BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARM SYSTEMS

Salt Lake City Code tit. 5, div. II, ch. 5.08

in effect

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.020 DEFINITIONS

5.08.020: DEFINITIONS: ALARM ADMINISTRATOR: The individual designated by the chief of police to issue permits and enforce the provisions of this chapter. ALARM BUSINESS: Any persons engaged in the business of selling, installing, planning the installation, assisting in planning the installation, servicing, maintaining, monitoring, repairing, replacing, moving or removing alarm systems in the city. ALARM DISPATCH REQUEST: A notification to the police by the alarm business that an alarm, either manual or automatic, has been activated at a particular alarm site. ALARM SITE: A single premises or location served by an alarm system or systems. Each tenancy, if served by a separate alarm system in a multitenant building or complex, shall be considered a separate alarm site. ALARM SYSTEM: Any mechanism, equipment, or device which is designated to detect an unauthorized entry into any building or onto any property, or to direct attention to a robbery, burglary, or other emergency in progress, and to signal the above occurrences either by a local or audible alarm or by a silent or remote alarm. The following devices shall not constitute alarm systems within the meaning of this subsection: A. Devices, which do not register alarms that are audible, visible, or perceptible outside the protected premises; B. Devices which are not installed, operated or used for the purpose of reporting an emergency to the police department; C. Alarm devices installed on a temporary basis by the police department. ALARM USER: The person, occupant, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility or portion thereof wherein an alarm system is maintained. APARTMENT BUILDING: Any building containing two (2) or more rental units. AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE: An alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of an emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect. CENTRAL STATION: An office to which alarm systems are connected, where operators supervise the circuits on a continuous basis, and where there is a subsequent relaying of such messages by a live voice to the police department. DURESS ALARM: A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a crisis situation requiring police response. EMERGENCY: The commission or attempted commission of a robbery, burglary or other criminal action. EMPLOYEE: Any person who is employed by an alarm business and who sells, installs, services, maintains, repairs, or replaces alarm systems in the city. FALSE ALARM: The activation of an alarm system, which results in an arrival at the alarm site by the police department where an emergency does not exist. It includes an alarm signal caused by conditions of nature, which are normal for that area. "False alarm" does not include an alarm signal caused by extraordinarily violent conditions of nature such as tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. HOLDUP ALARM: A silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a robbery in progress. INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEM: An alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into the area protected by the system. LOCAL ALARM: Any alarm device audible at the alarm site. ONE PLUS DURESS ALARM: The manual activation of a silent alarm signal by entering at a keypad a code that adds one to the last digit of the normal arm/disarm code (e.g., normal code = 1234; one plus duress code = 1235). PANIC ALARM: An audible alarm system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life threatening or emergency situation requiring law enforcement response. PERMITTEE: The person to whom an alarm user permit is issued. PERSON: Means and includes natural persons, without regard to number or gender, and any partnership, corporation, and any other type of legal entity. PRIVATE GUARD RESPONDER: A private guard company, an alarm company's guard, an alarm user, or a person or entity appointed by an alarm user to be responsible to confirm that an attempted or actual crime has occurred at an alarm site. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.030 APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS

5.08.030: APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS: The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all alarm users, businesses, employees and alarm systems which are installed, connected, monitored, operated or maintained on or prior to the date on which this chapter became effective, and subsequent thereto. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.045 REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO OPERATE AN ALARM BUSINESS

5.08.045: REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO OPERATE AN ALARM BUSINESS: It is unlawful for any person, partnership, corporation or association to own, manage, conduct or carry on the business of selling, leasing, installing, servicing, maintaining, repairing, replacing, moving or removing, or causing to be sold, leased, installed, serviced, maintained, repaired, replaced, moved or removed in or on any building or other property within city any device known as an intrusion or physical duress alarm system, or automatic dialing device connected to an answering service, unless there exists a current state license therefor, granted and subsisting in compliance with the provisions of the Utah burglar alarm security and licensing act, section 58-65-102 et seq., Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended, or its successor, and the name, address and license number or ID card number registered with the chief of police. Alarm users and/or alarm companies attempting alarm permit registration listing alarm or monitoring companies not currently licensed with the Utah state division of professional licensing shall not be issued a permit number. There shall be no fee for city registration under this section. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.065 ALARM USER PERMITS

