How does this compare to other cities?

Yakima, Burien, Bellingham, and Seattle all utilize “Verified Response.” Verified Response means that for any intrusion alarm, there must be actual physical proof of an alarm activation, typically by a third party confirming a valid alarm. These agencies do still respond to panic and robbery alarms. Seattle charges $10 each year for all permits and no discounts. Seattle still has false alarm fees at $230 for panic and robbery alarms and $115 for intrusion alarms. They also have a “first time waiver” for one alarm every 7 years with an alarm awareness class. 

Tacoma has a flat rate of $40 annually for all types of alarms, no discounts, and a flat $100 fee for response to any type of false alarm. There are no waivers for “first time” alarms. The alarm company charges alarm users for all permit and false alarm fees, and passes those costs on to the alarm user through their monthly billing.

The ordinance proposal for Everett is somewhere in the middle, with the residential permit fee a little lower than Tacoma, and the business permit fee a little higher. We have proposed numerous discounts to those fees for senior citizens, disabled residents, and non-profit organizations.


Show All Answers

1. What types of alarms does the ordinance apply to?
2. What is the impact on City resources?
3. What are the current statistics?
4. Would this be a new law?
5. How will these changes help to reduce negative impacts of false alarms?
6. What are the proposed updates?
7. How does this compare to other cities?