Frequently Asked Questions

False alarms are very costly and take police officers away from responding to actual emergency situations. Ordinance 5.90 requires Hawthorne private property owners and business owners with alarm systems to obtain and maintain an annual permit and reimburse the City for excessive false alarm activity.

Yes, they are. Across the nation, the growth of alarm system ownership has resulted in a tremendous amount of false alarms. The response to false alarms has created an additional burden on our law enforcement agencies. Nationwide, approximately 99% or more of all the burglar alarms police respond on are false.

A “False Alarm” means an alarm signal activated through subscriber negligence or for reasons not of an emergency nature when activated due to malfunction of any segment of the alarm system and which necessitates response by the Hawthorne police or fire department were an emergency situation does not exist.

If you have an alarm system, you are required under the Hawthorne Ordinance to have an alarm permit. If you have multiple monitored alarm systems, a permit is required for each alarm. An “Alarm system” means any mechanical, electrical or electronic device that is designed or used for the detection of an unauthorized entry into a building, structure or facility or to signal the commission of an unlawful act, or that is designed or used for the detection of a fire condition and actuates a fire alarm signal device, or that produces a fire alarm signal in the event of system activation. It specifically does not include automobile alarms or auxiliary devices installed by a telephone company or utility which is or may be utilized to report equipment damage or disruption of service.

Alarm Permit Registration and Renewal Fees

Annual Permit Period July 1st – June 30th

Commercial Locations 

Original Registration: Application Fee: $56.00 + Annual Permit Fee: $69.00

Annual Renewal Fee: $38.00 + Annual Permit Fee: $69.00

Residential Locations

Original Registration Fee: $69.00

Annual Renewal Fee: $69.00

Alarm permits must be renewed every year, renewal notices will be sent out on May 15th each year and the payment must be received by July 1st of each year.

Yes. Anytime there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, a new alarm permit is required.

Yes. Anytime there is a change in ownership of the alarm system, a new alarm permit is required.

The fees are used to offset the City's administrative costs of the program.

The City wants to substantially reduce the number of false alarms that the police department respond to. 

No, you will never be charged for an alarm activation that is not false. This ordinance allows charges for false alarms only.

False alarm activations within the permit year (July 1st - June 30th) will result as follows:

Yes, you can pay for any fees due on your account via this website by clicking on the home tab and logging in with credentials initiated by CitySupport and secured by the alarm user. Hawthorne Police Department - Alarm Unit Website

An alarm user may appeal the Alarm Administrator's determination of the number of false alarms or the denial of response reinstatement. Be sure to include the following with your appeal:

⦁ Your name  ⦁ Your email address (if applicable)  ⦁ The alarm location ⦁ Date of the false alarm ⦁ Your permit number ⦁ Reasons for the appeal ⦁ Any supporting evidence (ex. call log from your alarm monitoring company for that date & time).  

Appeals can be emailed to: hawthorneca@citysupport.org

Or, mailed to: Hawthorne Police Department - Alarm Unit | PO Box 3153 | Culver City, CA 90231

The action of the chief of police in suspending or revoking an alarm system permit may be appealed to the city council. Written notice of such appeal shall be filed with the city clerk within fifteen days following the service of the notice of suspension or revocation. The city council shall hear and determine such appeal at its regular meeting held not less than seven days following the filing of the notice of appeal. Written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be served on the permittee in the same manner as provided in this chapter for the service of a notice of suspension or revocation. A majority vote of the whole city council shall be required to reverse any suspension or revocation of an alarm system permit. Should the city council find that the suspension or revocation of the permit was appropriate, the permittee may be billed for all costs reasonably borne by the city in revoking the alarm system permit. 

Failure to pay the fees/fines within 30 days can result in suspended police response to a location and outstanding fees will be turned over to the Hawthorne Collection Department. Late fees are assessed as follows:

30 Days Past Due       25% of original balance due

60 Days Past Due       50% of original balance due

90 Days Past Due       100% of original balance due

If you received a duplicate alarm invoice, please email us at hawthorneca@citysupport.org; give us your street address and let us know you received a duplicate invoice(s) and we will delete the incorrect invoice. Or contact us by phone at (888) 865-9770. 

The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website: Hawthorne Alarm Ordinance

We can be reached at (888) 865-9770 or you can email any questions to the alarm unit.