5.08.065: ALARM USER PERMITS: A. Every alarm user shall have in his/her possession an alarm user permit issued by the chief of police at no charge. Such permit shall be issued upon filing by the user with the police department a completed alarm permit application as provided by section 5.08.075 of this chapter or its successor. A separate permit shall be required for each alarm site. The permit application shall be submitted to the alarm administrator prior to operation of the alarm system or prior to an existing system being taken over by a different alarm user or alarm company. The alarm user shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the alarm system. B. An alarm user permit shall continue in effect until there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, at which time the permit shall expire. An alarm business shall notify the alarm administrator of any alarm user who has canceled or otherwise terminated their alarm services with the alarm business. Alarm permits shall not be transferable. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.070 EMPLOYEES AND INSTALLERS; IDENTIFICATION CARD

5.08.070: EMPLOYEES AND INSTALLERS; IDENTIFICATION CARD: It is unlawful for any person to engage directly in the installing, servicing, maintaining, repairing, moving or removing, in or on any building or other property within the city, any intrusion, duress or other emergency alarm system, or monitoring and relaying calls for such system, unless such person has in his/her possession a valid individual license issued by the state pursuant to section 58-55-311, Utah Code Annotated, or successor sections. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.075 ALARM INFORMATION

5.08.075: ALARM INFORMATION: A. An alarm permit application shall be completed by the user and submitted to the police department alarm administrator prior to the operation of the system. B. This permit application shall set forth the full name, address and telephone number of both the owner or lessee on whose premises the system will be installed, operated, connected, monitored or maintained, and the name of the person of licensed alarm system business installing, monitoring, maintaining or servicing the system. The permit application shall further contain the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) individuals who may be contacted by peace officers responding to an alarm. The persons listed shall have authority to act for the alarm user in granting peace officers access to any portion of the premises concerned and shall be knowledgeable in the basic operation of the alarm system. The alarm permit shall contain such additional information as the chief of police shall reasonably deem necessary to properly identify and locate the user, the alarm business installing, servicing, monitoring or maintaining the alarm system, and the persons to be contacted in the event of the filing of an alarm report. C. All alarm permit applications and permit information relating to specific alarm sites shall be private records as defined under Utah code section 63-2-302(2)(d), or its successor, and protected records under Utah Code section 63-2-304(10), or its successor, and shall be held in strict confidence by the city and not disclosed except as required under the Utah government records access and management act, Utah Code section 63-2-101 et seq., or their successors. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.085 USER INSTRUCTIONS

5.08.085: USER INSTRUCTIONS: Every alarm business selling, leasing or furnishing to any user an alarm system which is installed on premises located in the area subject to this chapter shall furnish the user with written instructions and training that provide information to enable the user to operate the alarm system properly and avoid false alarms. Written operating instructions and the phone number of the monitoring station, shall be maintained at each alarm site. The alarm business shall notify the alarm user of the permit requirements and this alarm ordinance. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.095 FALSE ALARMS

