Alarm Permits

El Dorado County's burglary and robbery alarm permit program is managed by PM AM Corporation, a third-party alarm administrator. PM AM issues the County's burglary and robbery alarm permits and annual renewals and manages our False Alarm Reduction Program. For all alarm permit business, please call 877-356-7603 or visit the False Alarm Reduction Program website.

New Permits

If you would like to apply for a new alarm permit, please visit the False Alarm Reduction Program website.

You may complete the application online or download the application form and send it with your payment to:

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office
False Alarm Reduction Program
P.O. Box 140755
Irving, TX 75014

For questions or assistance with the website, please call 877-356-7603.

Representatives are available to assist you Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST

Ordinance

In 1981, El Dorado County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance addressing the use of criminal alarms and permitting requirements. In 2018, the ordinance was revised to reflect current uses and practices. The revision to Emergency Alarm System Ordinance (5.44.010) requires any alarm user to obtain a valid alarm permit from the Sheriff's Office.

The goal of the ordinance and the County’s partnership with PM AM Corporation is to reduce the number of false alarm activations requiring a response by the Sheriff’s Office personnel, thereby redirecting public safety resources to respond to more urgent calls for service.

An alarm permit is required for all commercial and residential properties operating an alarm system within the unincorporated areas of El Dorado County. Every application for a residential or commercial alarm system permit shall be for one year and must be renewed annually.

  • The cost of a new alarm permit is $40.
  • The cost of annual renewal is $25.

The fees are established to cover the cost of processing the applications and permits and shall be in addition to any other permit fee imposed by the County. Permits are not transferable.

False Alarms

Any user of an alarm device or alarm system which produces more than two false alarms which are not cancelled within 5 minutes of Sheriff's Office dispatch, or not having evidence of crime is subject to the following fines:

  • FALSE Burglar Alarms
  • 3rd false alarm in a calendar year: $60.00
  • 4th false alarm in a calendar year: $75.00
  • 5th false alarm in a calendar year: $125.00
  • 6th and subsequent false alarms in a calendar year: $200.00
  • FALSE Panic Alarms
  • 3rd false alarm in a calendar year: $85.00
  • 4th false alarm in a calendar year: $100.00
  • 5th false alarm in a calendar year: $150.00
  • 6th and subsequent false alarms in a calendar year: $225.00

After 6 false alarms within a 12-month period, the Sheriff's may require verification of each subsequent alarm before dispatching a unit.

Additionally, failure to pay permit fees and/or false alarm charges will result in the alarm being placed in non-response status until fines and fees are paid. The Sheriff's Office will still respond to a location based upon a call for service not originating from the alarm.

Back to top