Appeal Guidelines

Filing an Appeal

Every informal appeal filed with the False Alarm Reduction Unit must be accompanied by a $100 appeal filing fee and must be submitted within 30 days of the notification date. Failure to submit the filing fee or filing an appeal beyond the 30-day appeal period will result in the immediate denial of your appeal.

Appeals will not be granted for false alarms that are the result of:

  • Alarm activations which occur while alarm technicians are repairing or servicing the alarm system
  • Caretakers who watch homes or businesses when owners are away
  • Doors and / or windows that become loose and cause a break in the contacts which activates the alarm
  • Faulty, defective, or malfunctioning equipment supplied by the alarm business
  • Glass break detector which activate due to noises / sounds other than actual glass breakage
  • Improper installation or maintenance by the alarm business
  • Improper monitoring by the alarm business
  • Items within the home or business which move and cause motion detectors to activate, i.e., curtains, signs, balloons, etc.
  • Mistakes made by private contractors, maids, cleaning crews, etc.
  • An occurrence where no evidence of criminal activity is present
  • Pets, rodents, wildlife

Recovering an Alarm Response Fee

In the case of the first three items above, an alarm user may recover an alarm response fee from the alarm business that sold, installed, or monitored the alarm system, if the alarm was due to:

  • Faulty, defective or malfunctioning equipment supplied by the alarm business
  • Improper installation or maintenance by the alarm business
  • Improper monitoring by the alarm business

It is suggested that you contact your alarm company immediately, should you believe a false alarm was recorded against your registration record for any of these three reasons. This list is intended as a guide to assist you in deciding whether to appeal a false alarm or contact your alarm company for discussion. This list is not intended to cover every situation where an appeal will be denied.