Alarm Permitting

City of Marina, CA - Ordinance No. 2020-03 CHAPTER 8.24

The City of Marina has adopted a new alarm systems ordinance concerning the regulation of alarm systems and police response to false alarms within the City. A 3rd party (PM AM Corporation) will be administering the notifications, billing (including on-line payment), collections, registration applications and processing for residential and commercial alarm systems, as well as the collection of fines and fees related to false alarms .

"Alarm system" means a device or series of devices, which emit or transmit an audible or remote visual or electronic alarm signal, which is intended to summon Police response. The term includes hardwired systems, surveillance cameras and systems interconnected with a radio frequency method such as cellular or private radio signals, and includes Local Alarm Systems, but does not include an alarm installed in a motor vehicle or a system which will not emit a signal either audible or visible from the outside of the building, residence or beyond, but is designed solely to alert the occupants of a building or residence.

"False Alarm" means an Alarm Dispatch Request to the Police Department, which results in the responding officer finding no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after completing an investigation of the Alarm Site.

• An Alarm user must obtain an alarm permit from the City for each property that utilizes an alarm system.
• All permits shall expire on July 1st of each year and must be renewed annually.
• The initial registration fee of residential and commercial location is $25.00. New registrations will be prorated.
• The annual renewal fee of residential and commercial location is $20.00.
• An alarm user shall be charged a late fee if they have failed to register or renew their permit in a timely manner.
• Alarm permits cannot be transferred to another person or location. Exceptions could be transfer among family members or successors.

The alarm user can receive a waiver for the first chargeable false alarm fine in each registration period by completing the alarm awareness class and test within 30 days from the invoice date.

A 30-day grace period shall be granted from the date of all new alarm installations to accommodate the registration application process.