The essentials
At a glance
Registration is required.
$50 each year.
Renew annually.
First two free; then $75 each.
Registration process
How to apply or register
Philadelphia’s official burglar-alarm page provides an alarm permit registration form. Completed forms may be submitted by email, fax, mail or in person.
- 1Open the official registration page
Download the current alarm-system registration form and review its instructions.
- 2Complete and submit the form
Use one of the listed submission methods: email, fax, mail or in person.
- 3Pay the annual fee
If submitting by email or fax, wait for the registration number and payment instructions before paying online.
Information requested on the registration form
The current Philadelphia form requests the following types of information:
- Residential user name and, for an owner-occupied property, the date shown on the property deed
- Address where the alarm system is installed and a contact name and phone number for the property
- Billing name and address, if different from the alarm location
- Alarm company name, identification number, address and contact details
- Monitoring company name, identification number, address and contact details
- Whether the form is for a new system, a new user at an existing system or a cancellation
Form fields can change. Review the current official form before gathering or submitting information.
Confirm the current amount and payment method on Philadelphia’s official registration page before paying.
To cancel a registration for an alarm that is no longer active, users are advised to email PhillyAlarmReg@phila.gov.
Police response policy
False-alarm fines
The first two false alarms within a registration year do not result in an excess false-alarm fine. Beginning with the third, each additional false alarm costs $75.
Important distinction
What about fire alarms?
The official sources used for this page cover burglar-alarm registration and false-alarm fines. They do not explain residential fire-alarm requirements, so we do not make assumptions about them. Confirm any separate fire-alarm permit, installation, inspection or code requirements with the appropriate Philadelphia office.
If you disagree with a fine
Appeals and disputes
Philadelphia provides a separate process to dispute an excess false-alarm fine. Use the official fine page below for current instructions and deadlines.
Open the official false-alarm fine pageOfficial information
Sources, scope and local contact
The official Philadelphia pages and form below were the primary sources used for this page.
The registration page applies to burglar alarms and lists an annual registration fee. It does not say whether monitoring matters, and it does not cover residential fire-alarm requirements.
How we handle uncertainty: If an official source does not say something clearly, we label it “not specified” rather than assume.
Local rules can change. Check important details with the issuing office before applying or paying.
AlarmSystemPermit.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements can change, and online information may be incomplete or outdated. Always check current requirements with the appropriate local office.
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