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False Alarm

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The Thousand Oaks Police Department responds to approximately 2,900 alarm calls per year and 99.6% of these are false alarms. When alarm systems are of inferior quality or are not maintained or used properly, they are a threat to community safety and the safety of its police officers.


The City enforces escalating fines for false alarms based on the number of incidents within a calendar year. This tiered fine structure incentivizes proper alarm system maintenance and usage to reduce false alarm occurrences and enhance public safety.




Business Alarm Site

Residential Alarm Site

First False Alarm

$0

$0

Second False Alarm

$100

$50

Third False Alarm

$200

$100

Fourth False Alarm

$500

$200

Fifth False Alarm

$750

$500

All Subsequent False Alarms

$1,000

$500



False Alarm FAQ

Please click here to begin the appeal process. You must register in order to begin the appeal process.

If fees are not paid within 30 calendar days, a 10% penalty will accrue. Each month thereafter, a 1% penalty will accrue to all fines and penalties that remain unpaid.


Any unpaid invoice will be forwarded to a third-party collection agency after 90 days.

Impacts of False Alarms

False alarms

  1. Take police and firefighters away from real emergencies. This situation endangers responding authorities and the whole community by needlessly diverting public safety resources.
  2. Desensitize communities to actual incidents of crime and can lead to neighbors ignoring your alarm when it goes off.
  3. Cost citizens time, personal security and money, as many jurisdictions assess costly fines for excessive false alarms.