False Alarm Bylaw — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot 0ed148baf576 · verified 2026-06-08 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## False Alarm Bylaw ## Bylaw 1439 Effective June 1, 2026 ## False Alarm Bylaw ## Bylaw 1439 A bylaw to regulate the use of Alarm Systems within the City of Castlegar and to establish fees to be paid by the owner or occupier of real property in which the RCMP provide services in response to a False Alarm of an Alarm System. WHEREAS Section 196(1) of the Community Charter, S.B.C. 2003, c 26 (the "Community Charter") provides that Council may, by a bylaw, impose fees that are to be paid by the owner or occupier of real property to which services are provided by or on behalf of the City of Castlegar, including policing services under section 3(2) of the Police Act, in response to a false alarm; AND WHEREAS Section 196(2) of the Community Charter provides that a fee may vary in relation to the number of occasions on which services are provided in response to a false alarm; AND WHEREAS Section 258(1)(b) of the Community Charter provides that special fees imposed under section 196 (1)(a) [fire and security alarms systems] may be collected as property taxes; AND WHEREAS Council for the City of Castlegar (the "City") has determined that excessive false alarms in the City require emergency responses from the police and may result in delaying response to a true emergency, detracting from crime prevention and constitute a cost and a nuisance to the residents of the City and it is therefore desirable to exercise the authority granted under the Community Charter. NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Castlegar, in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows: ## Citation - 1) This Bylaw may be cited as the "False Alarm Bylaw No. 1439, 2026". ## Definitions - 2) In this Bylaw and schedule attached hereto unless context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply: "Alarm System" includes but is not limited to any mechanical, electrical or electronic devices that are primarily intended or designed to be used for: - i) detection of entry, attempted entry, or unauthorized entry onto a premises; 2. detection of damage on a premises; 3. iii) emitting a sound, signal, message, or notification upon detection as defined in (i) or (ii). 4. iv) for greater certainty, includes a device which registers an alarm which is not audible, visible, or perceptible outside the premises inside which it is installed  But excludes any device that is installed inside of a motor vehicle or a device that is a Panic Button. "Alarm System Provider" means a person, partnership, contractor, or company that offers the purchase of Alarm Systems, monitoring of Alarm Systems, or reports activations of Alarm Systems to the RCMP. "City" means the City of Castlegar. "Excessive False Alarms" means two (2) or more False Alarms involving any Hold-up Alarm, Panic Alarm, or Intrusion Alarm within a twelve (12) month period. "False Alarm" includes but is not limited to the activation of an Alarm System that directly or indirectly notifies the RCMP and results in the RCMP responding to a premises where: - i) There is no apparent emergency; 2. ii) There is no apparent unauthorized or unlawful entry onto a premises; 3. ili) An alarm is being tested by an alarm system provider; 4. iv) An alarm reporting an attempt or completed criminal offence or an emergency situation occurring on or in relation to the address in which the alarm system is installed where no evidence exists or where no such event took place; - v) An alarm actually or apparently activated by atmospheric conditions, excessive vibrations or power failure; 6. vi) There are medical alerts. "False Alarm Fee" means the fee or fees set out in Schedule "A" and forming part of this Bylaw. "Keyholder" means a person, capable of gaining access to or securing the premises containing an alarm system, and who has been named by an owner or occupier as a person who can be contacted in the event of an alarm from an alarm system. "Panic Alarm" includes but is not limited to an alarm system installed on the premises that is designed to notify or alert the immediate occurrence of a robbery, burglary, active shooting, hostage situation, or violent or similar offence. "Police" means the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Castlegar Detachment. "Premises" means any building, structure, commercial property, or facility of any kind ## Operation and Maintenance of Alarm Systems - 3) The owner or occupier of a premises where an Alarm System has been installed must ensure the maintenance, proper use and operation of that Alarm System. - 4) No Alarm System Provider shall report an alarm to the RCMP unless a representative of the Alarm System Provider has first placed a telephone call to the premises or to the appropriate contact person to determine whether the alarm is valid.  ## False Alarms - 5) No owner or occupier of real property where an Alarm System is installed shall cause or allow a False Alarm to occur on the property. - 6) An owner or occupier of premises is guilty of an offence under this Bylaw, where an Alarm System is installed and Excessive False Alarms occur. ## Contact Information - 7) Every owner or occupier of premises at which an Alarm System is installed must provide the names of at least three Keyholders to the Alarm System Provider. - 8) The owner or occupier of premises where an Alarm System is installed and alerts an Alarm System Provider must ensure that the Alarm System Provider is provided with current contact information for Keyholders who are required to attend the premises. The owner or occupier must ensure contact information is maintained and updated. - 9) The owner or occupier of premises is prohibited from designating the RCMP as a Keyholder. - 10) The owner or occupier of premises must provide a Keyholder to be available to attend the premises, when an Alarm has caused the RCMP to respond, within 15 minutes of being requested by the Alarm System Provider or RCMP. ## Offence and Penalty - 11) A person who violates a provision of this Bylaw, or who permits any act or thing to be done in violation of any provision of this Bylaw, or who neglects to or refrains from doing anything required to be done by any provision of this Bylaw is guilty of an offence against this Bylaw and is liable to the penalties imposed under this Bylaw. - 12) Pursuant to Section 258 of the Community Charter, a fee required to be paid by this Bylaw which remains unpaid after December 31 of the calendar year, will be added to and form part of the property taxes in arrears on the subject property. ## Severability - 13) If any portion of this Bylaw is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this bylaw. - 14) In this Bylaw, references to statutes, regulations, bylaws or policies, positions, titles or ministries include the same, as they may be from time to time, amended, replaced or succeeded by.  ## Repeal Security Alarm System Bylaw No. 767, 1996 and all amendments to are hereby repealed. READ A FIRST TIME this 19th day of May 2026 READ A SECOND TIME this 19th day of May 2026 READ A THIRD TIME this 19th day of May 2026 ADOPTED this 1s' day of June 2026.   Mayor Director of Corporate Services