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Do You Need an Alarm Permit in Birmingham? False Alarm Fees and Rules
Under Birmingham's alarm code as published through June 2020, there's no alarm permit, permit fee or per-alarm false alarm fine, though breaking the alarm rules can be punished under the city's general penalties. After four false alarms in any 12 months, police can stop responding to your alarm; getting response restored normally costs $50 for a home, church or institution or $250 for a business after a 30-day wait, and police can waive all or part of that once repairs are approved.[1,2]
Birmingham's online city code includes ordinances only through June 2020 (Ordinance 20-107); we didn't find a later change to the alarm rules, but confirm with the Birmingham Police Department before you rely on this.
Birmingham alarm rules at a glance
| Where these rules apply | These rules apply to alarms at homes and businesses in the City of Birmingham. If you live outside city limits, the city rules may not apply.[1] |
|---|---|
| Fee exemptions | These don't count as false alarms: alarms caused by violent weather or other extraordinary circumstances beyond your or your alarm company's control, and alarms from a new system in its first 10 days (police can extend this in writing to 30 days). Police can exempt UL-certified (or similarly certified) systems from the alarm rules on written request. After a termination, police can waive all or part of the reinstatement fee and the 30-day wait once repairs are approved. No senior or low-income waivers are listed.[1] |
| Free false alarms | Not confirmed. |
| Runs the program | Birmingham Police Department (communications center commander)[1] |
False alarm fees in Birmingham
False alarms are counted over any rolling 12 months[1].
Not confirmed. Birmingham's code (as published through June 2020) sets no fine for each false alarm, though breaking the alarm rules can be punished under the city's general penalty section. After four false alarms in any 12 months police can stop responding to your alarm. Getting response back costs a $50 reinstatement fee for a home, church or other institution ($250 for a business), with police approval and a 30-day wait; police can waive all or part of the fee and the wait once repairs are approved.[1,2]
If false alarms keep happening: If your alarm has four false alarms in 12 months, Birmingham police can stop responding to it; the code also allows termination for other failures, such as intentional or improper activation, not having someone respond within an hour, or leaving a malfunctioning alarm unrepaired. Police must notify you first, and you can appeal to the city council within 10 days. To get response back you need police approval, a 30-day wait and a reinstatement fee ($50 for a home, church or other institution; $250 for a business), but police can waive all or part of the fee and the wait once repairs are approved.[1]
Good to know
- Self-installed and self-monitored systems: Not confirmed. Birmingham's code does not say anything specific about self-installed or self-monitored alarms.
- Panic and hold-up alarms: Hold-up and robbery alarms are covered. Using an alarm to call police when there is no break-in or robbery can lead to losing police response, unless you couldn't use a phone because of force or a disability.[1]
- Before police are sent: Not confirmed. We did not find a Birmingham rule requiring alarm companies to verify an alarm before police are sent.
- Not sure which rules apply to your address?: Not confirmed. We did not find an official Birmingham address lookup for alarm rules. Check that your address is inside Birmingham city limits.
Avoiding false alarms
- Make sure everyone who has a code knows how to disarm the system and cancel an alarm.
- Keep your monitoring company's contact list up to date so they can reach someone quickly.
- Let your monitoring company know before guests, contractors or pet sitters use the house.
- Check that doors and windows are fully closed before you arm the system.
- Replace low sensor batteries promptly.
Thinking about a professionally installed, monitored system? See how SafeStreets installation works.
SafeStreets serves this area: home security in Birmingham.
Sources
- City of Birmingham (Municode Library), The General Code of the City of Birmingham, Title 9, Chapter 1, Article F - Burglary and Robbery Alarms — Ord. No. 86-231 (adopted 11-4-1986) and Ord. No. 86-266 (adopted 12-16-1986), effective 1-1-1987; Sec. 9-1-135 amended by Ord. No. 87-125 (8-11-1987). Secs. 9-1-131 to 9-1-145. library.municode.com. Checked October 28, 2026.
- City of Birmingham (Municode Library), The General Code of the City of Birmingham - Supplement History Table (Municode) — Latest ordinance listed: 20-107 (6-29-2020); Municode version Mar 10, 2021. Supplement history table. library.municode.com. Checked October 28, 2026.
Updates
- October 28, 2026 — first published from official sources.