The following is the full text of the city ordinance covering residential and commercial alarm systems within the city. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the alarm ordinance, contact the East Point Police Department Community Police Division at (404) 494-3501.

Sec. 7-6002. Registration

Any owner or occupier of a commercial or residential location in the city wishing to install an alarm device shall within five (5) days of the installation of such a device, register the device with the city manager or his designee. Said registration shall be completed upon forms as supplied and approved by the city manager or his designee, and shall require information pertaining to the location, type of alarm system, name of individuals to be notified in case of activation of the systems, names and telephone numbers for the applicant during both business and non business hours, and any other information deemed appropriate by the city manager or his designee. A registration fee may be charged for registration in such amount as the city manager or his designee may prescribe. (Ord. No. 836-83, § 1, 2-21-83; Ord. No. 901-86, § 1, 2-21-83)

Sec. 7-6003. Failure to register alarm systems.

It shall be a violation of this ordinance to fail to register alarm systems as above-described, and said failure shall be punishable by fine and penalty pursuant to the provisions of section 1-1006 of the Code of Ordinances of the city. (Ord. No. 836-83, § 1, 2-21-83; Ord. No. 901-86, § 1, 2-21-83)

Sec. 7-6004. Requirements of alarm systems.

(a) Any audible alarm shall have an automatic thirty-minute shut off after activation.

(b) No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages directly or indirectly to the police shall be tested or demonstrated without first obtaining permission from the director of communications. Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices not transmitting emergency messages directly to the communications center of the city unless the messages are to be relayed to said communications center.

(c) No user of an alarm system shall use or operate, attempt to use or operate, or cause to be used or operated, or arrange, adjust, program or otherwise provide or install any device or combination of devices that will upon being activated either mechanically, electronically, or by any other automatic means, call and deliver a recorded message to any telephone number assigned to the communications center for the city, except when approved by said communications center.

(d) In addition to the information required in the registration, any person installing an alarm system shall be required to maintain with the communications center the current name and telephone number of the owner or occupant of the premises on which the alarm is installed where said individual may be contacted within a reasonable time of the activation of said alarm. (Ord. No. 836-83, § 1, 2-21-83; Ord No. 901-86, § 1, 2-21-83

Sec. 7-6005. False alarms.  (Amended September 2005)

During any calendar year for any false alarms received by the Communications Center, that result in the dispatch of any appropriate emergency vehicle resulting from said false alarms, the owner(s) or responsible person(s) of the premises installing said alarm system shall be charged under the following fee schedule for the response made to the location of the false alarm: 

First False Alarm – There will be no charge for the first false alarm.  

Additional False Alarms - There will be a $50.00 Violation Charge for each additional false alarm.  

All responding City of East Point Police Officers will place a False Alarm Notification at each location of a false alarm indicating the date, time and report number of each alarm.

Sec. 7-6006. Liability of the city.

The city shall take every reasonable precaution to assure that alarm systems and alarm messages received by the communications center are given appropriate attention and are acted upon with dispatch. Nevertheless, the city shall not be liable for any defect in operation of automatic devices and signal line systems, for any failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from such a source, nor for the failure or neglect of any person or agency providing dispatch or monitoring services to properly notify the city or its communications center as a result of failure in the connection with the installation and operation of equipment, the transmission of alarm signals and alarm messages, or the relaying of any such signals or messages to the communications center. (Ord. No. 836-83, § 1, 2-21-83; Ord. No. 901-86, § 1, 2-21-83)

Sec. 7-6007. Disconnection of alarm system.

If more than four (4) false alarms are received by the city and its communications center within a calendar year period, the city may at its option, require the owner or occupant of the premises so having installed the alarm system to disconnect said automatic system, and the city shall incur no liability for such action. (Ord. No. 836-83, § 1, 2-21-83; Ord. No. 901-86, § 1, 2-21-83)

In the event of a false alarm, a false alarm notification form will be left at the alarm location by police officers responding to the alarm call. The notification form contains the date and time of the false alarm, and provides further information to the owner/occupant of the premises.