Do I Need a Permit for a Home Alarm System?
Your home is one place that you really want to feel secure in. It’s your sanctuary that you come home to after a long day at work, where you relax, and where your kids play and sleep. Anyone who’s been a victim of a home invasion will know how unsettling it is, so we do what we can to prevent this from happening. With new technology, we have access to sophisticated home security systems that keep us and our families safe.
If you’re thinking of having a home alarm system installed, make sure you know everything you’ll need to do this right.
Alarm permits
Many local jurisdictions across the US require residents to acquire a house alarm permit if they plan to install and operate a home alarm system that is in contact with the police. This is certainly the case for Winston Salem and other localities across North Carolina, including Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, High Point and Durham.
Before installing an in-home security system, it is important that you contact your local government to determine what kind of alarm permit, if any, you require for the operation of the system and how to acquire this permit. If you fail to register your alarm system with the city, then you may be charged for using it. Acquiring the alarm permit, however, does not cost anything in many jurisdictions.
In areas where alarm permits are needed, local alarm companies are made aware of these legislations and have the responsibility to inform their customers of the fact.
Why do you need a permit for installing an alarm in your home?
The main reason for cities requiring residents to acquire permits is the fact that having home alarm systems increases the amount of false alarm calls the local authorities have to go out to. Something as simple as forgetting the code to your house alarm could result in the authorities being contacted and called out to your home.
Whenever police or fire services respond to a false alarm, it costs them time, money, and resources that could be better spent on more serious issues affecting the city. Homes with numerous false alarm calls can end up being fined to recoup the losses of the local authorities.
An in-home security system is a sensible investment, but make sure you familiarize yourself with the alarm permit requirements by state and by city that are relevant to you. Get in touch with us if you have any questions about alarm permits or home security systems. We’re located in Winston Salem, serving areas around High Point, Greensboro, and Mooresville.