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Alarm Permits

The City of Austin, Travis and Williamson Counties all have adopted laws that regulate the operation of alarm systems. The City of Austin requires an alarm permit for each residence or business that operates an alarm system. The Austin Police Department enforces and administers the Alarm Permit Ordinance. Enter "Alarm" in the search field once the Ordinance page loads.

City of Austin Alarm Permit Fees

Type of Permit	Amount	Term
Residential (New or Renewal)	$30	12 Months
Business (New or Renewal)	$50	12 Months

City of Austin False Alarm Fees

 

Type of Call	Number allowed at no charge in consecutive 12 month period	$50 Each	$75 Each	$100 Each
Burglary	3	4-5	6-7	8 or more
Robbery Panic	2	-	-	3 or more

Late Payment Fee $5 Per Month

City of Austin Penalties for Operating an Alarm System Without a Permit

• $200 for each response to a non-permitted location.
• Operator is subject to Class C misdemeanor charges.

To obtain a City of Austin alarm permit application:

Complete the Alarm Permit Application and mail it to the address below. If you have any questions or need more information, call the Alarm Unit at 974-5730.

• Alarm Permit Application - requires the AdobeAcrobat Reader plug-in.

After downloading and printing the application, complete the application and return it with your payment to: (Make check or money order payable to: APD Alarm Unit

Austin Police Department
Alarm Unit
P.O. Box 684279
Austin, Texas 78768-4279

Transition Plan for Citizens in Newly Annexed Areas

1. Annexed citizens will be responsible for complying with all aspects of the City of Austin ALARM SYSTEMS Ordinance. Enter "Alarm" in the search field once the Ordinance page loads.
2. New citizens annexed into the city who operate an alarm system in their business or residence and have current permits from Travis or Williamson counties will be honored by the City of Austin as follows:
   • If the permit has an unexpired term, the permit holder may submit the current valid permit from Travis or Williamson counties along with a City of Austin alarm permit application.
3. APD will issue a City of Austin permit for the remainder of the calendar year. There will be no City of Austin Alarm Permit Fee ($30 for residential or $50 for business) assessed during the unexpired term.
4. Annexed citizens that operate an alarm system, but do not have a Travis or Williamson county permit should complete an application and submit the appropriate fee. All criminal and civil penalties will apply until such time as a valid City of Austin alarm permit is issued.

Cancellation of City of Austin Alarm Permit

An alarm permit can be cancelled when the system no longer meets the criteria for a permitted alarm system per the ordinance or the permit holder moves from the address. All outstanding charges must be paid before a permit is cancelled. Written notification is required for cancellation. Cancellation form can be mailed to the address referenced above or faxed to:(512)974-6697.

• Alarm Permit Cancellation – requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in.

If you have any questions or need additional information, call the Alarm Unit between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at (512)974-5730.