HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance #2021ORDINANCE NO. 2021-
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22 (ALARM SYSTEMS) OF TITLE 3 (BUSINESS
REGULATIONS) OF THE CANTON MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, Chapter 22 (Alarm Systems) of Title 3 (Business Regulations) establishes the
licensing requirements for alarm systems within the City of Canton; and
WHEREAS, the ordinance was originally adopted in 1993, and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is necessary to amend the Canton
Municipal Code to reflect the status of current technology and the location of the communications
center.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Canton, Illinois, as
follows:
That Chapter 22 (Alarm Systems) of Title 3 (Business Regulations) is hereby amended to read as
follows:
3-22-1: DEFINITIONS:
ALARM SYSTEM: An assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of
a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or fire department personnel are
expected to respond. Alarm systems include those through which public safety personnel are
notified directly of such signals through automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly
byway of third persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals to the
police department. Alarm systems also include those designated to register a signal which is
so audible, visible or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure or
facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where the signal is
located who in turn may notify the appropriate emergency provider of the signal. Alarm
systems do not include auxiliary devices installed by telephone companies to protect
telephone equipment or systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an
alarm system. The term "alarm system" shall include the terms "automatic" or "manual hold
up alarm systems", "burglar alarm systems", "security alarm systems", and "automatic" or
"manual fire alarm systems". Fire alarm systems shall include alarms received from heat and
smoke detectors, automatic extinguishing systems, manual pull stations, and related
supervisory systems. An alarm system which has a security function and a fire and/or smoke
function shall constitute two (2) separate alarms for purposes of subsection 3-22-2(A)1 of this
chapter.
ALARM USER: Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the city
and whose alarm is received by the public safety communications center of the city. Alarms in
separate structures are to be counted as separate systems even though owned by the same
person or entity.
AUDIBLE ALARM: A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on the premises
which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated.
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AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING DEVICE: A device which is interconnected to a
telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined seven (7) digit telephone
number and transmit by voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating a
need for emergency response.
CITY: The city of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, a municipal corporation.
COMMUNICATION CENTER: The Canton police department dispatch center located at the
public safety building, -~9a-€ast-S~ruse2 North Main Street, Canton, Illinois, used for receipt
and transmission of signals by radio or wire transmissions.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: The person designated by the chief of police to
supervise and direct the communication center.
FALSE ALARM: The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction,
improper installation, or as a result of the negligence, misuse or misconduct of the owner or
lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. This does not include alarms
caused by severe weather, natural or manmade disaster, power or telephone service
outages, authorized alarm testing, for which prior notification of the communications center
had been made or malicious acts of person or persons not under the direct control of the
owner, lessee or his employees or agents.
LICENSE: An authorization issued by the city clerk of the city of Canton to allow a
responsible party to install or maintain an alarm system within the city of Canton which is
commercially monitored or which is electronically connected to the communications center
and when activated would result in a police or fire department response.
PERSON: Any association, club, society, firm, partnership or corporation and any group
acting as a unit as well as individuals.
PREMISES: Any private, public, residential, commercial or industrial land and/or buildings
located within the city of Canton.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Any person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation,
or any owner or lessee of premises on which an alarm system is installed or maintained, or
the agents or representatives of the aforementioned which or who utilize an alarm system on
premises located within the city of Canton. A license obtained by an owner or lessee of
premises shall be personal to the owner or licensee. Any new or subsequent owner or lessee
shall be required to obtain a separate license.
SILENT ALARM: Inaudible alarm which summons police or fire through the communications
center.
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YEAR: A period beginning January 1 and continuing through December 31. (Ord. 1406, 11-
16-1993)
3-22-2: LICENSE FOR OPERATION REQUIRED:
(A) All responsible parties shall obtain from the city clerk a license which authorizes the
operation of an alarm system which is commercially monitored or which is electronically
connected to the communications center.
1. A license shall be obtained for each alarm on a premises when an alarm is in operation.
Individual licenses must be obtained for each individual structure. Individual licenses must be
obtained for each individual business within a single structure. The renewal date shall be
January 1 of each year.
