City of Manhattan False Alarm Ordinance Summary

Effective Date: Jan. 1, 1999

We hope you will find this information helpful and informative. If you wish to obtain a copy of the complete false alarm ordinance or if you have any questions, please contact the Alarm Coordinator's office at 785-587-4504.

The alarm ordinance applies to any user of an alarm system installed in a building, structure, premises or facility upon which an alarm system is located whether monitored by an alarm company or not. An Alarm User's Permit application and fee payment must be on file with the Alarm Coordinator's office prior to the system activation. A one-time fee of $25 will be charged for each permit (i.e. fire, intrusion or combination). A combination permit is only if the fire and intrusion alarm are one system. Alarm users failing to obtain a valid permit in accordance with City Ordinance may be prosecuted in Municipal Court. The activation date is the date a new system was installed. For a user taking over an existing system, the activation date will be the date the new user began using the system. Permits are valid for as long as the same user operates the same alarm system at the same location. Upon request, users must provide proof of alarm system acquisition, installation and/or activation date.

Each alarm system user with a valid permit will be allowed three false alarms per calendar year before a fee is assessed for having excessive false alarms. Each alarm activation resulting in police and/or fire department response is reviewed by the Alarm Coordinator as to the type, cause and known circumstances. The Alarm Coordinator's office will notify the permit holder, in writing, of each false alarm response recorded. Any alarm system which records more than the allowed number of false alarms within a period of one calendar year will be subject to the following fees:

1. There will be no fees assessed for the first, second or third chargeable false alarm.
2. Fourth chargeable false alarm	$50
3. Fifth chargeable false alarm	$100
4. Sixth chargeable false alarm	$150
5. Seventh chargeable false alarm	$200
6. Eighth chargeable false alarm	$250
7. Ninth and each subsequent chargeable false alarm	$250 each

An alarm user who has been notified by the alarm coordinator that an alarm has been recorded as a false alarm may appeal such determination by filing a written notice of appeal with the Alarm Coordinator. The notice of appeal shall be filed within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice. The filing of the notice of appeal shall stay the effect of the alarm coordinator's determination until a decision on appeal is rendered. The appeal shall be heard by the Police Department Director, the Director of Fire Services, or both, depending upon which entity or entities responded to the alarm. Any alarm user aggrieved by or dissatisfied with this decision, may, within fifteen (15) days of the date of the decision, file a written notice of appeal from said decision to the Manhattan Municipal Court for an administrative hearing. Faulty equipment, overly sensitive equipment and user error will not be accepted as ground for an appeal.

If you have any further questions concerning this ordinance, contact the Alarm Coordinator at 785-587-4504.