Alarm Unit

The Burglar Alarm Enforcement Unit was established in 1988 for the purpose of regulating and reducing the number of false alarms within the unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County. As of January 2000, the number of permitted alarm users was 73,400 an increase of 28,500 since 1995.

Burglar alarm systems are proved deterrents to crime, if operated properly. Operated improperly, they decrease the amount of valuable patrol, investigative and community policing time available. 99.7% of all alarm calls received are false alarms usually caused by user error, poorly maintained or faulty equipment or improper installations. This equates to over 11,643 hours deputies spent in 1999 on false alarm calls. 205 out of 66,243 dispatch requests were actual crimes.

In December 1999, the Board of County Commissioners approved a new alarm ordinance which will take effect on March 1, 2000. This ordinance was designed to show accountability and responsibility for alarm system operation.

Alarm companies and alarm system users will be charged a renewal fee based upon their alarm company false alarm rate (The number of alarm accounts a company has divided by the number of false alarms all customers had). An alarm company with a low false alarm rate will not be assessed a renewal fee, but an alarm company who has a very high false alarm rate will be assessed as much as $100.00 per customer for permit renewal.

Your alarm company false alarm rate is published on this web site. Beginning in March 2001, the new fees will apply. The alarm company rate will be updated at that time. The average false alarm rate in 1999 was .49 or 49 dispatched false alarms per 100 alarm users. In 1997 the rate was .86.

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ALARM UNIT

Burglar Alarm