Municipal Code, Complete - City of Santa Barbara

Sections:
9.100.010 Purpose and Scope.
9.100.020 Definitions.
9.100.030 Alarm Installation Company
Operators.
9.100.040 Alarm Installation Agents.
9.100.050 Alarm Registration Required.
9.100.060 Alarm Registration Application.
9.100.070 Alarm Registration Duration and
Renewal.
9.100.010 Purpose and Scope.
Chapter 9.100
BURGLARY AND ROBBERY ALARM SYSTEMS
9.100.080 Registration Fees.
9.100.090 Duties of the Alarm User.
9.100.100 Duties of the Alarm Installation
Company and Monitoring
Company.
9.100.110 Alarm School.
9.100.120 Warning Letters and Penalties.
9.100.130 Right of Appeal.
9.100.140 Confidentiality.
A. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Chapter is to encourage Alarm Users and alarm companies to properly use
and maintain the operational effectiveness of Alarm Systems in order to improve the reliability of Alarm Systems and
reduce or eliminate False Alarms.
B. APPLICATION. This Chapter governs Alarm Systems intended to summon law enforcement response; it
requires registration, establishes fees, provides for penalties for violations of the Chapter, and it establishes a system
of administration for responding to Alarm Systems. (Ord. 5329, 2004.)
9.100.020 Definitions.
All words and phrases used in this Chapter which are defined in the California Private Investigator and Adjuster
Act (the "Act," state California Business and Professions Code Section 7500 et seq.) shall have the same meaning as
in said Act, and certain additional words and phrases used in this Chapter are defined as follows:
A. ALARM DISPATCH REQUEST. A notification to a law enforcement agency that an alarm, either manual
or automatic, has been activated at a particular Alarm site.
B. ALARM INSTALLATION COMPANY. A Person in the business of selling, providing, maintaining,
servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing an Alarm System in an Alarm Site.
C. ALARM REGISTRATION. Authorization granted by the Police Department to an Alarm User to operate
an Alarm System.
D. ALARM SCHOOL. A class conducted for the purpose of educating Alarm Users about the responsible use,
operation, and maintenance of Alarm Systems and the problems created by False Alarms.
E. ALARM SITE. A single fixed premises or location served by an Alarm System or Systems. Each unit, if
served by a separate Alarm System in a multi-unit building or complex, shall be considered a separate Alarm Site.
F. ALARM SYSTEM. Any device or series of devices, including but not limited to, hardwired systems and
systems interconnected with a radio frequency method such as cellular or private radio signals, which emit or transmit
a remote or local audible, visual or electronic signal indicating an alarm condition and intended to summon law
enforcement response. Alarm System does not include an alarm installed in a vehicle or on someone’s person.
G. ALARM USER. Any person who has contracted for monitoring, repair, installation or maintenance service
from an Alarm Installation Company or Monitoring Company for an Alarm System, or who owns or operates an
Alarm System which is not monitored, maintained, or repaired under contract.
H. AUDIBLE ALARM. A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on premises which
generates a silent or audible sound on the premises when it is activated.
I. BOARD. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the City of Santa Barbara.
J. CANCELLATION. The process where response is terminated when a Monitoring Company for the Alarm
Site notifies the responding law enforcement agency that there is not an existing situation at the Alarm Site requiring
law enforcement agency response after an Alarm Dispatch Request.
K. FALSE ALARM. An alarm signal, either silent or audible, necessitating response by the Police Department
where an emergency situation for which the alarm system was designed or used does not exist. Activation of an
audible alarm system for five (5) seconds or less shall not be deemed a false alarm. Activation of an alarm system
due to abnormal conditions (windstorms, downed trees, power outages caused by grid failure, and other natural
disasters) beyond the control of the Alarm User shall not be deemed a false alarm.
L. MONITORING. The process by which a Monitoring Company receives signals from an Alarm System and
relays an Alarm Dispatch Request to the Police Department for the purpose of summoning law enforcement to the
Alarm Site.
M. MONITORING COMPANY. A Person in the business of providing Monitoring services.
221 rev. 12/31/04