Alarm Permits and Renewals

In accordance with City of Champaign municipal code, residents and businesses within Champaign City limits are required to annually register their alarm systems. Any alarm system or equipment designed to provide audible, mechanical, or electrical signal which indicates a disturbance or other activity that requires urgent attention, is required to obtain a permit.

The City of Champaign and Champaign Police see the alarm registration and tracking as an added strength to public safety as false alarms have shown to make up approximately 3.5 percent of CPD’s total calls for service.  These calls can be costly and a hazard to the city in that they divert police officers from proactive crime prevention efforts and delay response to calls that may be true emergencies.  The City would like to see a reduction in these numbers to give more opportunity for officer engagement and actual emergency response.

Alarm registrations and renewals may be done in three ways:


Code 1985 Chapter 4 – Alarm Systems was approved by the Champaign City Council in March 2015 and serves to reduce the false alarm costs to the City and its citizens. The City has contracted with third-party vendor, “PMAM Corp.” to manage the alarm permits and false alarms tracking.

Residents receiving an annual renewal letter that includes billing error are directed to contact Champaign Police representative, Lt. Andre Davis at 217-403-6926.