Burglar Alarm Registration

Alarm Systems Ordinance - Article 5.02 of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances

Alarm Systems Ordinance highlights:

  • Burglar alarm sites must be registered with the police department. There is no fee for this permit but the ordinance does require you to fill out and return the enclosed permit application.
  • Each alarm site will be allowed twelve (12) false alarms in a calendar year.
  • Burglar alarms which are triggered by severe weather, criminal activity, natural or man-made disasters or loss of power are excepted from the count of 12 false alarms.
  • You will be notified by the police department if and when you reach the 12th false alarm.
  • The alarm permit holder will be billed by the police department in the amount of $50.00 for any response to a burglar alarm which is not excepted (see 3rd bullet point) after the 12th alarm. A response is defined as police officers arriving on the scene of your residence or business. If the call is canceled before officer(s) arrive, the alarm will not be counted.
  • If a total of twenty (20) alarms are responded to in a calendar year, or if the alarm permit holder fails to pay any assessed response fees in 45 days, a city ordinance violation case will be filed in the Municipal Court of the City of Paris against the alarm permit holder.
  • This ordinance does not apply to hold-up alarms.

Permit Registration

There is no fee to register your alarm site. You are being asked to register your alarm site so that the police department will have adequate information regarding who is responsible for response to any active alarm situations. Registration is also needed for inclusion in a database for administration of the alarm ordinance.

Registration forms are available at the police station or you may complete registration online or print a form. 

False Alarm Reduction - Saving Time and Money

Case studies indicate that false alarms have a financial impact on police departments and can reduce availability of police officers that may be needed for other assignments. This PDF provides information about some of the case studies.

Common causes of false alarms

  • Improper Arming and Disarming - User mistakes like entering the wrong pass code and letting too much time pass before entering the code can prompt false alarms.
  • Not Properly Training Authorized Users - People who are unfamiliar with your system often cause false alarms.
  • Power Problems - Weak batteries and power outages can set off your alarm. It is important to have your system running on a battery backup.
  • Pets - Animals wandering around the house while you're away can be detected by motion sensors and set off the alarm. This can also be true about birds or pests in a business location.
  • Failing to Secure Doors and Windows Properly - Not fully closing doors and windows before setting the alarm can prompt the system to go off. Also, faulty or loose contacts on your windows or doors can trigger false alarms.
  • Objects Moving Near Motion Sensors - Balloons, plants, signs or other moving objects near motion sensors can trigger the sensors and set off the alarm