by Terri Wiebold

The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association has received several inquiries about the Douglas County Alarm Ordinance that became effective in March of 2008.  Alarm companies have been educated about the enforcement of the ordinance and they are starting to bill CPN residents for the $40 annual registration fee.

Residents of CPN who have a monitored alarm system ARE required to pay this ordinance fee.  Only incorporated cities that have a separate police force to respond to these alarms (Parker, Lone Tree, etc.) are exempt from the ordinance.   Even though Castle Pines North is an incorporated city, it still contracts with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for police services, and thus must pay for these alarm services.

What About the Senior Exemption?

An exemption for the reduction of the registration fee to the Alarm Ordinance is available to qualifying senior citizens for residential properties.  Qualifying seniors can apply for the exemption on only one property.  The three basic requirements are: 1) the qualifying senior must be at least 65 years of age on January 1 of the year which he or she qualifies; 2) the qualifying senior must be the owner of the residence OR reside at that location as the principal tenant; 3) the qualifying senior must occupy the residence as his or her primary residence.

For those who qualify, the exemption reduces the registration fee from $40 to the actual cost of the registration to the Alarm Administrator.  The qualifying senior will be eligible to pay the reduced registration fee for the first two alarms.  However, seniors are subject to all other applicable section requirements of the ordinance.

For more information about the senior exemption or to view the alarm in its entirety, go to www.dcsheriff.net and view Ordinance O-007-004.  The senior exemption can be found in Section 6 of the Ordinance, and is viewable as a separate pdf on the website. 

Additional information can also be found at
http://www.cpnhoa.org/pages/news/articles/2008/qtr2/connection/alarm.htm or by calling the Public Safety Corporation at 1-866-562-9413 or DCSO Deputy Ron Hanavan at 303-660-7544.