Frequently Asked Questions
If you have an alarm system, you are required by the City of Gardena to have an alarm permit. If you have multiple alarm systems, a permit is required for each alarm system.
Fines allow the City of Gardena to recover a portion of the costs associated with responding to false alarms.
A false alarm is any alarm signal which causes a police department response when an emergency situation does not exist. Excessive false alarms are defined as more than three false alarms within a 365 day period.
Yes. If you are a new owner of an alarm system, you are required to obtain a new permit in your name.
Yes. Anytime there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, a new alarm permit is required.
$44.00
The annual renewal fee of an alarm permit is $44.00, alarm permits are required to be renewed annually and due March 5th of each year.
Fee notices are sent out each week for false alarms. The false alarm fee schedule and counts are based on a calendar year and reset each year.
False Alarm Fee
1st - 3rd No Charge
4th - 5th $75.00
6th $100.00
7th $125.00
8th $150.00
9th $175.00
10+ $200.00
Yes. ORDINANCE NO. 1504 requires residences and business owners with alarm systems to obtain and maintain an annual permit and reimburse the City for excessive false security alarms.
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.
*A deposit in the amount of the false alarm response charge (or provide proof of a financial inability to deposit the false alarm response charge) is required before Appeals will be reviewed
*Submit within thirty (30) calendar days of the notice imposing the charge.
If there is no longer active alarm service in your name at this location please notify us in writing by sending an email to gardenaca@citysupport.org with the date of cancellation and the alarm company of record.