Texas Alarm Permits

Houston Alarm Permit

Find the permit requirements, fees, and official application for your Houston property.

Last Updated October 13, 2026

Houston official city logo

  • Permit required

    Residential & Non-Residential permits are required for alarm systems, panic systems & fire alarms.

  • $50

    Residential initial fee. Review renewal fees and exceptions below.

  • Residential & business

    Check the fee details for your property and alarm type.

  • Renew annually

    Valid 12 months; notice sent 30 days before expiration. Administrative fee also applies to commercial renewals.

Houston Permit Overview

Houston requires an alarm permit for qualifying systems. Residential $50 without administrative surcharge. Commercial burglar-only or panic-only: $134.28 plus $33.56 administration = $167.84.

Note: On the latest fee schedule PDF from Houston, the combined burglar/panic for non-residential shows a total $335.68, when it looks like it should be $302.12. The city of Houston may be charging double administration fees. Our team has reached out to the city to clarify and will update the fees here if needed.

How to apply

Follow the official application steps below.

  • 1

    Step 1

    Confirm alarm signal types with your alarm company.

  • 2

    Step 2

    Apply and pay online, or mail signed application/payment to City of Houston Burglar Alarm Administration, P.O. Box 203887, Houston, TX 77216-3887.

  • 3

    Step 3

    Give the issued permit number to the monitoring company.

Permit typeInitial feeRenewal feeRenewal frequency
Residential$50$50Annual
Commercial — burglar-only or panic-only$134.28$134.28Annual
Fire Alarm Permit$100.71$67.13Annual

False alarms and important rules

Permitted burglar alarms in preceding 12 months: first 3 free; 4-5 $50 each; 6-7 $75 each; 8+ $100 each. Panic and unpermitted notifications have separate penalties.

Before you apply

Applies to Houston city limits and areas receiving Houston Police alarm response; distinguish Harris County and other municipal permits. Fire permitting is separate.

City names and ZIP codes are starting points. Confirm which agency serves the actual property address before submitting an application.

Frequently asked questions

No. The listed codes are 2020 Census ZCTA/place overlaps, not current USPS address validation. ZIP areas can cross city and county lines. Confirm the agency serving your actual street address before deciding which alarm rules apply.

Your permit is valid for 12 months, with a notice sent 30 days before expiration. Commercial renewals also carry an administrative fee. Confirm combined commercial fees with the city because its 2026 form contains an arithmetic inconsistency.

See the linked official source. Permitted burglar alarms in preceding 12 months: first 3 free; 4-5 $50 each; 6-7 $75 each; 8+ $100 each. Panic and unpermitted notifications have separate penalties.

Official source

For the most up-to-date information, forms, and payment options, visit the official city source below.

Get your Houston permit

Use the official permit service for applications and renewals.

Some official details need confirmation. Review the notes and confirm with the permit office before applying or paying.

Find another city or zip code

Not in Houston? Search for your city to find permit infomration.

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