Frequently Asked Questions

All residential and commercial locations in Arlington County with an active alarm system are required by Ordinance to have an alarm permit (Arlington County Code, Chapter 33).

Please complete the online registration form 

You may also contact the Arlington County Alarm Program:

Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm EST

Email:  arlingtonva@citysupport.org

Phone:  (888) 865-9770

No. Your active permit and anniversary (renewal) date will be brought onto the new system. It will be assigned a new permit number and you will be sent a renewal notice 45 days before the anniversary date. The new permit number and payment instructions will be included on the notice. 

Commercial / Residential Permit Registration Fee: $25

Commercial / Residential Annual Permit Renewal Fee: $25

The alarm ordinance is posted online on this website - Arlington County Code, Chapter 33

A false alarm response fee shall be assessed against the alarm user for false alarm responses in excess of two (2) in a twelve (12) month calculation period, in accordance with the following false alarm response fee schedule: 

False alarm responses to an Unpermitted alarm location will be subject to a fee of $50.

The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any fee imposed under this section within sixty  (60) days from the date of receipt may result in the suspension of the alarm user registration and a discontinuance of police response to alarms that may occur at the protected premises described in the alarm user's registration until such time that payment is received. 

False alarm shall not include police response to an alarm signal that is canceled by the alarm user  or his agent prior to the arrival of police personnel at the alarm location. 

Over 98 percent of the alarm signals generated in the United States end up being false. Responding to false alarms takes emergency responders away from actual emergency situations. In an effort to make alarm users aware of this problem and mitigate the incidence of false alarms, Arlington County enacted an Alarm Systems Ordinance (County Code, Chapter 33). The Ordinance requires that all owners of an active alarm system (both residential and business) obtain a permit and pay fines to the County for excessive false alarm activity.

“False alarm” means any alarm signal: 

(a) Which elicits a response by police personnel; and 

(b) For which there is no evidence of criminal activity to justify a police response. 

No, you will never be assessed a fee for a legitimate alarm/panic signal.

The alarm user may, within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the false alarm notification  make a written request for a review by the Chief of Police or his designee of the determination that an alarm was  false. The request shall include the following information:  

1. Alarm user name; 

2. Alarm user registration number; 

3. Address at which the alarm is installed; 

4. Date of false alarm that is being contested; and  

5. The facts upon which the request for review of the false alarm determination is made. 

The Chief of Police or his designee shall consider the circumstances of the contested false alarm  determination and provide a written response to the alarm user. 

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 APS/CitySupport and secured by the alarm user:  HERE

Alarm permits are not transferable to another alarm user or premises.

A renewal notification will be sent to you 45 days prior to the permit expiration date.