Menlo Park Police reinstate alarm response program: Alarm registration required

The Menlo Park Police Department is reinstating its Alarm Response Program effective July 1, 2026, to improve emergency response efficiency, reduce false alarm calls, and ensure accurate contact information during real emergencies. As part of this reinstatement, all Menlo Park residential and commercial alarm systems must be registered annually, beginning July 1 and renewing each fiscal year.

The program is being reinstated in part because the police department previously processed alarm registrations and fee payments manually, which created delays and made it difficult to maintain accurate records. To streamline the process and improve customer service, the City has contracted with a third‑party vendor, Turbo Data, to manage alarm registrations and payments electronically. This modernized system will support faster processing, easier renewals, and more reliable information for emergency responders.

Under the City of Menlo Park Municipal Code, all burglar alarm systems that are overseen by a monitoring company must be registered to ensure the Police Department is notified of such installations.

Beginning July 1, 2026, all residents and commercial property owners with a monitored alarm system are required to register their system with the City of Menlo Park. Registration ensures that emergency responders have up‑to‑date contact information and helps reduce delays during actual emergencies. Alarm registration permits are $50 annually.

Registration details, including instructions and forms, are available online.

In alignment with the City’s recently updated Master Fee Schedule, updated false alarm response fees will take effect on August 1, 2026. These updates support cost recovery for emergency responses and encourage proper system maintenance to reduce excess emergency calls for service.