Protect Your Home: Register Your Alarm System with Harris County
If you have a burglar alarm system installed at your home or business within unincorporated Harris County, it's essential to register your alarm system to obtain a Harris County Alarm Permit. The purpose of this registration requirement is to reduce the number of false alarms that emergency personnel respond to, allowing resources to be allocated more efficiently for actual emergencies.
How to Register
To register your alarm system, you need to complete the registration form available on the Harris County website and submit it along with a $35 registration fee. The permit must be renewed annually, with a renewal fee of $10. It's important to renew the permit on time to avoid invalidation and future false alarm charges. Your permit will be emailed to you within 24 to 48 hours - just be sure to provide your permit number to your alarm monitoring company.
Certain exemptions apply, such as alarms on premises occupied by the U.S. Government, the State of Texas, and Harris County, as well as residential alarm sites of permit holders aged sixty-five or older. However, there are no exemptions for businesses, and false alarm charges may still apply.
Important Reminders
To prevent false alarms, ensure that everyone who operates the alarm system is properly trained and knows how to cancel an alarm if necessary. Keep your alarm system in good working condition and have it inspected when required by your alarm company.
Alarm systems that are not registered with Harris County are subject to a $75 charge for each false alarm incident. However, once your alarm system is registered, your alarm site is allowed three alarm incidents without being charged. After the third incident, registered alarm sites will be assessed a $75 charge for each subsequent alarm incident.
Get Help
For additional questions or assistance, you can contact the Alarm Detail at 713-755-4600, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our communities safe and our emergency resources available when emergencies arise.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
