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Loudoun County has enacted an ordinance to decrease the number of false alarms from commercial and residential security systems. The new ordinance requires homeowners and businesses with alarms to register with the Sheriff's Office and also includes a fining system for frequent offenders.
The False Alarm Reduction Unit (FARU) of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office was created to administer the county's false alarm ordinance. The FARU's main function is to reduce the number of false alarms to which deputies respond each year. The FARU registers alarm companies and alarm users. They send notification of false alarms and invoice for excessive false alarms to alarm users. The alarm administrator handles informal appeals regarding the false designation of alarm activations.
The links below provide more information about the ordinance and the work of the FARU.
How the Ordinance Works
Every alarm user is allowed two "free" false alarms in a calendar year. False alarm response fees are imposed for the third and each subsequent false alarm in a calendar year. The false alarm response fee for residential and commercial alarm users begins at $100 for third false alarm.
On the third false alarm in a calendar year, the alarm user may be required to have the alarm system inspected by a licensed alarm company. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that all mechanical components of the alarm system are in good operating condition, as well as afford your alarm company an opportunity to re-educate all those using the system on its proper use.
You will be considered in violation of the alarm ordinance if you fail to:
- Register your alarm system,
- Pay imposed false alarm response fees, or
- Modify the alarm system, as required.
Monitoring companies shall not make an alarm dispatch request during the first seven (7) days following an alarm system installation, unless there is waiver granted by the FARU due to imminent danger to people or property. This is referred to as a "burn-in" or "soak" period.
What is a False Alarm
According to the Loudoun County's False Alarms Ordinance, Chapter 655, a false alarm is any alarm, whether audible or silent, to which the responding deputy finds no evidence or situation requiring a response by law enforcement, such as an attempted crime, a crime in progress or a crime that has just occurred.
A false alarm includes a site where one or more doors or windows are found unsecured and there is no evidence of unlawful entry. Alarms that are activated due to a power outage are also considered false. Silent robbery alarm set-off by owners or employees to report an incident other than a robbery is also a false alarm.
Other examples of false alarm events:
- Malfunctioning alarm systems
- Owner, visitor, real estate agents, cleaning crews or other employee error in disarming the alarm system
- Doors or windows left open or ajar
- Animals locked inside and moving about the premises
- Mail being dropped through a door mail-drop slot
- Power outages coupled with improper battery back-up system
- Telephone line problems
- An overly-sensitive system that activates when persons rattle a door or window
- Errors by the alarm monitoring (central station) service
- Drapes or balloons blowing in the breeze
False Alarm Fees
There are two "free" false alarms allowed per calendar year. After that, the following fee schedule applies:
Residential
- Third alarm ($100): The fee escalates by $50 per activation
- Ninth alarm: The fee escalates by $100 per activation
- Fifteenth alarm: The fee is $1,000 per activation
Commercial
- Third alarm ($100): The fee escalates by $100 per activation
- Twelfth alarm: The fee escalates by $250 per activation
- Sixteenth alarm: The fee escalates by $500 per activation
- Twentieth alarm: The fee is $4,000 per activation
Contact Information
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
False Alarm Reduction Unit
880 Harrison Street
Leesburg, VA 20175
Phone: 703-737-8165 or 703-737-8344
Fax: 703-737-8354
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