Regulation .03 Alarm Contractor Registration Requirements.
Current through 2026-01-20. Source: COBRA Register Volume 04, Issue 02. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., COBRA § 07.01.04.03 (2026)
Regulation .03 Alarm Contractor Registration Requirements.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Any alarm contractor in Baltimore City must apply to the Department of Housing and Community Development or designee to register to operate as an alarm business.
B.
Registration specifications.
(1)
An application to register as an alarm business must be signed by:
(a)
the owner of a sole proprietorship;
(b)
at least one partner of a partnership; or
(c)
a corporate officer of a corporation.
(2)
The registration application must be completed on the electronic form provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development and include:
(a)
the name, address, fax number, telephone number, and email of the alarm business;
(b)
the type of business entity of the alarm business, such as whether the business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation
(c)
the Employer Identification Number (EIN); and
(d)
the name, address, fax number, telephone number, and email of the individual responsible for the operation of the alarm business in Baltimore City.
(3)
The registration application for alarm contractors must be accompanied by a registration fee of $50.00.
(4)
If the registration has been revoked or suspended, a reinstatement fee of $50.00 must accompany a reinstatement application.
(5)
In the case of a change to the information submitted as part of the registration application, the alarm business must submit written notice to the Department of Housing and Community Development or designee within ten days of the change.
(6)
Registration shall be valid for a period of one year. Registration must be renewed prior to the end of each one-year period.
C.
Initiation of business.
An applicant may not conduct business in Baltimore City until:
(1)
the registration requirements are completed; and
(2)
the application has been approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
D.
Posted notice.
(1)
An alarm contractor that sells or leases an alarm system or equipment to an alarm user in Baltimore City must post conspicuously at their place of business and on their website notice to alarm system purchasers of their obligation to register their alarm with the False Alarm Reduction Unit of the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development or its designee.
(2)
Prior to completion of the sale of the alarm system, an alarm contractor must provide the purchaser with printed notice of the user’s obligation to register the alarm system with the False Alarm Reduction Unit of the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development or its designee.
E.
Requirement to report transaction.
(1)
If the alarm business that sells or leases an alarm system is not under contract to monitor the system, the business must report the transaction to the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development or designee within ten days of the sale or lease.
(2)
The report must be completed on the electronic form provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development and contain:
(a)
the purchaser’s name;
(b)
address;
(c)
telephone number;
(d)
email address; and
(e)
make/model of the system.