Burien’s Verified Response Ordinance went into effect in October 2004. Under Burien's ordinance, police will only respond to mechanical alarms:
- Upon verification by a third party.
- That a crime or emergency requires police response.
- Has or is occurring at the alarm location.
Police respond to personally-activated panic, duress, and robbery alarms.
For more information on the City of Burien False Alarm Response Ordinance, contact the False Alarm Coordinator at (206) 477-2253.
The City issues invoices for monthly false alarm infractions.
- False alarm response fee: An alarm system monitoring company will be assessed a false alarm response fee of $150.00 for each false alarm.
- Call cancellation fee: An alarm system monitoring company will be assessed a call cancellation fee of $100.00 if the company calls police dispatch to respond to an alarm and then they call back to cancel the response prior to police arrival at the alarmed premises.
- Prohibited call fee: An alarm system monitoring company will be assessed a prohibited call fee of $100.00 for a call to police dispatch requesting police response to an alarm that has not been verified.
False alarm fees are billed by the City of Burien accounts receivable department. The invoice will be issued to the monitoring company or to the address on file for a private alarm.
To appeal or contest a false alarm fee, please keep in mind the following:
- There is only one fee per appeal.
- The appeal must be submitted in writing to the chief of police.
- You must submit your appeal within 30 days of billing notice.
- You must appear in person.