SAN ANTONIO – Are false alarms costing you more than just a break-in at home? The City of San Antonio’s new budget proposal could have homeowners rethinking their security system permits.
Burglar alarms going off for non-threatening reasons like a pet causing a ruckus can lead to costly false alarm calls. In fact, San Antonio Police reports that approximately 91% of all burglar alarms turn out to be false.
The current city policy allows a certain number of false alarms per year for homeowners and businesses with active permits. However, unregistered systems face a hefty fine from the first unnecessary call-out.
Under the proposed FY 2025 budget, San Antonio plans to increase fees for unregistered systems to $250 per false alarm, up from the current $75 for residential burglar alarms and $125 for residential fire alarms.
With about 68,000 false alarm calls to police and 11,000 to firefighters each year, the city estimates that the fee adjustment could bring in nearly $1.9 million in revenue.
City Manager Erik Walsh emphasized the importance of registering and maintaining alarm systems to avoid unnecessary disruptions and fees due to false triggers.
While the proposed changes target unregistered systems, permitted systems would remain subject to lower false alarm fees. Homeowners can obtain an alarm permit for $40, while businesses pay $100, with annual renewals required.
Stay compliant and avoid unnecessary fines by ensuring your alarm system is properly permitted and maintained as required by the city and county regulations.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
