Frequently Asked Questions
Fines allow the City to recover a portion of the costs associated with responding to false alarms.
A false alarm is any alarm signal which causes police department response when an emergency situation does not exist. Excessive false alarms are defined as more than one false alarm within any 365 day period at a permitted site, and any false alarm at a non-permitted site.
If you have a monitored alarm system, you are required by the City of Cathedral City to have an alarm permit. If you have multiple monitored alarm systems, a permit is required for each alarm.
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.
Alarm permits are required to be renewed annually.
The cost of an alarm permit is $35.
The annual renewal fee of an alarm permit is $30.
Permit holders are given one false alarm response within a 365 day period at no charge. A fine is charged for all false alarms thereafter.
| Police Alarms | 1st False Alarm in 365 day period | 2nd False Alarm in 365 day period | 3rd False Alarm in 365 day period | 4th or more False Alarms in 365 day period |
| Permitted Alarm | No charge | $100.00 | $150.00 | $200.00 each |
| Non-Permitted Alarm | $100.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 each |
Yes. Ordinance 8.28.05 requires residences and business owners with alarm systems to obtain and maintain an annual permit and reimburse the City for excessive false security alarms.
The City of Cathedral City provides an online alarm diversion program to educate alarm users on the causes and consequences of false alarms and how to prevent them. This course is entirely online and can be completed from any computer in about 30 minutes. It can be taken whether or not you have caused a false alarm, and the cost is $25.00. The City also allows permit users who have caused two false alarms within a 365 day period to take the course in lieu of paying the $100.00 fine.
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.
*Submit within fifteen (15) 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 cathedralcityca@citysupport.org with the date of cancellation and the alarm company of record.