 6-19-02)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 11-10 Local alarms.

Sec. 11-10. - Local alarms. No local alarm shall make a sound similar to that of a siren on emergency vehicles or similar to a civil defense warning system. The permit holder and person in control as defined in Article II of Chapter 11, shall ensure that a clearly legible notice is posted and maintained upon the exterior of the structure at or near the location of such alarm, stating the name and telephone number of the person designated to be notified to render repairs or service during any hour of the day or night that such alarm sounds, signals or activates. Such notice shall be posted in such a position as to be readable by a person of average height from the ground level adjacent to the structure. It shall be unlawful for such designated person, after being notified that the local alarm is sounding, signaling or otherwise activated, to refuse to come to the premises to shut off such alarm or to assist firemen in an inspection of the premises. (Ord. No. 02-527, § 2, 6-19-02; Ord. No. 03-1101, § 3, 11-12-03)

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_ARTIIFIALSE_DIV1GEFIALPRFetched: 10/26/2026