How to apply and renew
- Apply before operating a covered system. Use the Houston online permit service, or submit the city application by mail or in person at the Houston Permitting Center.
- Choose the residential burglar-alarm permit. Ask the city about panic or holdup signals; those have separate provisions.
- Give the permit number to your alarm company.
| Action | Fee | When due / term |
|---|---|---|
| New residential burglar permit | $50; no added residential administration fee | Before operation; valid 12 months from issue |
| Renewal | $50 | Before expiration; another 12-month term |
Renew
Use the city permit service or application. The city says it sends a notice about 30 days before expiration. Renew before the permit expires.
Each occupied apartment or other residential unit with a covered alarm is a separate alarm site. Personal emergency response alarms are outside this ordinance’s definition.
False-alarm charges
Residential burglar alarms: the 2026 city schedule counts incidents over the preceding 12 months.
| False-alarm occurrence | Charge | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–3rd | No charge | Residential burglar-alarm schedule |
| 4th–5th | $50 each | Same schedule |
| 6th–7th | $75 each | Same schedule |
| 8th and later | $100 each | Same schedule |
A notification without a valid permit can also bring a $116.75 penalty per incident. Panic alarms have a different schedule.
Police response
Houston's ordinance allows the police chief to refuse a burglar-alarm notification from a system without a current, valid permit. The city's 2026 form warns that police may not be dispatched unless the alarm company provides a valid permit number. The city also describes possible revocation and no response after excessive false burglar alarms. Give your permit number to the alarm company and check the current City response policy.
Sources and local authority
The city's ARA page and 2026 application provide application steps and dollar amounts; Chapter 11 provides the operative rule. The online administration site accepts applications and account payments.
Last reviewed September 24, 2026. Fees are from the city's 2026 schedule; check for later changes.
Fire-alarm information
Fire-alarm installation, inspection and building-code rules may be separate from a home security registration. Ask the local fire or building office which rules apply to your system.
Each occupied apartment or other residential unit with a covered alarm is a separate alarm site. Fire-only systems and personal emergency response alarms are outside this ordinance’s definition.
We summarize official public information and link to the sources used. AlarmSystemPermit.com is not affiliated with any government agency.
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