Definitions.

Meridian Code of Ordinances § 7-262

in effect

Sec. 7-262. - Definitions. For the purpose of this article, certain words and phrases shall have the meanings and definitions ascribed to them in this section, unless a different meaning or definition is apparent from the context in which the word or phrase is used. Act of God. An unforeseeable or inevitable occurrence, such as a tornado or lightning, occasioned exclusively by nature, and without human agency or interference. Alarm. Shall have the same meaning as "alarm system", defined below. Alarm business. The undertaking for profit by any person, partnership, corporation, firm, business or other entity of, selling, maintaining, servicing, inspecting, repairing, leasing, monitoring, altering, replacing, moving or installing any alarm or alarm system on or in any building, structure, place or facility, including, but not limited to, alarm businesses as defined herein who have their domicile with the State of Mississippi or outside the State of Mississippi, and who provide any alarm business services within the City of Meridian; provided, however, that the term "alarm business" shall not include any person, partnership, corporation, firm, business or other entity engaged in the manufacture or sale of an alarm system from a fixed location, who does not visit the location where the alarm system is to be installed and does not participate in the installation or design or monitoring of the installation at a specific location. Alarm business privilege license. Upon proper application, the approval granted by the city to operate as an alarm business. Alarm system. Any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device, which is designed or used for the detection of fire and/or any unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others of fire and/or the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or both, and which emits a sound or transmits a signal or message to a monitoring system which will result in a request for assistance from the fire department and/or police department. Devices that are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible outside of the protected building, structure or facility, are not included within the definition, nor are auxiliary devices installed by any telephone company to protect telephone company systems that might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system. For the purposes of this article, the term "alarm system" or "alarm" refers to each alarm system or alarm serving a single business or residence. Audible alarm. Any mechanical, electrical or electronic device that is designed or used for the detection of fire and/or unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility, or for alerting others of fire and/or the commission of an unlawful act within a building, structure or facility, or both, and which, when activated, emits a sound from a device(s), such as a bell or siren, which is installed in the interior, on the exterior, or both, of a building, structure or facility. Central dispatch. The E-911 commission. City. The City of Meridian, Mississippi. City council. The elected city council of the City of Meridian, Mississippi. False alarm. Any activation of an alarm system that is reasonably designed or intended to require a response by the fire department and/or police department, except alarms resulting from any one of the following causes: (1) Criminal activity or unauthorized entry; (2) High winds, causing structural damage; (3) Flooding of the protected premises; (4) An earthquake, causing structural damage; (5) Lightning, causing physical damage to the protected premises; (6) Fire, causing physical damage to the protected premises; (7) Unforeseen power failure; or (8) Maintenance of alarm devices and/or systems, provided central dispatch is notified beforehand, by the alarm user and its designated monitoring service. Fire department. The City of Meridian Fire Department. Grace false alarms. False alarms which are forgiven and are not subject to a service fee for fire department and/or police department response. Malfunction. Activation of an alarm system, not due to fault or negligence on the part of the lessee, owner or user of the alarm system(s). Person. Includes any natural person (masculine or feminine), corporation, association, firm, business, individual, and every other entity, both singular and plural. Police department. The City of Meridian Police Department. (Ord. No. 4126, § 1, 7-6-99)

Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH7BUBURE_ARTXALSY_DIV1GE_S7-262DEFetched: 11/1/2026