Alarm User Permits

It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to use, own or lease an alarm system or to be in control of a premises wherein an alarm system is operated or maintained without having first obtained an alarm user permit.

Alarm Permit Information

• Every person within the city limits who wishes to install an alarm system in his home or place of business shall obtain an alarm user permit for each separate alarm system.
• There are no fees to obtain an alarm user permit.
• All alarm user permits issued are valid indefinitely unless revoked.
• Alarm user permits are not transferable.

Any alarm user who does not have a valid alarm user permit will be assessed a fine in the amount of $100 for each notice to the police department of an activation of a burglar or robbery alarm system at the protected premises in addition to the appropriate penalty delineated in the fine rate schedule.

False Alarm Fines

Any alarm user permittee which has more than three false alarms within a calendar year at a single protected location will be assessed fines according to the following fine schedule:

• Commercial Alarms
  • Fine per false alarm per calendar year:
  • False alarms 1 through 3: No fee
  • False alarms 4 through 9: $300
  • False alarms 10 through 14: $600
  • False alarms 15 and over: $1,000
• Residential Alarms
  • Fine per false alarm per calendar year:
  • False alarms 1 through 3: No fee
  • False alarms 4 through 9: $150
  • False alarms 10 through 14: $250
  • False alarms 15 and over: $350

The City of Wheaton and the Wheaton Police Department adopted an alarm reduction program in 1998 to combat the increasing number of false alarms. False alarm activations take advantage of emergency resources that could otherwise respond to actual emergencies.

Additional Information

• False alarms are calculated on a calendar year rotation.
• Please notify the Police Department of any changes to your application immediately.
• For more information regarding the false alarm ordinance, please see the Wheaton City Code.
• The Alarm User Permit Application (PDF) can be downloaded here.