Alarm Subscriber Information

Message from the Alarm Administrator

Installing an alarm system in your home or business is a positive step and a proactive approach to protecting you and your assets, but responsibility goes along with the alarm system. Police officers responded to over 1,118 false alarms last year. That's time that officers were not available to respond to emergency calls. This number can be greatly reduced with your help.

There are several steps you can take to help the Police Department save time and money while helping yourselves. These include updating responsible party information on your registered alarm system, and insuring that you know what to do in the event of a false alarm.

Responsible parties are the people that you list who can respond to your home or business if the alarm activates. These representatives should have keys, so the officers can thoroughly check the premises. Whether the alarm is false or a crime has actually occurred, it is important for the police to be able to speak with someone who can provide information about you and your property. The responsible party should be able to deactivate your alarm, provide the police with information about how to contact you and help secure the property if a break-in has occurred. The responsible party should be someone who is close by, and who can respond to your home or business promptly. The phone numbers you provide should be phone numbers that can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Responsible key holders are required to respond under our ordinance.

Knowing what to do in the case of a false alarm can greatly reduce the number of police responses to false alarms. You and your responsible parties should know the phone number of your alarm company and the security code to give them, to indicate that the alarm is false. If your alarm is activated and you do not need the police, immediately contact your alarm company and advise them the alarm is false and provide them with your security code.

False alarms do not have to be such a big problem. We believe false alarms can be greatly reduced with a little planning and education. We, at the Police Department, want to help you reduce the cost and nuisance that false alarms bring. Update the responsible party lists, and practice what to do in the event of a false alarm. Together, we can make your alarm system the effective tool it should be.

City of Ankeny Alarm Ordinance

Within the City of Ankeny, a permit is required for burglar, panic and robbery alarm systems. You may be subject to a $200 fine for operating a system if you do not have the required permit.

You can also be assessed if your alarm system generates excessive false alarms. If you have more than three false alarms within a consecutive 365-day period, subsequent incidents can cost you $50 to $100 for each false alarm.

The Ankeny Police Department developed the information for this web page. It is our sincere desire to provide the public with this information to reduce false alarms to an acceptable level. A reduction in false alarms allows your local law enforcement and security personnel to more effectively serve and protect you. Your comments and cooperation are essential to the success of this program and we welcome your involvement. Working together, we will continue to have a safe and secure place to live.

Application Fee

• New alarm permit - $25
• Alarm permit renewal - $15