Ord 221 Regulating Alarms and Alarm SystemsCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 221
(Codified as Ordinance No. 1009
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ALARMS AND ALARM SYSTEMS
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
ll The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the City Public Safety personnel
and services from the nuisance and negligent operation of alarm systems
while providing the highest level of service to alarm users.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Ordinance, certain words and terms are hereby
defined as follows:
2.1 (1) Alarm Systems means an assembly of equipment or devices, either
mechanically or electrically operated, arranged or designed to
signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to
which public safety personnel are expected to respond.
2.1 (2) Audible Alarm means a device which, when activated, generates an
audible sound on or near the protected premises.
2.1 (3) False Alarm, for the purpose of the Ordinance, means an alarm
signal eliciting a response by public safety personnel when a
situation requiring a response does not, in fact, exist, which is
caused by the activation of the alarm system through mechanical
failure, alarm malfunction, improper installation or the inadver-
tence or misuse by the owner or leasee of an alarm system or his
employees or agent. False alarms do not include alarms caused by
weather conditions, power failure, or other causes that are clear-
ly beyond the control of the manufacturer or the user of the alarm
system.
2.1 (4) Alarm User means the person, firm, partnership, corporation, com-
pany or organization of any kind in control of any building,
structure or facility wherein an alarm system is maintained.
SECTION 3. REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Every person maintaining an audible arm shall post a notice con-
taining the name and telephone numbers of the persons to be noti
fied during any hour of the day or night that the alarm sounds.
Such notice shall be posed at the main entrance to such premises
in such a location as to be legible from the ground level adjacent
to the building or kept currently corrected and on file with the
police or fire department.
3.2 Audible alarms that sound like police or fire sirens are pro-
hibited.
3.3 Audible alarms shall have automatic shut off which will silence
the signal within a period not to exceed 15 minutes.
SECTION 4. FALSE ALARMS
4.1 Reports Required
4.1 (1) Alarm uses shall provide, upon request and on an ongoing basis,
information including, but not limited to:
(a) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of alarm user, alarm
owner (if different), and alarm servicer.
(b) Type of alarm and areas protected.
(c) Keyholder or contact person in the event of alarm problems.
4.1 (2) The alarm user shall, within ten (10) days of receipt of a "Notice
of False Alarm", complete and return the provided "False Alarm
Report." This report is to be returned to the appropriate City
department (police or fire), and must be completed for each and
every alarm transmitted.
4.2 Penalties
4.2 (1) False Fire Alarms
(a) A penalty of $150.00 shall be paid.to the City by the alarm
user for each and every false fire alarm, in excess of three
(3), in any calendar year.
4.2 (2) All Other False Alarms
(a) A penalty shall be paid to the City by the alarm user for
each false alarm, other than a false fire alarm, in excess of
three (3) in any calendar year. That penalty shall be $25.00
for fourth false alarm and shall increase by $10.00 for each
succeeding false alarm within the same calendar year.
4.2 (3) Payment Of Penalties
(a) All penalties must be paid to the City Treasurer within
thirty (30) days of notice by the City to the alarm user.
Failure to pay the penalty within thirty (30) days of notice
will cause the alarm user to be considered delinquent and
subject to an additional fee equal to ten percent (10%) of
the penalty. Payment of delinquent penalties may be enforced
through civil action.
4.3 Exceptions
4.3 (1) The United States government, the State, the County, the City or
any departments thereof are exempt from the Penalties and Fees
Section of this Ordinance.
4.3 (2) The police or fire chief may excuse false alarms when there is
evidence that the alarm was a result of an effort or an order to
upgrade, install, or maintain an alarm system, or if one or more
false alarms result from the same malfunction within a five (5)
day period.
SECTION 5.
nr
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after January 1,
accol
Enacted and ordained by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this
19th day of November _, 1985.
ATTEST:
athleen M. Swanson
City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
B
Robert G. Lockwood
Mayor