# Sec. 9-211. Alarm user permits Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted. ## Sec. 9-211. Alarm user permits Prince George's County, Md., Code ยง 9-211 (2026) (a) Permit. Every alarm user shall obtain an alarm user permit for each alarm system he operates on commercial or residential premises within this County from the Chief of Police. No permit will be issued for any system utilizing an Automatic Dialing Device which is programmed to transmit a prerecorded message or code signal directly to a telephone number assigned to the Prince George's County Police Department. (b) Disclaimer. Registration of an alarm system is not intended to, nor will it, create a contract, duty, or obligation, either expressed or implied, of response. Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity, as provided by law, is retained. By registering an alarm system, the alarm user acknowledges that police response may be based on factors such as: the availability of police units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, or staffing levels. (c) Alarm User Permit Application. (1) Residential Alarm User Permit Application. Each application or application for renewal for a residential alarm user permit must contain, but is not limited to, the following information: (A) Registration Number assigned by the County (if renewal); (B) Name, address, telephone number of the alarm user; (C) Dangerous or special conditions information at the alarm site; (D) Type of alarm system: burglary, robbery, panic, duress, medical alert, etc.; (E) Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of two (2) persons (an alarm business will be acceptable in lieu of one (1) person) who are able to and have agreed to: (i) Receive notification of an alarm activation at any time; (ii) Respond to the alarm site within one (1) hour; and (iii) Grant access to the alarm site and deactivate the alarm system if such becomes necessary; (F) Name, address, and telephone number of alarm business that installed and/or monitors the alarm system, if applicable. A statement as to whether the alarm user has ever previously registered an alarm system in Prince George's County; (G) An acknowledgment that they must keep a copy of the alarm permit application form and installation certificate or certification at the alarm site and must produce such registration information for inspection upon reasonable request by the Chief of Police; (H) Any other information deemed necessary by the Chief of Police. (2) Commercial or Nonresidential Alarm User Permit Application. Each application or application for renewal for a commercial or nonresidential alarm user permit must contain, but is not limited to, the following information: (A) Registration Number assigned by the County (if renewal); (B) Nonresidential alarm user's name and trade name, if different; (C) Employer ID number (EIN); (D) Street address where alarm system is located, including room or suite number; (E) Telephone number at the alarmed location.; (F) Type of business or activity conducted at the alarmed location; (G) Type of alarm system: burglary, robbery, duress, panic, etc.; (H) Dangerous or special conditions information at location; (I) Parent company name, address, and telephone number; (J) Name and telephone number of person responsible at the parent company location for the alarm system at the alarm site; (K) Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) persons (an alarm business will be acceptable in lieu of one (l) person) who are able to and have agreed to: (i) Receive notification of an alarm activation at any time; (ii) Respond to the alarm site within one-half (1/2) hour; and (iii) Grant access to the alarm site and deactivate the alarm system if such becomes necessary;. (L) Name, address, and telephone number of alarm business that installed and/or monitors the alarm system, if applicable; (M) A statement as to whether the alarm user had ever previously registered an alarm system or been issued a permit in Prince George's County; (N) An acknowledgment that they must keep a copy of the alarm permit application form and installation certificate or certification at the alarm site and must produce such registration information for inspection upon reasonable request by the Chief of Police; (O) Any other information deemed necessary by the Chief of Police. (3) The information in the application shall be maintained current at all times. Any changes in the application information must be forwarded to the Chief within ten (10) days. (4) The alarm user shall make provision for silencing the local audible alarm within one-half (l/2) hour from the time the signal is received by the Police Department, either automatically or by one of the authorized persons. (5) It shall be the responsibility of the alarm user to insure that the system is properly operated, maintained, inspected, and repaired as required herein. (6) An alarm user permit is valid only for the premises registered and is not transferable to another alarm user or premises. A new permit must be obtained for each alarm site. (7) Exemptions. Local, State, or Federal government facilities are exempt from payment of permit fees and false alarm response fees, but are requested to register alarm site specified in this Division if Prince George's County police personnel are normally expected to respond to alarms at these facilities. (d) Alarm User Permit Fees. (1) Commercial. (A) Initial Permit Fee. There shall be a Fifty Dollar ($50.00) nonrefundable, commercial alarm permit fee for the first two years. The fee may be paid by the alarm user or the alarm business. Payment shall accompany the application. (B) Permit Renewal Fee. Beginning with the third year, there shall be a nonrefundable biennial commercial alarm renewal fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). The fee may be paid by the alarm user or the alarm business. Payment shall accompany the application. (2) Residential. (A) Initial Permit Fee. There shall be a Twenty Dollar ($20.00) nonrefundable, residential alarm permit fee for the first two years. The fee may be paid by the alarm user or the alarm business. Payment shall accompany the application. (B) Permit Renewal Fee. Beginning with the third year, there shall be a nonrefundable biennial residential alarm renewal fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00). The fee may be paid by the alarm user or the alarm business. Payment shall accompany the application. (3) If an alarm user permit has been revoked or suspended, a reinstatement fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) must accompany a reinstatement application. (e) The information contained in an alarm user permit application required by this Section and other information received by the Chief of Police through correspondence or communications with an alarm user shall be securely maintained and restricted to inspection only by police officers or County employees specifically assigned the responsibility for handling and processing alarm user permits in the course of official duties. If any employee of the County is found to have knowingly or willfully revealed the information contained in an alarm user permit application or in correspondence or communications with an alarm user to any other person for any purpose not related to this Subtitle or official law enforcement matters and without the express written consent of the alarm user supplying such information, the County employee shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (f) Any alarm user who operates an alarm system without first obtaining a permit as required by this Section, or who, after having a permit revoked or suspended, or is indebted to the County for false alarm fees and/or fines incurred by the alarm user under the current or a previous permit and after exhausting his rights to hearing and appeal, fails to disconnect the alarm system shall be in violation of this Division.