Burglar alarm system means an alarm system designed to detect an attempted or actual unauthorized entry into the alarm site and transmit a signal to an alarm systems company for the purpose of generating an alarm notification requiring police response.
Non-residential means a commercial/business non-home alarm site location.
Permit must be kept at alarm site and produced for inspection upon the request of Houston Police Department or Administration & Regulatory Affairs Director.
Relocation or Change in Ownership
Non-residential relocations or changes in ownership require permit cancellation and the new owner must apply for a new permit.
Revoked or Expired Permit
If an alarm permit has been revoked, it will not be reinstated without an appeal hearing.
If an alarm permit expired with an outstanding balance, it will not be renewed until the outstanding balance is paid.
False Alarm Penalties
- Three (3) false alarms are free for a non-residential burglar alarm permit holder per preceding 12-month period.
- The 4th and 5th false alarms are $50.00 each and 6th and 7th false alarms are $75.00 each.
- Thereafter each false alarm is $100.00.
- Permits are subject to revocation and no response after the 7th false alarm.
Non-permitted Alarm Fee
Non-permitted burglar alarms are chargeable at $235.50 per incident.
Applicant must provide:
- Name, address, phone number, and alarm system of the alarm site location (permit info)
- Contact names, phone numbers, and emails
- Alarm system company name, address, telephone, and business license number
- Billing name, address, phone number, and contact number
- Method of payment: cash (in person only), check, cashier's check, money order, or debit/credit card
- Visit the Burglar Alarm website and click on New Permits Only Pay Online.
- Complete the required fields as prompted.
- Complete payment of permit fee with either an e-check or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover)
- Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
- Download and print the alarm application.
- Bring the completed application and payment to the Houston Permitting Center.
- Obtain a numbered ticket from the Information Desk. Please wait in the 1st floor lobby until your number is called.
- Download and print the alarm application.
- Mail the completed application and appropriate permit fee (check or money order only) to:
City of Houston - Burglar Alarm Administration
PO Box 203887
Houston, TX 77216-3887 - Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
Alarm site locations within the City of Houston city limits and areas receiving Houston Police response are required to have a valid alarm permit. Do not apply for a new permit if you:
- do not know if you are located in the city limits
- do not know if you receive Houston Police response
- have a valid permit for the intended alarm site, or
- have outstanding false alarm fees/penalties
Call the Burglar Alarm Administration at 713-581-7410 for assistance before proceeding.
- Renewal notice (sent 30 days prior to the permit’s expiration date)
- Email address, if renewing online
- Method of payment: cash (in person only), check, cashier's check, money order, or debit/credit card
- Visit the burglar alarm website and click on Pay Bill or Renew Permit Credit Card Payment
- Complete the required fields as prompted.
- Complete payment of permit fee with either an e-check or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover)
- Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
- Bring the renewal notice and payment to the Houston Permitting Center.
- Obtain a numbered ticket from the Information Desk. Please wait in the 1st floor lobby until your number is called.
- Mail the remittance slip and payment (check or money order only) to:
City of Houston – Burglar Alarm Administration
PO Box 203887
Houston, TX 77216-3888 - Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
If applicant has an outstanding false alarm fee or penalty balance, a permit will not be issued, reinstated or renewed until the balance is paid in full.
- Renewal notice (sent 30 days prior to the permit’s expiration date)
- Email address, if renewing online
- Method of payment: cash (in person only), check, cashier's check, money order, or debit/credit card
- Visit the burglar alarm website and click on Pay Bill or Renew Permit Credit Card Payment
- Complete the required fields as prompted.
- Complete payment of permit fee with either an e-check or credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover)
- Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
- Bring the renewal notice and payment to the Houston Permitting Center.
- Obtain a numbered ticket from the Information Desk. Please wait in the 1st floor lobby until your number is called.
- Mail the remittance slip and payment (check or money order only) to:
City of Houston – Burglar Alarm Administration
PO Box 203887
Houston, TX 77216-3888 - Permit will be mailed or emailed to the address provided by the permit holder.
If applicant has an outstanding false alarm fee or penalty balance, a permit will not be issued, reinstated or renewed until the balance is paid in full.