Ring Alarm Pro mounted on the wall above a console table in a modern home.

Applying for Your Alarm Permit

Obtain an alarm permit after setting up your Ring Alarm if your jurisdiction has permit laws. In some places, authorities will not dispatch emergency responders to your address if you don't have a permit.

Important: If you run a monitored alarm* system without a permit, you may be fined if the police or other emergency service personnel respond to a false alarm.

Types of permits

Depending on the laws in your jurisdiction, you may need:

  • A single alarm permit
    that covers everything for your residence or business.
  • Separate police and fire alarm permits
    if there is no combined option.

How long your permit will be valid

This will vary depending on where you live. Some jurisdictions only require an initial registration. Others may require you to renew your permit on a recurring basis, such as yearly or every other year.

How to get a permit for your Ring Alarm

1. Understand your local permit laws.

Every jurisdiction has different laws for owning and operating a residential or commercial alarm system. Municipalities normally publish these laws on a government or police department website. Each local office has its own permit application process (sometimes called a registration).

When you sign up for professional monitoring* with Ring Alarm, you’ll receive information about whether you need to obtain a permit(s) and how to go about doing so.

It’s your responsibility to know your local alarm laws. Please review this important information:

  • If you live in the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) and have signed up for professional monitoring*
    with Ring Alarm, we'll email you a link to your local alarm ordinances if a permit or registration is needed.
  • If you have not yet signed up for professional monitoring
    ,* you can search online for your local laws or call your local government offices for more information.
  • If you have a permit with a different alarm system and switch to Ring Alarm
    , please let the Ring Permit Team know to avoid duplication.
  • If you move
    , you will need to apply for a new permit.
  • If you add a Smoke & CO Listener* or the First Alert Smoke/CO Alarm
    to your residential Ring Alarm, you may need another permit specifically for fire monitoring.* The application process may be similar to an alarm permit. In some jurisdictions, there may be one permit application for both alarm and smoke/CO monitoring.* Check your local laws.

*Ring Alarm cannot be used to provide professional smoke/CO monitoring* at commercial locations. Learn more here.

2. Get the permit application.

To get a permit, you’ll need to fill out an application provided by your jurisdiction.

  • You may have the option to download, fill out, and
    submit the form online
    .
  • It may be a file that you download, print, fill out, and
    mail
    .
  • In some instances, you may need to
    call a local municipal office
    and ask them to send you a form in the postal mail.

Some local jurisdictions require that Ring requests and fills out the form on your behalf. In this case, we’ll take care of the application for you and update you during the process. You may have to pay fees to complete the process.

3. Fill out the permit application.

Your alarm permit or registration form will ask for specific information about your residence and alarm provider. Each form is unique.

If Ring is filling out the application on your behalf, we’ll use the information you provided during account setup – so be sure everything is accurate. If you need to provide additional information, please contact Ring Support.

Your alarm system registration or permit form may ask for:

  • Property owner’s name.
  • Property owner’s address.
  • Property owner’s phone number.
  • The names and phone numbers of your emergency contacts.
  • Information about the alarm company/provider. Here is the contact information for Ring:
    • Ring Protect Inc.
    • 12515 Cerise Ave,
    • Hawthorne, CA 90250
    • Phone: (800) 656-1918
  • Ring license number, which can be found at
    .
  • Central monitoring station information.

For details about the central monitoring service, please contact Ring Support.

4. Submit the application.

If you are obtaining your own permit, follow the directions on the form or website for your jurisdiction. Sometimes you may be required to submit the form in person at a local municipal office. Remember to include any permit fees.

  • Your town, city, county, or other jurisdiction may charge a permit fee. Alarm registration or permit fees vary in amount and frequency.
  • In some areas, the fee is only charged once, while in other areas it may be assessed every year when you renew the permit.
  • Find the specific requirements for your jurisdiction on the permit form or within your local alarm permit ordinances.

A couple important notes:

  • Your jurisdiction’s permit fee is a separate charge from your Ring Protect subscription.*
  • If a signature is needed for your permit we will mail or email you the form. Please follow the directions, sign the permit application, and mail (or email) the signed form back to us right away.

5. Complete the permit process.

Every jurisdiction handles permit processing differently:

  • You may get a
    physical alarm permit
    in the mail.
  • You may get an
    email confirming
    that your permit has been processed and is on file.
  • You may
    not receive anything
    as confirmation.

If you receive a confirmation containing a permit number and an expiration date, remember to add this information to your Ring account. Sometimes the monitoring center must provide this information to dispatch local authorities.

  • To do so, open your Ring app, go to
    Monitoring Settings
    , and add your permit information.
  • If you live in a jurisdiction that does not require a permit number or an expiration date, you can enter “registered” and leave the expiration date number blank.
  • Keep in mind local jurisdictions may change their ordinances and applications. Reach out to your local police department or city government directly to make sure you have the most current information. Be aware that you may be responsible for updating or renewing your permit when information needs to be changed and if renewal permit fees are required.

Additional notes

  • If your jurisdiction gives you with a permit number and expiration date, you must add it to the Ring app.
  • If you move, you may need to
    reapply
    for a permit in your new local area.
  • If you obtained a
    business alarm permit
    previously for a different alarm system, please email the permit team and let us know to avoid duplication.
  • For more info, click here:

Professional monitoring* licenses are available at: ring.com/licenses.

Using Ring at your business?

* A compatible Ring Protect subscription is required to enroll in the Ring Alarm professional monitoring service. Professional monitoring service is available only within the U.S. (all 50 states, but not U.S. territories) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its own professional monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for commercial properties. See Ring Alarm licenses at: https://www.ring.com/licenses. Additional permit or false alarm fees may apply depending on your local jurisdiction. Additional charges may apply in areas that require permits or guard response service for alarm verification.

Last updated 3 months ago