5.08.095: FALSE ALARMS: A. Except for alarms at a wholesale or retail firearms business, intrusion alarm response shall be dispatched by the police department only after a private guard responder has confirmed that an attempted or actual crime has occurred at the alarm site. B. A one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) penalty per incident shall be charged to a central station or alarm company for each request for police response from a duress, panic or holdup alarm where no valid alarm user permit is provided to police dispatch by the central station. Police response to duress alarms shall be limited to alarms originating from a stationary building structure. C. Any false information provided to the alarm administrator or to police dispatch by any alarm user, central station, alarm company, or private guard responder may be a crime under section 11.04.100 of this code or state law and shall be dealt with accordingly. D. Activation of a duress, panic, or holdup alarm which is determined to be false by the police department shall result in an assessment of a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first, one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the second, two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the third, three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) for the fourth, and four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) for the fifth, and each additional false alarm within each three hundred sixty five (365) day period. Each false intrusion alarm shall result in an assessment of a one hundred dollar ($100.00) penalty. The alarm user shall be responsible for false alarms caused by any person having authorized access to the premises from the alarm user. E. All penalties assessed under this chapter shall be due and payable on the date written notice of any penalty due is issued. Any penalty, which is paid within thirty (30) days of the due date, shall be reduced by fifty dollars ($50.00). Any penalty, which is paid after thirty (30) days and within sixty (60) days of the due date, shall be reduced by twenty five dollars ($25.00). Any penalty paid after sixty (60) days from the due date shall not be reduced. If any penalty is not paid within ninety (90) days of the due date, the city may use such lawful means as are available to collect such penalties. In the event the city files an action in court to recover such penalties, the city shall be entitled to recovery of its costs and attorney fees in addition to the penalties due and owing. F. The alarm administrator may implement a false alarm prevention course. The course shall inform alarm users of the problems created by false alarm dispatches and how users may operate an alarm system without generating false alarm dispatches. Users who complete the course shall be issued a certificate worth the dismissal of one false alarm penalty of up to one hundred dollars ($100.00). No permittee shall be entitled to take such course and receive a penalty waiver more than once per year. (Ord. 14-13, 2013: Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.100 APARTMENT BUILDING ALARM SYSTEMS

5.08.100: APARTMENT BUILDING ALARM SYSTEMS: A. If an alarm system installed, or caused to be installed, by any tenant in an apartment building is monitored by an alarm business, the tenant shall provide to the alarm administrator the name of a representative of the apartment building owner or property manager who can grant access to the rental unit by police officers responding to an alarm dispatch. Such tenant shall obtain an alarm permit from the alarm administrator before operating or causing the operation of an alarm system in the tenant's rental unit. B. A tenant who has contracted with an alarm business to monitor an alarm system at the tenant's alarm site shall be responsible for false alarm dispatches emitted from the alarm system at such alarm site. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.105 INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

5.08.105: INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: All central stations or other answering services shall provide the police department's dispatch, at the time of filing the alarm report with the alarm user's permit number, with a toll free telephone number for contacting the central station dispatchers and for obtaining the information required under section 5.08.170 of this chapter, or its successor. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.115 DELIBERATE FALSE ALARMS

5.08.115: DELIBERATE FALSE ALARMS: No person shall cause to be transmitted any intrusion or physical duress alarm knowing the same to be false or without basis in fact. Central stations shall not request law enforcement officers to respond to alarm scenes when monitoring equipment indicates an alarm system malfunction signal. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.160 LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM; CUTOFF REQUIRED WHEN

5.08.160: LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM; CUTOFF REQUIRED WHEN: (Rep. by Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.170 POLICE CALL RECORDS

5.08.170: POLICE CALL RECORDS: Alarm businesses who request police response to alarm signals shall maintain a record of all police calls, stating the time, date and location of the alarm and the name, address and phone number of the alarm user. The records shall indicate the cause of the alarm, if known. This record shall be current and shall be made available to the chief of police or the chief's designated representative at any time during normal business hours. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.180 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

5.08.180: ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT: A. The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the chief of police. The chief of police, or his or her authorized representative, which may be the chief building inspector, is authorized to make inspections of burglar, robbery and other emergency alarm systems and of the premises wherein said devices or systems are located. Such individual shall have authority at reasonable times and upon oral notice to enter upon any premises within the city to undertake such inspections and to determine whether such systems are being used in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. B. Subject to the approval of the mayor, the chief of police, or his or her authorized representative, shall have power to make such reasonable rules and regulations as may, in the discretion of the chief of police, be deemed necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.190 OPERATIONAL DEFECTS TO BE REMEDIED

