- Home
- Government
- Departments & More
- Financial Services
- Alarm Registration/Fee
Alarm Registration/Fee
Questions, Billing and New Permits
Please contact the city's Financial Services Department at (505) 891-5010 (option 4) if you need to register a new permit, need to pay your annual billing statement or have questions. The Financial Services Department is located at Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE.Forms
Download a copy of the Alarm User Registration Form (searchable PDF).Download a copy of the Alarm Billing Customer Dispute Form (MS Excel).
Overview
In response to an overwhelming number of false alarms throughout Rio Rancho, the city adopted a “Rio Rancho Alarm Ordinance.”Responding to false alarms account for a large percentage of calls by every branch of the Police Department. These alarms include, fire detection, unauthorized entry (burglar) and silent or self-actuated alarms that cause notification to the Police Department.
The purpose of the ordinance is to regulate the activity and the responsibility of persons who have alarm systems/devices, and the businesses that sell, install and maintain them. The purpose of the ordinance also encourages improvement in the reliability of alarm systems.
The ordinance intends to eliminate the undue burden on public safety resources and ensures that personnel are not unduly diverted from emergency activities in response to false alarms.
Ordinance Summary
To view the ordinance in its entirety, click on the following link and perform a keyword search using "alarm systems."1. Fees and Time Limits
- The ordinance took effect July 1, 2003. For any alarm system installed after July 1, 2004, the user has 30 days to apply for and obtain a permit. If the permit is obtained after 30 days, the fee will be $50.
- For existing alarms that have been installed prior to July 1, 2003, the user has 180 days to obtain a permit.
Permitted Alarm Systems
1. A user fee of $50 will be assessed each time the alarm system is falsely activated more than three times in a 12-month period.2. The alarm fee is increased to $100 if there are more than six false activations in a 12-month period.
Non-permitted Alarms Systems
1. If an alarm system is installed and the alarm user does not apply for an alarm user permit within the time specified, the city shall impose a $50 fee for each false alarm response. The first such $50 fee shall be used to initiate an application permit for that property. If the property owner does not comply with the requirements of the application process within a 10-day period, each subsequent false alarm activation response at that property shall be charged a $100 fee.2. If an alarm system is installed and the alarm user does not apply for an alarm user permit and/or fails to pay for fees for false alarms, the departments may not respond to any subsequent alarm activations.
Other
An appeal process will be in place if the alarm user feels he/she has been unjustly assessed. A full explanation of the alarm user's and alarm businesses' responsibilities are explained in the ordinance. Copies of the ordinance can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office located at Rio Rancho City Hall.Reading the PDF documents on this site requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for free from Adobe.