Alarm Program

All alarmed residential and commercial premises are required to have an alarm system permit. Alarm permits provide the Police Department with names and phone numbers of persons who are responsible for a premise and can be reached in the event of an emergency.

Under the City of Menlo Park Municipal Code Section 5.72 – Burglar Alarms, all burglar alarm systems that are overseen by a monitoring company must be registered to ensure the Police Department is notified of such installations.

Please note that all fire and medical alert alarms are dispatched by San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center.

Alarm permits

Permits are $50 and must be renewed annually on July 1. New alarm households and commercial properties should apply for a permit if they have not already received a false alarm bill.

The getaPERMIT online portal for alarm users easily allows residents and businesses to register alarm systems, pay fees, update user account information, and view false alarm incidents.

If you have already created an account for overnight parking permits through getaPermit, please login using your existing login information. This is the same online portal for obtaining parking permits.

If you are unable to create an account, please contact Police Records at 650-330-6310 or alarmpermits@menlopark.gov.

Rules and regulations

Audible external alarm systems must reset within 30 minutes and stop sounding.
Alarms must have a battery backup power supply to assure continued operation should a power outage occur and prevent false alarms.
Alarm owners and users should know the procedure for canceling false alarms with their alarm companies.
All alarm fees are final and non-refundable.

False alarms fees

All fees are assessed on an annual basis and resets July 1 each year.

False alarm type	First	Second	Third or more
Residential false alarm	Free	$88.00	+$25 more per occurrence
High-risk* false alarm	Free	$370.00	+$25 more per occurrence

*Alarms are considered high-risk when they are used to alert us of bank hold ups or armed robbery events. Panic alarms installed at a residential location are not classified as high-risk.

False alarms are most commonly caused by error, such as opening and closing doors, or equipment malfunctions. Each alarm response requires a minimum of two patrol officers and averages 20 minutes per officer, per alarm.

False alarms negatively impact the overall safety of the community by diverting officers from actual emergencies and other legitimate calls for service. The alarm permit ordinance helps increase accountability and responsible maintenance and management of alarm systems.

Contact us

650-330-6310

FAQs

Why is the Alarm Response Program being reinstated?

The Menlo Park Police Department is reinstating the Alarm Response Program on July 1, 2026, to improve emergency response efficiency, reduce the number of false alarm calls, and ensure that accurate contact information is available during real emergencies. The previous manual registration system caused delays and record‑keeping challenges, so the City has transitioned to a modernized electronic system managed by getaPERMIT.

Who is required to register an alarm system?

All Menlo Park residents and commercial property owners with a monitored burglar alarm system must register their alarm with the City beginning July 1, 2026. Registration is required annually for each fiscal year. New alarm systems must be permitted, and existing permit holders will receive renewal notices each June.

How much does an alarm permit cost, and how do I register?

Alarm permits cost $50 annually.
Registration instructions, forms, and additional information are available at:
https://www.menlopark.gov/alarms

The City has contracted with getaPERMIT to process alarm registrations and payments electronically, making renewals easier and faster.

What are the updated false alarm response fees?

The updated false alarm response fees, effective August 1, 2026, are based on the City’s Master Fee Schedule:

• First false alarm each fiscal year: No charge
• Second false alarm: $88
• Third through sixth false alarm: $25 increase per response
• More than six false alarms: $213 per response

High‑risk alarm responses, typically involving commercial properties, have separate fee rates listed in the Master Fee Schedule.

Why do false alarm fees exist?

False alarms result in a significant number of emergency responses each year and require at least two patrol officers per call. The fees help encourage proper alarm system maintenance and support cost recovery for emergency response services. Reducing false alarms helps keep officers available for priority calls and improves overall community safety.