False Alarm Ordinance

What is the False Alarm Ordinance 
The City of Los Angeles enacted Ordinance No. 188013, effective December 12, 2023, establishing the fee and penalty program to the “Fire Alarm System User” for false fire alarms. A false fire alarm is defined as an activation of a Fire Alarm System resulting in a response by the Fire Department where the Department determines that neither a fire nor other life safety emergency existed at the time of the alarm activation. Responding to false fire alarms diverts vital Fire Department resources from actual emergencies.

Why is the Los Angeles Fire Department implementing a False Fire Alarm Program?
Of the approximately 32,000 fire alarm activations received by the LAFD, approximately 15,000 or (47%) are "False Fire Alarms". Implementing a fine program may allow for LAFD to offset the expense of deploying unnecessary resources, reduce the overall number of fire alarm calls, free up limited LAFD emergency resources that can instead respond to other incidents, and ultimately keep our streets safer./p>

What is a False Fire Alarm?
A False Fire Alarm is a fire alarm activation resulting in a response by the LAFD where there was no fire or other life safety emergency at the time of the activation. This is excluding an Intentional False Fire Alarm

Who is the “Fire Alarm System User”?
he Ordinance defines the Fire Alarm System User as “The owner of record of property or premises with a Fire Alarm System

What is the current False Fire Alarm fee schedule?
For permitted alarm users, the first false alarm will result in a $322 fee, and escalate in $50 increments for subsequent false alarm occurrences. A false alarm for those without permits will result in a $XXX fee, and escalate in $100 increments with each additional false alarm occurrence. Fees may be adjusted yearly.

What is the false alarm fee and penalty schedule?
For 2023/24, the first false alarm results in a $361 fee, and each additional false alarm within 365 days of the first false alarm results in a penalty assessment of an additional $50 for each additional incident. For example, the below table shows the fee and penalty assessment formula up to the sixth false alarm. Alarm Users should apply the below formula to determine the fee and penalty schedule for additional false alarm assessments beyond the sixth alarm. Fees may be adjusted annually.

AFD False Alarm Incidents Fee/Penalty

• First Alarm $361
• Second Alarm $411 ($361 + $50)
• Third Alarm $461 ($361 + $100)
• Fourth Alarm $511 ($361 + $150
• Fifth Alarm $561 ($361 + $200)
• Sixth Alarm $611 ($361 + $250

How many "free" False Fire Alarms does the ordinance allow?
Under the revised Alarm Ordinance, the City of Los Angeles will no longer provide “free” false alarms.

What is Alarm School?
The City offers an Online Alarm School program. By successfully completing the program, you may have one false alarm fee waived per 365 days. Alarm School must be successfully completed within 60 days of the billing date. An Alarm School waiver will be applied to the lowest billed false alarm charge per 365 days

Does the city offer False Alarm school?
Yes, the City offers an Online Alarm School program, as well as a Home-Study Alarm School programfor permitted alarm system users only. By completing either program, you may have one false alarm fee waived per 365 days.

Can I appeal a false alarm fee and/or penalty?
You may appeal in writing to The Board of Fire Commissioners. Mail your request and documentation to: 200 North Main St, Room 1820 Los Angeles, CA 90012 or email at LAFDFireCommission@lacity.org. A service charge shall be waived or reversed when the Board or its designee has determined that activation of the alarm system was caused by acts of nature such as earthquake, tornado, hurricane, utility outage, etc.

How can I appeal a false alarm fee and/or penalty?
A fee shall be waived or reversed when the Board or its designee has determined any of the following:

A preliminary investigation report (i.e., Arson report) which documents evidence of a fire or life-threatening emergency at the specific facility on the alarm date in question was filed by the alarm system user within 30 calendar days of the alarm date.

Activation of the alarm system was caused by acts of God or unusual occurrences beyond the reasonable control of the alarm system user, such as earthquake, flood, tsunami, hurricane force winds or verifiable utility service outages or interruptions.

You may appeal in writing for an investigation within 60 days of the billing date to the Board of Fire Commissioners. Mail your request and supporting documentation to: Board of Fire Commissioners, Attention: False Alarm Section, 200 North Main Street, Room 1630, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Examples of alarm activations that are not grounds for a waiver of the false alarm fee and/or penalty include, but are not limited to the following: Faulty equipment; disputes with the alarm company; accidental activation; operator error.

False Alarm Decision Tree