Calgary Police Service

Responding to Alarms

Responding to alarms

Learn how we respond to alarms and manage false alarm calls

Public safety is our top priority. To ensure that police officers are available to deal with emergencies and crimes in progress, we need to reduce the time officers spend responding to false alarms.

Officers will always be deployed to panic, hold-up and distress alarms right away, as well as to any verified valid alarm activations. 

However, officers will no longer be dispatched to ‘one-hit’ alarm activations, where only one zone has been activated in a premise. Alarm companies are also required to conduct an enhanced call verification procedure, where they must attempt to contact at least two key holders before calling us.

Police may also not be dispatched to properties where:

  • No alarm permit exists
  • The permit is suspended
  • The call is within 14 days of alarm installation
  • The alarm company is not properly licensed
  • A commercial premises is occupied during the regular business hours indicated on their alarm permit

False alarms

A new false alarm penalty structure for repeated false alarms is outlined in the Alarm Services Bylaw to help prevent ongoing false alarms from the same home or business. The penalty structure holds permit holders and alarm companies more accountable for ensuring police are not being called unnecessarily.

False alarm penalties are charged to the licensed alarm company that requested police. 

Number of False Alarms (in a 12 month period) Penalty
1 $0
2 $75
3 $150
4 $225
5 $300
6 $375
7 $450
8 $525
9 $600
10 or more $675

Disputing a false alarm

A false alarm penalty can be disputed within six weeks of the date on the notice by emailing a request for review to alarmbylaw@calgarypolice.ca.

Once a request for review is received, you do not have to pay the penalty until the review is completed. We will respond to the request within 45 days.

Paying a penalty

You can pay a false alarm penalty online, by mail or in person.

By mail

Send your paperwork with a cheque or money order payable to the Calgary Police Service by regular mail to:

Calgary Police Service
Alarm Bylaw Unit #609
5111 47 St. N.E.
Calgary, Alberta  T3J 3R2

 

In person

Drop off your paperwork and pay at:

  • Police Headquarters (5111 – 47 St. N.E.)
    • Accepts cash, debit, credit, cheque or money order
    • Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Closed on statutory holidays)
  • Any Calgary Police Service district office

Contact us

If you have any questions about how we respond to alarms or false alarm penalties, please contact us: 

Alarm Permit Team
403-428-8336
alarmbylaw@calgarypolice.ca

CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE

In an emergency always call 911

Non-emergency 403-266-1234