View Local Ordinance Information

Agency Name Montgomery County
Street Address 100 Edison Park Drive
City Gaithersburg
State Maryland
Zip Code 20886
Phone 240-773-6300
Contact Name Paul Archer
Email fars@montgomerycountymd.gov
Website/URL https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/POL/Chief/bureaus/management/FARS.html
Dispatch Number 301-762-1007
What is Included in Your Program Burglar Alarms – Professionally Installed & Monitored, Burglar Alarms – Do it Yourself & Professionally Monitored, Burglar Alarms – Self Monitored, Burglar Alarms Audible Only, Holdup or Panic Alarms
User Permit/Registration Required
User Permit/Registration Term Every Two Years
User Permit /Registration Required to Request Dispatch Yes will not respond without Registration/Permit
Who is Responsible To get the User Permit/Registration? Alarm Company
Initial User Permit/Registration Fee 30.00
Renewal User Permit/Registration Fee 10.00
Ways to Do User Permit/Registration Mail, In Person
Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Required
Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Term Annual
Initial Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee 200.00
Renewal Installing Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee 200.00
Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Required
Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Term Annual
Initial Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee 200.00
Renewal Monitoring Alarm Company Permit/Registration Fee 200.00
Ways to Do Alarm Company Registration Mail, In Person)
Description Of User Fines & Penalties

Residential False Alarm Response Fees

False Alarm False Alarm
Signal Occurrence Response Fee*
1st $ 0.00
2nd 25.00
3rd 50.00
4th 75.00
5th 100.00
6th 150.00
7th 200.00
8th 250.00
9th 300.00
10th 400.00
11th 500.00
12th 600.00
13th 700.00
14th 800.00
15th+ 1000.00 each

Non-residential False Alarm Response Fees
(False alarms 1-15 are the same as above)

False Alarm False Alarm
Signal Occurrence Response Fee*
16th 1500.00
17th 2000.00
18th 2500.00
19th 3000.00
20th+ 4000.00 each

*An additional fee of $100.00 applies to the first response and each subsequent response to a false alarm from an alarm system whose registration has expired.

Description of Alarm Co Fines & Penalties

$500 Class A for Alarm Company violation

An alarm company can be issued a civil citation for one of three infractions of the law:
1) Failure to provide an alarm user’s registration/permit number
2) Failure to provide the REQUESTING alarm company’s business license number
3) Requesting police dispatch to an alarm user in denied response
***Note – the alarm company and monitoring company will be notified when their customer is placed in denied response***

Cancellation Policy

Alarm companies are REQUIRED to cancel requests for dispatch when it is determined that the alarm signal is false. Cancellations are accepted prior to the police officer’s arrival on scene.

Options To Pay Fines Online, Mail, Phone, In Person
Verification Policy

Alarm companies are REQUIRED to verify every alarm signal, except duress or hold-up, prior to requesting police dispatch.

Description and Comments

Non-Response Suspension and/or Revocation of Permit
Non-response for failure to register, failure to pay response fees, and failure to upgrade system upon 6th false alarm per calendar year. No response when alarm company is not licensed or cannot provide required information when requesting dispatch.

Inspection Requirements
Required upon 3rd false alarm in a calendar year.

Upgrade Requirements
Required upon 6th false alarm in a calendar year.

Appeal Provisions
1st level – FARS Office w/ $15 filing fee
2nd level – Board of Administrative Appeals
3rd level – Circuit Court

Other Provisions
No exemption of ordinance provisions for federal, state or local government entities

Charge for Weather related alarms?
Yes, but not under certain circumstances for things such as extended power outage greater than 4 hours or winds in excess of 35 mph

Weather Facts
Each day, False Alarm unit checks weather history and power outage history of area and documents any extreme conditions in a log (power company outage log & www.wunderground.com)