home |  contact us |  Search our site

Enjoying NRH 

Resident  

Business 

Government 

Careers

  Departments > Police

False Alarm Reduction Program
Register Your Alarm
Online Registration Form
Print & Mail Registration Form

Did you know that in 2006, the City of North Richland Hills responded to over 3,900 false alarm calls? False alarms cost the City of North Richland Hills and its citizens thousands of dollars per year and take police officers away from actual emergencies. To prevent unnecessary emergency responses to false alarm, on December 11, 2006, the City of North Richland Hills adopted a new alarm ordinance and program. The alarm ordinance was adopted to encourage all alarm users to maintain the mechanical reliability of and to properly use their alarm equipment.

False alarms include:

  • Negligently or accidentally activated signals
  • Signals resulting from mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, improper adjustment, or improper maintenance
  • Signals that are purposely activated in non-emergency situations

Some commonly causes of false alarms include the following:

  • Weak system batteries
  • Wandering pets
  • Open, unlocked, or loose fitting doors and windows
  • Cleaning crews
  • Employees of family members untrained on the operation of an alarm system

To administer the false alarm reduction program, the City of North Richland Hills has contracted with a private company, Alarm Tracking and Billing Services, that has expertise in administering false alarm reduction programs. Alarm Tracking and Billing Services also administer the City of Irving's alarm program as well as many other cities across the country.

The cities new alarm ordinance establishes new business and residence alarm code requirements. The ordinance also requires business and residential alarm users to register their alarm system with the City of North Richland Hills, by paying an annual permit fee. The annual permit fee for business is $50, residents is $20. For senior residents (65 or older), the annual permit fee is $10. Annual renewals are $10 for residents and $20 for businesses. In addition to the annual alarm permit fee, fees for excessive false alarms will be assessed during each registration period as follows:

  • False Alarms 1 through 3 -- the North Richland Hills Police will respond for no fee
  • The fourth and fifth -- $50 each
  • The sixth and seventh -- $75 each
  • The eighth and higher -- $100 each

False robbery alarms will be assessed at the following schedule during each registration period.

  • No fee for the first false robbery alarm
  • The second and third false robbery alarm -- $100 each
  • The fourth or more false robbery alarm -- $200 each

If you have any questions about the program or ordinance, you can get additional information at www.atbservices.com/NRH or you may call 1-800-861-5944. If you need additional training on the operation of your alarm system or an alarm maintenance check, please contact your specific alarm installation company directly.

Frequently Asked Questions