Fire Department Announces New False Fire Alarm Administration Vendor

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Fire Department will begin using a third-party vendor, Alarm Program Systems, LLC, to administer the Arlington County False Fire Alarm Program overseeing the enforcement of false fire alarm activations. The program launched a new website using CitySupport software to facilitate alarm billing and appeals. The transition is intended to provide community members and businesses with a user-friendly website experience while improving the efficiency and communication of the Arlington County False Fire Alarm Program. 

The Fire Department will begin using the new system on July 1, 2026. The Arlington County Police Department previously announced in April their transition to Alarm Program Systems, LLC, to oversee the registration of security alarm systems and enforcement of false alarm activations. 

False Fire Alarm Enforcement 

Any Fire Department response elicited to false fire alarms in commercial, residential*, and industrial occupancies resulting from system malfunctions, equipment malfunctions, cancelled call after dispatch, and/or unintentional activations will result in a fee. This aims to reduce the instances of false fire alarms and increase the availability of personnel and resources to respond to emergencies. 

*Excludes single family homes, duplexes, and town homes. 

Arlington County Code, Chapter 8.1, Fire Prevention Code, § 8.1-12, Fines and costs, Section “B”, authorize the Fire Department – Office of the Fire Marshal to recover or impose fees and penalties for fire department response to the location of a false, faulty, or nuisance alarms.  

B. The fire department shall recover or impose fees and penalties for Fire Department response to the location of a false, faulty, or nuisance alarm. The fees imposed shall be identical to those set forth Table 8.1-12. As used herein, the term “false alarm” also means a faulty or nuisance alarm. A false alarm response fee shall be assessed against the owner, manager, or person in control (as defined herein) of such commercial building, structure, or premises for false alarm responses in excess of two (2) in a six (6) month calculation period, in accordance with the following false alarm response fee schedule. This fee shall be assessed by the Office of the Fire Marshal or authorized 3rd party entity.  

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website for additional information.  

Alarm Program Contact 

888-865-9770 

arlingtonva@citysupport.org