The City Council passed a new ordinance for burglar alarm systems on April 28, 2021. Registering burglar alarm systems is now FREE, and so is updating the registration information. Knowing how to reach the responsible parties helps us keep you, your belongings, and the responding officers safe.

• Download the Alarm Registration Form

We have also removed the fees for responding to false burglar alarms. By encouraging system owners to update their contact information with their alarm system provider and with the Walla Walla Police Department, we hope to have fewer false burglar alarms. With the removal of false burglar alarm fees, a different approach is being taken to address faulty alarm systems. 

What is a false alarm?

A false alarm is a non-emergency or accidental activation of an alarm system that results in a response by the Walla Walla Police Department and/or Walla Walla Fire Department. Around 70% to 80% of our alarm requests turn out to be false alarms. 

False alarms are a serious threat to the effectiveness of local police, fire, and EMS personnel, as well as to the safety of our residents. False alarms are costly and dangerous because they divert police officers and firefighters from proactive crime prevention efforts, and can deny response to true emergency calls.

When an excessive number of false alarms occur at a location, the Police Department may refuse law enforcement response unless there is a separate indication a crime is in progress.

Most false alarms are caused by user error. Other major causes include: 

• Children, neighbors, and visitors
• Cleaning crews, repair personnel, pet sitters
• Pets and other wildlife
• Unlocked or loose doors and windows
• Equipment malfunction or incorrectly installed equipment

How to prevent false alarms

Here are some easy steps you and your alarm dealer can take to prevent false alarms:

• Instruct family, neighbors, employees, backup responsible responders, and repair people on how to fully operate your system.
• When leaving your home or business, make sure you securely close and lock all protected doors and windows. Test the door you leave through to make sure it is latched.
• Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, etc., away from motion sensor areas.
• Know and rehearse the process to cancel an accidental alarm. Anyone with your key should know this process. 
• Review with your alarm service provider the procedures you expect them to follow when your alarm actives.
• Know how much time you have after you arm your system to leave and to alarm your system when you enter.

Watch for these pitfalls that may activate your alarm:

• Pets
• Air conditioning/heating
• Swinging doors or windows
• Banners or signs
• Mylar balloons
• Plants or curtains caught in drafts
• Stacked items, such as boxes, that may fall and set off motion detectors
• Unsupervised guests
• Untrained, unaware, or inattentive employees

Know what to do if you set your alarm off accidentally

• Do not panic. Carefully enter your disarm code to reset your system.
• Wait for your alarm company or central monitoring station to call, give your password or identification card number. Do not leave your home or business until you have talked with your monitoring service! If they do not call you, have the number posted by your control panel and contact them to cancel the police dispatch.
• DO NOT call 911 to cancel alarm activations — you must call your monitoring service. You can arrange to have your alarm monitoring service call you or another designated person first before they contact emergency providers whenever your alarm is activated. If you are aware of a problem with the system, you can call your monitoring station to cancel the police/fire dispatch.

Tips to keep your alarm system working properly

• Know how to cancel a false alarm quickly.
• Give everyone periodic training on the alarm system and false alarm prevention.
• Make sure all exterior doors are closed and locked when you leave.
• Check that all motion sensor areas are clear of moving signs, displays, etc.
• Report any arming or disarming problems to your alarm company immediately.
• Service malfunctioning equipment quickly.
• Make sure balloons cannot trigger alarms and boxes cannot tip over.

Contact your alarm service provider:

• If you plan any home improvements or renovation projects, such as changing phone systems, the configuration of a room, adding a wall, rearranging cubicles, installing skylights or ceiling fans, or even fumigating;
• If you plan to change your alarm system batteries, which would cause an interruption in your system's power supply;
• If you acquire a pet or hire domestic help.

Burglar Alarm Ord. 2021-06 (Click the image below for a PDF copy)