How to Choose a Home Alarm Installer: A Homeowner Guide

Check the company's state license first. In Texas, alarm companies and their installers are licensed by the Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program. In Florida, alarm contractors are licensed by the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board at DBPR. Then ask your city or sheriff whether your alarm needs a permit, and read the monitoring contract's length and cancellation terms before you sign.

Key facts

Texas law treats anyone who sells, installs, services or monitors an alarm system as an alarm systems company that needs a state license.
In Texas, an individual alarm installer or alarm monitor needs an individual license and must work for a licensed company.
Florida's Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board licenses both electrical contractors and alarm contractors.
A Florida Alarm System Contractor I can work on all alarm types, including fire alarms, while an Alarm System Contractor II covers all alarm types other than fire.
Florida law requires a monitoring company to try to confirm a burglar alarm with the owner or occupant before asking police to respond, and to try a second time if the first attempt fails.
The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives buyers three business days to cancel a deal signed in their home.
Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville all require alarm users to get a permit or register with police. Tampa says it does not require alarm permits.

Who licenses alarm and security camera companies?

Alarm work is licensed by the state, and Texas and Florida use different agencies.

In Texas, the Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program licenses alarm companies. State law says a person acts as an alarm systems company if it sells, installs, services or monitors an alarm system or detection device (Occupations Code 1702.105). Individual alarm installers and monitors need their own license and must be employed by a licensed company (1702.221).

In Florida, the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board licenses alarm contractors. Certified alarm contractors can work anywhere in the state. Registered contractors can work only where they hold a local license.

Why does a home alarm need a city permit?

Many cities treat police response to alarms as a regulated service because most alarm calls are false. The City of Miami's alarm unit says over 80 percent of false alarms come from human error.

So most large Texas and Florida cities require the alarm user, meaning the homeowner or renter, to get a permit or register the alarm with police. Houston, for example, charges more for a false alarm at a home without a permit, and many cities charge fees after a set number of false alarms in a year.

The permit is usually your job, not the installer's. Ask the installer which agency covers your address, because the rules differ between a city and the unincorporated county around it.

How does an alarm get from your house to the police?

A monitored alarm sends a signal to a monitoring center. Staff there decide whether to call police.

Florida law spells out that step. Before calling police for a burglar alarm, the monitoring company must try to confirm the alarm with the owner, occupant or a designee by call, text or other electronic means, and try a second time if the first attempt fails. Confirmation is not required when the alarm has a working video or audio sensor that lets the monitor verify it (Florida Statutes 489.529).

Keep your contact list current with the monitoring company. A wrong phone number can mean a dispatch you didn't need, or a delay you didn't want.

What should a home security contract say?

The FTC advises getting every promise the salesperson makes into the written contract (FTC consumer advice). Check how long the monitoring contract runs, what happens if you cancel early, and what happens if you move.

Be careful with offers of free equipment. The FTC notes these can come with a long, costly monitoring contract.

If you sign at home, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you three business days to cancel, and the seller must give you a cancellation form.

What door-to-door tactics should you watch for?

The FTC warns that salespeople may knock on doors pitching home security systems. Don't let anyone pressure their way into your home.

Ask for identification and the company's license number, and check it on the state lookup yourself. If someone says they are from your current alarm company, call that company at the number on your bill before you let them touch the panel.

How to choose a provider

Get the company's state license number and check it on the official lookup (Texas DPS TOPS or Florida DBPR).
In Texas, ask that the technician who installs the system show an individual DPS license.
In Florida, confirm the license class covers your job: fire alarms need an Alarm System Contractor I.
Ask who monitors the system and how the monitoring center confirms an alarm before calling police.
Find out whether your city or county requires an alarm permit or registration, and who files it.
Read the contract term, early cancellation terms and what happens if you move.
Make sure every verbal promise is written into the contract.
Keep the three-day cancellation form if you sign at home.

Home alarm and security systems guides by state and city

Questions people ask

Does a home alarm installer need a license?

In Texas, yes. Alarm companies are licensed by the Department of Public Safety's Private Security Program, and individual installers need their own license. In Florida, alarm contractors are licensed by the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board at DBPR.

Do I need a permit for my home alarm?

Often, yes. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville require a permit or registration. Tampa says it does not require one. Check with the police department or sheriff that serves your address.

Do security cameras need a permit?

It depends on the city. San Antonio says homes with only self-monitoring cameras do not need an alarm permit. If cameras are part of a monitored alarm, the alarm rules usually apply.

Will police respond to every alarm?

Not always. Some cities can stop responding after repeated false alarms. Houston says permits can be revoked with no response after the seventh false burglar alarm in a year.

Can I cancel a security contract I signed at home?

The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you three business days to cancel a contract signed in your home. The seller must give you a cancellation form.

What causes most false alarms?

The City of Miami's alarm unit says over 80 percent of false alarms come from human error, and half of those happen when the alarm is being turned on or off. Training everyone in the house helps.

Sources

This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.

How do you choose a home alarm and security camera installer?