Alarm Ordinance

In an effort to reduce the number of calls for false alarms, the Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance requiring any business or residence with an alarm (monitored or unmonitored) to have a permit. Alarm registration began on March 1, 2013. There will be a 90 day grace period for fines and penalties for any violations. Enforcement of violations will begin after June 1, 2013.

The purpose of the alarm ordinance is to encourage alarm users to properly use and maintain the operational effectiveness of their systems to reduce or eliminate false alarms. False alarms unnecessarily consume officer time, waste fuel, increase the risk of accidents and over time, reduce the quality of police services to other areas with a greater need for officer presence.

Alarm Registration

Cornelius residents and businesses are now required to register their monitored or unmonitored alarm system. Cornelius has partnered with the Public Safety Corporation/CryWolf to assist with the implementation and enforcement of the False Alarm Ordinance. Monitored alarm users will be contacted with more details and registration information. Unmonitored users can register online. Online registration is available at https://www.crywolfservices.com/corneliusnc/ or by filling out a registration form and returning it by mail to the False Alarm Reduction Program.

False Alarm Fees

False alarms divert police from proactive crime prevention efforts. They also delay response to calls for service that may be true emergencies. In order to limit the number of false alarms in the Town of Cornelius, Ordinance Chapter 99: Alarm Systems requires the Police Department to track false alarms and charge alarm users false alarm cost-recovery fees.

Alarm users are allowed two false alarm responses at no charge during permit year. Additional charges will be assessed as follows:

False Alarms 1, 2: No charge for registered alarms
False Alarms 3, 4, 5: $50 per response
False Alarms 6, 7: $100 per response
False Alarms 8, 9: $250 per response
False Alarms 10+: $500 per response
Audible Alarm over 15 minutes: $100 per response
Failure to register: $100 per false alarm

Payments must be paid to Town of Cornelius at:

False Alarm Reduction Program
PO Box 602827
Charlotte, NC 28260

If all alarm fines are not paid within thirty (30) days of being invoiced, the alarm user will be notified in writing that police will not respond to an alarm at their premises until all fines are paid.

Residents reserve the right to appeal if they are assessed a fee for which they believe was not a false alarm. For more information or to file an appeal call (866) 889-2361 or email.