Alarm rules in Ohio are set by the city, township or county your address sits in, not by the state and not by your mailing city. A home with a Dayton or Columbus mailing address can fall under a different jurisdiction. Before you activate a monitored system, confirm which jurisdiction covers your property, then check the rules below.
ShieldStreamz markets and refers customers to SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, for ADT consultations. This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the city before you act.
Quick comparison
| Jurisdiction | Alarm user registration | False-alarm charges | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dayton | Permit required; one-time $10 alarm user fee | Written warning at 2 false alarms in 12 months, then fees from the 3rd | daytonohio.gov |
| City of Columbus | Not currently required (program suspended June 1, 2024) | Not currently charged | columbus.gov |
Dayton, Ohio (City of Dayton)
Applies to addresses inside Dayton city limits.
- Permit and fee. Dayton alarm users need a permit, with a one-time $10 alarm user fee.
- How to register. Registration packets are available from the Alarm Administrative Office at 937-333-1028, or in person at the Dayton Police Department Safety Building, 335 W. Third St., 1st floor.
- False alarms. The city sends a written warning at the second false alarm in 12 months. Fees after that: 3rd $50, 4th $100, 5th $150, 6th $200, 7th $250 plus a disconnect order. An alarm cancelled within 5 minutes is not counted as a false alarm.
- Appeals and penalties. You can appeal within 30 days. Fees unpaid after 30 days can lead to a disconnect order, and failing to disconnect is a minor misdemeanor.
- Not covered. Fire, medical and vehicle alarms.
Sources: City of Dayton Alarm Registration, Alarm Ordinance, Preventing False Alarms.
Columbus, Ohio (City of Columbus)
Applies to addresses under City of Columbus rules.
- The City of Columbus License Section says that, effective June 1, 2024, it has suspended all aspects of the Alarm User and False Alarm programs until new legislation is enacted. Alarm users currently have no registration requirement and are not charged for false alarms.
- Alarm dealers (businesses) are still licensed separately under the city’s License Section.
- This can change when new legislation passes. Check the page below before you rely on it.
Source: City of Columbus License Section (Alarm Users section). Questions: alarms@columbus.gov.
Ohio townships and unincorporated areas: ORC 505.511
- Ohio Revised Code 505.511 lets a township board of trustees (with a township police department or joint police district) bill for false alarms from the same system, and lets a county sheriff do so in the unincorporated area of the county. It says “may”: it applies only if the township or sheriff chooses to bill.
- Billing starts after three false alarms from the same system in the same calendar year: 4th $50, 5th $100, later ones $150. Unpaid bills after 30 days can lead to a lien on the property.
- It does not govern city alarm rules. Dayton and Columbus rules above are city ordinances. Whether a given township or county sheriff currently bills is something to confirm with them directly.
Source: Ohio Revised Code Section 505.511.
What ADT’s official guidance says
- ADT says many cities, police departments, sheriff’s departments and fire departments require alarm users to hold an alarm permit, and that skipping a required permit can mean municipal fines or an emergency agency refusing to respond.
- ADT tells customers to find out from their local police, sheriff or fire department’s non-emergency line whether their area requires a permit. That is the same step this guide recommends.
- For ADT-monitored systems, ADT publishes the alarm-company and monitoring-company names and addresses that a permit application asks for, and requires customers to add their permit or registration number (and any renewal) to their ADT account.
- If your system is set up through SafeStreets, an ADT Authorized Provider, confirm during your consultation which company details go on your permit application.
This is general guidance only. The city sections above are the only local rules this guide states.
What to do before you activate a system
- Confirm whether your address is inside city limits, a township, or unincorporated county.
- Check the jurisdiction’s rules above and ask the local office if unsure.
- Register or get a permit first if your jurisdiction requires one.
- Learn how to cancel an accidental alarm quickly. Dayton does not count an alarm cancelled within 5 minutes.
- Keep your monitoring contact information current.
Need help choosing equipment? Call (855) 585-8177 to talk with a SafeStreets ADT specialist. Related: Home security installation in Dayton, Columbus, 24/7 monitoring.
