Frequently Asked Questions

Q) Who must have an alarm permit?

A) Any residence or business with an alarm system, located within the unincorporated area of Harris County, is required to have a Harris County Alarm Permit. Businesses with multiple locations must have a separate permit for each location.

Q) If my home or business is located within a multi-unit complex, am I still required to have an alarm permit?

A) Yes, each unit within a multi-unit complex is required to have its own permit.

Q) If my home or business has an alarm system with multiple devices, does each require a permit?

A) No, a single permit is required for each alarm site, regardless of how many devices are being used at that site.

Q) If I live within a city or town, must I have an alarm permit with both the city and Harris County?

A) No, only with the city or town in which your residence or business is located. Check with the police department there to learn their requirements for an alarm permit.

Q) How often must I renew my County alarm permit?

A) Alarm permits are issued for one year, then renewed for annual periods. It is the responsiblity of the permit holder to renew their permit. Failure to renew a permit will cause the permit to become invalid.

Q) How much does a County alarm permit cost?

A) For the first year, an alarm permit costs $ 35. For each subsequent year of renewal, the charge is $ 10.

Q) Are there exemptions from permit fees?

A) Yes. Government agencies and schools, as well as individuals 65 years of age and older requiring a residential permit, are exempted from the permit and renewal fees. There are no exemptions for businesses.

Q) What happens when my alarm system is inadvertently triggered?

A) Typically, your alarm monitoring company or answering service will try to contact you by phone. If they do not get a “live voice” answer, or cannot obtain verification the live voice is that of the alarm permit holder, they will dispatch a law enforcement officer to your alarm site.

Q) What happens if I choose not to obtain a County alarm permit?

A) Operating an alarm system without a valid permit is a Class C misdemeanor and subjects you to the possibility of a fine. You may be cited merely for operating the system without a permit. If an alarm is triggered, you may incur alarm response charges if a police officer responds, in addition to the citation. Fines for alarm citations may be up to $ 500, and alarm response fees may be $ 75 for each response to a non-permitted site.

Q) Will I be charged for false alarms?

A) If you have a valid alarm permit, no response fees will be charged until the sixth or later false alarm during your current permit year. Each false alarm after the fifth will cost $ 75. If you have no valid alarm permit, every false alarm will result in a $ 75 charge.

Q) Where may I obtain a Permit Application form?

A) Currently, forms are only available from the Alarm Detail and each Sheriff Office substation. Soon, a printable version of the Permit Application will be available on this web page.

Q) Can I pay my permit fees and other charges using a credit card?

A) At this time, payment may only be made via check or money order when mailed, or via cash, check or money order when paying in person. Soon you will be able to use credit cards to pay both remotely and in person.

Q) What happens if I refuse to pay the fees and charges that have been assessed?

A) If not paid within 60 days from date of invoice, your account will be considered delinquent and referred for collection.

Q) What if my alarm site is located within a city or town, but a County law enforcement officer responds to an alarm?

A) Depending on the circumstances that caused a County deputy to respond, and the disposition of the call, you may be billed by Harris County. The circumstances will be evaluated by the Harris County Alarm Detail before a bill is prepared.

Q) What if I have questions about an alarm fee bill from Harris County?

A) The most effective way to deal with errors is usually via telephone to the clerk whose name appears on the bill. Call (713) 755-4600 and select from the menu options to speak with the specific clerk handling your bill.

Q) How long does it take to receive my permit?

A) Once all fees are paid, a permit will be mailed to the permitted location in 4-6 weeks.

Q) Are permits transferable?

A) Permits are non-transferable by ownership or location