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Frequently Asked Questions


All residential and commercial locations in the City of Carlsbad with an active alarm system are required by Ordinance to have an alarm permit. The permit will automatically renew annually once your alarm location is registered, including the one time fee of $26.

  • Encourages the proper maintenance of alarm systems
  • Reduces the number of false alarms / associated emergency response resources of law enforcement
  • Deploys Police Department resources in a more effective manner
  • Decreases the potential danger created by false alarms for responding officers—and anyone the officers find at your premises

Please complete the online registration form 

You may also contact the Carlsbad False Alarm Reduction Program at 888-865-9770, Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm PT

Commercial / Residential Permit Registration Fee: $26.00

Commercial / Residential Annual Permit renewal Fee: $0

Once permitted, the alarm location will renew automatically with no fee.

False Alarms Fee Schedule (false alarms counted during a rolling 365 day period)

1st false alarm - $0

2nd false alarm - $36

3rd+ false alarm - $67/each

False Panic Fees

2+ false alarms - $100/each

 

Over 98 percent of the alarm signals generated in the United States end up being false. Responding to false alarms takes officers away from responding to actual emergency situations. In an effort to make alarm users aware of this problem and mitigate the incidence of false alarms, the City of Carlsbad enacted a False Alarm Ordinance (Municipal Code, Chapter 8.50). The Ordinance requires that all owners of an active alarm system (both residential and business) obtain a permit and pay fines to the City for excessive false alarm activity.

An alarm signal resulting in the responding emergency officer finding no evidence of an unauthorized entry, robbery, or other such crime attempted at the alarm site. This does not include an alarm signal caused by violent conditions of nature or other extraordinary events not reasonably subject to control by the alarm business operator or alarm user.

No, you will never be charged for an alarm activation that is not false. This ordinance allows charges for false alarms only.

The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website - Chapter 8.50 - ALARM SYSTEMS.

Yes, you can pay for any fees due on your account via this website by clicking on the home tab and logging in with credentials initiated by APS/CitySupport and secured by the alarm user. City of Carlsbad False Alarm Program Website

APPEALING A FALSE ALARM RESPONSE CHARGE

*Submit a written request/statement as to why you feel the charge and/or occurrence should be waived or removed from your account, along with any supporting documentation (police reports, alarm company documentation, etc.)

*Submit via email using the Contact Us page.

*Be sure to include Permit License #, alarm location address, and incident date(s) in question.

*Submit within thirty (30) calendar days of the notice imposing the charge.