Alarm permit

• If a location has five false alarms that are upheld on appeal, the alarms division notifies the Denver Police Department to put it into "general response" status. "General response" means no officers will be dispatched, but a general call will be broadcast. An officer will respond if they are in the area and available.
• A permit holder will be fined $50 whenever a panic or hold-up alarm is activated for a false alarm.
• An alarm company will be fined $25 whenever a representative calls for response to an alarm call for a location without a valid permit or gives an incorrect or expired permit number.

Alarm permits are valid for one year from date of issue. Renewal notices will be sent to the permit holder 30 days before the expiration date.

The renewal form must be returned, along with the $25 renewal fee, before the expiration date.

No permit will be renewed if the permit holder has outstanding fines for any permit. No renewal applications will be processed if the applicant owes administrative or court fines, assessments, or fees owed to the City and County of Denver.

To renew online, visit the City of Denver's False Alarm Management System portal.

To mail a renewal, send to:

City and County of Denver
P.O. Box 650781
Dallas, TX 75265-0781

Request cancellations online by following the link and choosing "Cancel Permit" if you change locations, move or no longer have an alarm system. You or your alarm company can do this.

There are no refunds for any cancellation.

When the Alarms Division receives a responding police officer's incident report that says the incident was avoidable, the permit holder will receive a notice of a false alarm incident.

The alarm user has 30 days from the date of notice to file an appeal. Appeals must be in writing and accompanied by supporting documentation. Supporting documentation could be additional police reports, evidence of power outages, insurance claims, and photographs of damage to the property. The Alarms Division supervisor will determine whether to grant the appeal with occasional consultation with the director.

If an alarm user is out of town and has a succession of false alarms caused by malfunctioning equipment, proof of repair and of the alarm user's absence must be provided. Acceptable proof includes copies of airplane tickets, gas receipts, notice to start delivery of mail, or charge card receipts.

1. Do I need to have an alarm permit?
   It is unlawful to have a security alarm system in the City and County of Denver unless a permit has been obtained. These systems are to be monitored by a licensed alarm company.
2. Can I renew my permit after the expiration date has passed?
   Yes, your permit number will stay the same but with a new issue and expiration date based on the date of processing.
3. How and where can an alarm user obtain a new permit application?
   You can apply online or call customer service at 877-892-5873.
4. How long does it take to process a new permit?
   Paper applications are usually processed the day they are received.
5. Am I fined if I have a false alarm?
   There is a $50 fine for a false panic or hold-up alarm (signaling the police in an emergency situation where the imminent danger of death or bodily injury exists). A false intrusion alarm carries no monetary fine. But if five false alarms happen within a permit calendar year, the permit will be placed into a "general response" status. The alarm will not be broadcast, but a police officer in the area could respond if available.
6. How can I find out if my alarm permit is valid?
   Our website provides permit information, including whether it is valid, the expiration date, any outstanding alarm fines, and alarm incidents.
7. I have a valid monitored alarm user permit. Why didn't the police dispatch when my alarm company called them?
   To find out why the police denied dispatch to your premises, contact your alarm company and get the permit number. Your alarm company likely provided an invalid or non-existent permit number. Contact customer service at 877-892-5878 to verify your permit number, expiration date, and status. You can also verify your permit status on the website.