2. The initial registration charge for all licenses shall be twenty five dollars ($25.00). There shall
be an annual renewal fee for the license of twenty five dollars ($25.00) for all nonresidential
systems. There is no renewal fee for residential svstems. Renewal fees are due no later than
January 1 for the following year.
3. The responsible party shall supply the following information when applying for or renewing a
license:
(a) Name, telephone number and address of responsible party;
(b) Address and telephone number at which the alarm is located;
(c) Alarm service (police, fire, other);
(d) Alarm type (commercial monitoring, audible, silent, direct connection, other);
(e) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two (2) people who can be contacted
in the event of an alarm activation;
(f) The name, address and telephone number of the alarm company;
(g) Any other additional information requested on the license.
~. The city clerk shall send a copy of the license which will include the information stated in
subsection (A)4 of this section to the director of communications.
~5. It is a violation of this chapter for any responsible party who is otherwise required to obtain
an alarm installation license, to knowingly install an alarm system without obtaining such a
license. (Ord. 1406, 11-16-1993)
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3-22-3: TESTING, GRACE PERIOD, FALSE ALARM FEES, FAILURE TO
PAY FALSE ALARM FEES:
(A) Testing Notification: Prior to any maintenance or testing of any alarm system, the
responsible party and/or alarm company representative shall call the public safety
communications center and advise such work is being performed. Immediately upon
completion of such tests or maintenance another call will be made to the public safety
communications center advising completion of said tests or maintenance. Failure to make
such notification shall result in any subsequent alarm received during such test as a false
alarm and subject to the response fee of twenty five dollars ($25.00).
(B) Grace Period For Initial Installation: Upon the installation of a new alarm system, the
responsible party shall have a thirty (30) day grace period from the date of installation
before any alarm is counted toward the three (3) allowable false alarms. Initial installation
of a new alarm system does not include any reconditioning, additions or changes made to
an already existing alarm system on a premises. To the extent the date of installation
cannot be determined, the date the alarm license was issued will be issued to determine
the expiration of the grace period. (Ord. 1406, 11-16-1993)
(C) Fee For False Alarm: An alarm user shall be charged a response fee of one hundred
dollars ($100.00) for each false alarm in excess of three (3) in any year and a fee of two
hundred dollars ($200.00) for each false alarm in excess of ten (10) in any year. Facilities
such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities devoted to the care of the elderly and
mentally and/or physically handicapped shall be exempt from this subsection only on
accidental alarms not mechanical error. (Ord. 1768, 9-16-2003)
(D) Failure To Pay Fee: The refusal to pay any fee prescribed in this chapter within thirty (30)
days of notification shall be a violation of this chapter. Such notice shall be considered
delivered when deposited postage prepaid in any U.S. mailbox addressed to the
responsible party at the address listed on the license application. If no application has
been made, notice shall be considered delivered when deposited postage prepaid in any
U.S. mailbox addressed to the party at its most recent mailing address. (Ord. 1406, 11-16-
1993)
3-22-4: LIABILITY FOR FUNCTIONING OF ALARM SYSTEMS:
(A) The city, the police department, the fire department and/or their agents shall not be held
responsible for the installation, maintenance or malfunctioning of any alarm system. (Ord.
1406, 11-16-1993)
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3-22-5: PENALTY:
(A) Violation of any section of this chapter is punishable by a fine of not less than seventy five
dollars ($75.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). (Ord. 1406, 11-16-1993)
t Formatted: Indent: Left 0.5"
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Canton, Illinois and approved by the Mayor thereof this
7T'I-I day of December , 2010, upon a roll call vote as follows:
Aldermen Sarff Reed Schenck Hartford Picker Rivero .Ellis
AYES: , , - , r ,
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Alderman West ~
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Approved: .- _ '
Kevin R. Meade, Mayor
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Attest: , 2 .~_ - -E~ ~ ~, ; -~
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' na Tucker, City Clerk