Welcome to the Tempe Police Department Alarm Unit.

Pursuant to City of Tempe Alarm Ordinance Section 22-76, all alarm users must obtain an alarm permit from the Tempe Police Department.  If you need an Alarm User Permit Registration Form (PDF) or if you have any questions about the City of Tempe Alarm Ordinance (PDF), please contact the Tempe Police Department Alarm Unit at 480-350-8778. You can also email us at alarm_program@tempe.gov.  Please provide your permit number in the subject line of your email.

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The business of selling residential alarm systems is very competitive and customers are aggressively sought by many companies through a variety of methods and means.  There is a difference between good salesmanship and fraud, and you need to be aware of the difference.  Those who are preyed upon are generally the elderly or Spanish speakers.

The fraud scheme goes like this:  You receive an unsolicited telephone call or a knock on your door.  This person tells you they now have ownership of your alarm system(s) or have taken over your account.  The salesman starts making false statements like the following: your current alarm company has been sold, is going out of business, is going into bankruptcy, or we have obtained all rights to your account.  The salesman will want to change the programming for your alarm system and update your paperwork by writing a new contract with the company.  DON’T DO IT WITHOUT VERIFICATION FROM YOUR CURRENT ALARM COMPANY.

Take the time to make a phone call.  You’re still under contract with the current alarm company and the new contract may obligate you to a second alarm company and their charges.  Without due diligence, you will start getting bills from both alarm companies.  This becomes the “Double Billing” scam.  You often are left paying both bills, costing hundreds of dollars.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION – be cautious of any UNSOLICITED sales contract.  Verify all information before you authorize any changes.  Alarm businesses generally notify you, in writing, when they are being sold, transferred or have billing changes.

The State of Arizona requires ALL alarm businesses and agents (technicians) to be licensed.  Verify this by asking to see the agent or business license.  Check the agent’s license before you allow any work to be done on your alarm system.

You can verify the validity of an alarm agent or alarm business license by contacting the State of Arizona’s Board of Technical Registration at 602-364-4930.  You can also verify the validity of the license on their website at https://btr.az.gov/.

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ONLINE False Alarm Awareness Program

It’s your opportunity to earn a certificate to waive $50 off a false alarm invoice.  This opportunity is for City of Tempe registered burglar alarm system owners.

The false alarm awareness program is a quick online tutorial, followed by a short quiz.  The quiz can be taken as often as you would like, but you will only receive one certificate in a 365-day period.

The certificate will be valid for a year.

Click here to log in to the online portal.  You will need your account/permit number and your password.  If you do not have this information, please email the Alarm Unit at alarm_program@tempe.gov.

Alarm Definitions

Alarm means any mechanical or electrical device, system or service which is used to detect unauthorized entry into buildings or onto premises, or warn or alert others of an emergency or fire or of the commission of an unlawful act within the buildings or on the premises, to which the city is expected to respond;

Alarm user means any person who leases, rents, purchases or uses any alarm, whether or not the alarm is monitored by an alarm business or person other than the user;

False alarm means the giving, signaling or transmission to the city, by telephone, word or otherwise, that an emergency, unauthorized entry, unlawful act, fire or other emergency exists when such fire, entry, act or emergency does not exist.

False Alarm Fine Schedule (PDF)

An alarm user who receives a notice of false alarm activation(s) and believes that notice of false alarm activation(s) was improperly assessed, may appeal the assessment(s) in writing within 15 days of receiving a notice of false alarm activation to the Tempe Police Department Alarm Unit.  Please complete and submit a False Alarm Appeal Form (PDF) along with the required documentation.

Manage your Alarm Permit online!

Did you know you can complete your annual renewal, make payments, and update your permit online?  If you are a current registered alarm user, click here to sign in to your permit account online.  

Please Note:

• Online Alarm Permit renewals can be processed only after customers receive an annual verification notification from the Alarm Unit. Renewal notices will be sent approximately 30 days prior to a permit expiration.
  
  
• If you have an alarm user permit number but have not yet accessed your account online, please contact the Alarm Unit via email for instructions on how to access your account online.

The Alarm Unit is not set up to accept payment over the phone.

The City of Tempe Police Department does not endorse any alarm companies and cannot provide alarm company recommendations. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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