LUBBOCK, Texas — The Lubbock City Council has voted to repeal a recently enacted alarm-system permit ordinance following strong public opposition, prompting the Lubbock Police Department to announce refunds for residents who had already paid the new fees.
The ordinance, approved earlier this year, would have required all residents and businesses with monitored alarms to obtain an annual permit costing $50 — or $25 for seniors — and mandated that alarm companies make two calls to the homeowner before requesting a police response.
According to a Lubbock Lights report, Police Chief Seth Herman said the intent of the ordinance was never to raise revenue but to improve accountability and reduce the number of false alarms, which the department said total between 9,000 and 14,000 responses each year. Critics argued the fees amounted to an unnecessary charge for police service already funded by taxes.
With the November 4 repeal, the city reverted to its previous policy, which requires a permit only after three false alarms or one false robbery alarm within a year.
SIAC outlines best practices for alarm management
Steve Keefer, Executive Director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), tells SecurityInfoWatch the case in Lubbock differs from most cities where alarm-registration programs have been implemented.
“The situation in Lubbock is unique because registration and registration fees have not been controversial in other communities when explained in the context of the proven benefits of the Model Ordinance that Lubbock police are recommending,” he said.
The Model Ordinance, developed by SIAC in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and other law-enforcement groups, is a standardized framework used by municipalities nationwide to reduce false alarms through user registration, tiered fines for repeat offenders and enhanced verification procedures.
Keefer stated that registration allows public-safety agencies to identify those responsible for alarm systems and maintain communication with alarm users. “The associated fees — typically modest and capped by state law — help cover administrative costs of managing permits, tracking false alarms and enforcing compliance,” he said. “All alarm users, whether commercial or residential, should pay these nominal permit fees. They are the cornerstone of sound alarm management.”