5.08.190: OPERATIONAL DEFECTS TO BE REMEDIED: A. Annual Inspection: All alarm users shall have the user's alarm system inspected by an alarm business annually. B. Backup Power Supply: All alarm systems shall have a sufficient backup power supply that will become effective in the event of power failure or outage in the source of electricity from the utility company. Said power supply shall last a minimum of three (3) hours. C. One Plus Duress Alarms: After September 1, 2000, no alarm business shall program alarm systems so they are capable of sending one plus duress alarms. Alarm businesses may continue to report one plus duress alarms received from alarm systems programmed with this feature prior to September 1, 2000. However, after September 1, 2000, when performing a takeover or conversion, an alarm business shall remove the one plus duress alarm capability from the alarm system being taken over or converted. Violation of this section shall result in a civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per incident. D. Duress Alarm Activating Device: After September 1, 2000, alarm companies shall not install a device for activating a duress alarm, which has a single action, nonrecessed button. Violation of this section shall cause a civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per incident. E. Prevention Of False Alarms: It is the responsibility of the alarm business and technician to prevent false alarms during installation, system repairs, or system service. Proper notification shall be made to the monitoring company that the system is in a test mode to avoid dispatching of law enforcement. Violation of this section shall result in a civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per incident against the company employing the technician. F. Vision; Obscuring Device: It is unlawful for any person to install or use an alarm system or device that emits or produces real or simulated smoke, fog, vapor or any like substance that obscures vision. Use of this device shall result in no police response. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.200 AUTOMATIC DIALING AND PRERECORDED MESSAGE ALARM SYSTEMS UNLAWFUL

5.08.200: AUTOMATIC DIALING AND PRERECORDED MESSAGE ALARM SYSTEMS UNLAWFUL: It is unlawful to maintain, operate, connect, or allow to be maintained, operated or connected, any automatic dialing device which automatically dials the police department and then relays any prerecorded message to report any robbery, burglary or other emergency. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.210 CITY LIABILITY LIMITATIONS

5.08.210: CITY LIABILITY LIMITATIONS: The city shall not be liable for any defects in operation of intrusion or duress alarm systems, for any failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon the receipt of an alarm nor for the failure or neglect of any person registered or issued a permit pursuant to this chapter in connection with the installation, operation or maintenance of the equipment necessary to or incident to the operation of such system. In the event the city finds it necessary to order the system disconnected, the city shall inure no liability for such action. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.220 VIOLATION; PENALTY

5.08.220: VIOLATION; PENALTY: A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, failure of any person to comply with the requirements of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by law, as set forth in section 1.12.050 of this code, or its successor section. (Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.08.230 APPEAL PROCEDURES

5.08.230: APPEAL PROCEDURES: A. Civil penalties imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the procedures set forth in Chapter 2.75. B. It shall not be a defense to any penalty assessment that: 1) the false alarms were the result of faulty or malfunctioning equipment; 2) the false alarms were caused by electrical surges; or 3) the false alarms were caused by the fault of another person during noncriminal incidents. C. The hearing officer or administrative appeals officer, as applicable, may dismiss the penalty and release the alarm user from liability thereunder, or may reduce the penalty associated therewith as he or she shall determine if any of the following affirmative defenses are shown: 1. The false alarm for which the penalty has been assessed did not originate at the premises of the alarm user who has been assessed the fee; 2. The alarm for which the penalty has been assessed was, in fact, not false, but was rather the result of an actual or attempted burglary, robbery or other emergency; or 3. The police dispatch office was notified by the permit holder or the alarm company that the alarm was false prior to the arrival of a peace officer to the subject premises in response to the false alarm. (Ord. 50-25, 2025: Ord. 64-00 § 1, 2000)

Source: Salt Lake City, Utah, City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/saltlakecityut/latest/saltlakecity_ut/0-0-0-46075Fetched: 11/1/2026