Buford, GA Alarm Ordinance & Alarm Registration Guide

Buford does not have a standalone city alarm ordinance. Under Sec. 26-1(a)(1) of the Buford Code of Ordinances, the city formally adopted Gwinnett County's alarm ordinance — Chapter 34, Article III — by reference, making it fully enforceable within Buford city limits. Gwinnett County Police Department officers handle enforcement, and citations are heard in Gwinnett County Recorder's Court. Here's what the ordinance requires, drawn directly from Gwinnett County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 34, Article III (Ord. No. GCID2022-0774, adopted July 19, 2022).

Buford Alarm Ordinance Overview

Because Buford adopted the Gwinnett County alarm ordinance by reference, all rules, fees, registration requirements, and penalties that apply to Gwinnett County alarm users apply equally to Buford homeowners and businesses. As Sec. 34-58 states, the ordinance's purpose is to "encourage alarm users and alarm companies to properly use and maintain alarm systems and to reduce or eliminate false alarms, which unduly divert law enforcement from responding to actual criminal activity."

The ordinance was fully rewritten effective July 19, 2022 (Ord. No. GCID2022-0774), replacing the prior version entirely. The current rules and fee schedule reflect that 2022 update. Registration is administered by CryWolf, from CentralSquare Technologies, on behalf of the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Violations of Sec. 34-63 may be summoned to Gwinnett County Recorder's Court and upon conviction carry a fine not to exceed $500.00 and imprisonment not to exceed 60 days, or both.

Official Ordinance References:
Buford Code of Ordinances – Sec. 26-1 (County Provisions Adopted by Reference)
Gwinnett County Code of Ordinances – Chapter 34, Article III (Alarm Systems)

Buford Alarm Registration Requirements

Under Sec. 34-60(a): "No alarm user shall operate, or cause to be operated, an alarm system at its alarm site without a valid alarm registration issued by the police department." A separate registration is required for each alarm site address.

The initial registration application must be submitted to the alarm administrator within 30 days after installation or system takeover. Alarm registrations cannot be transferred to another person or alarm site. (Sec. 34-60(c))

The registration application under Sec. 34-60(e) must include:

• Name, complete address, and telephone numbers of the registration holder responsible for maintenance, operation, and payment of any fees assessed
• Classification of the alarm site (residential, apartment, or commercial)
• Classification of each alarm system type (burglary, holdup, duress, panic, or other)
• Complete physical address including any suite, building, or apartment number
• Any dangerous or special conditions present at the alarm site
• Names and contact information for at least two individuals who can receive notification, respond to the alarm site within 30 minutes, and grant access to deactivate the system
• Signed certification from the alarm user confirming installer information, monitoring company, receipt of written operating instructions, and completion of training

Any change to registration information must be reported to the alarm administrator within 30 business days of the change. (Sec. 34-60(g)) Any false statement of material fact in the application is grounds for refusal to issue or revocation of a previously granted registration. (Sec. 34-60(f))

Tenants in commercial or residential complexes must obtain their own registration before operating an alarm system in their unit. Property managers must also obtain a separate registration for any alarm system in common areas. (Sec. 34-60(b))

Official Registration Portal:
Gwinnett County Alarm Registration Portal (CryWolf)

For questions, contact the Gwinnett County Police Department False Alarm Reduction Program at (833) 281-8743 or gwinnettcoga@alarm-billing.com.

Does This Ordinance Apply to My Buford Address?

This registration requirement applies to all properties within the City of Buford city limits. Buford sits at the Gwinnett-Hall county line, so it's worth confirming your jurisdiction before registering.

• Covered under the Gwinnett County ordinance via Buford's adoption: All residential and commercial addresses within the incorporated City of Buford in Gwinnett County, including areas along Buford Drive, Hamilton Mill Road, and the downtown corridor.
• Not covered by this ordinance: Properties in unincorporated Gwinnett County outside Buford city limits follow the Gwinnett County ordinance directly but still use the same CryWolf portal. Properties in Hall County are not subject to this ordinance — Hall County does not currently require alarm registration.

The most reliable way to confirm your jurisdiction is to check your property tax bill. If it shows City of Buford as a taxing entity under Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett County alarm ordinance applies through Buford's formal adoption of it.

Note on Sugar Hill and Suwanee: These neighboring Gwinnett County cities also fall under the Gwinnett County ordinance and use the same CryWolf registration portal. The registration process and fee schedule are identical.

False Alarm Fees & Enforcement in Buford

Under Sec. 34-64, false alarm fees are assessed on a per-calendar-year basis at each alarm site. The fee schedule from the 2022 ordinance update is as follows:

• 1st false alarm in a calendar year: No fee.
• 2nd false alarm in a calendar year: $25.00.
• 3rd false alarm in a calendar year: $50.00.
• 4th false alarm and each subsequent false alarm: $100.00 each.

For unregistered alarm systems: the first false alarm response results in registration instructions only — no fee. Each false alarm thereafter at an unregistered or revoked-registration site carries an additional $25.00 fee per occurrence. (Sec. 34-64(b)) All fees must be paid within 30 days of the notification date.

Inspection and Modification Requirements

The ordinance places escalating obligations on alarm users as false alarms accumulate. Under Sec. 34-62(c):

• After two false alarms in a one-year period from registration date, the alarm user must have an alarm company inspect the system and submit written certification that the system has been inspected and any necessary repairs made.
• After four false alarms in a one-year period, the alarm user must have the alarm company modify the system to be more false alarm resistant and/or provide additional user training.

The alarm administrator may waive an inspection requirement if it determines the false alarms could not have been related to a system defect or malfunction.

Registration Revocation

Under Sec. 34-67, an alarm registration may be revoked if the alarm user accumulates four or more false alarms in a calendar year, fails to comply with the alarm user duties in Sec. 34-62, provides false information in the application, fails to pay fees or fines, or fails to submit required inspection certifications. A written notice of revocation including appeal procedures is sent to the alarm user after the fourth false alarm. (Sec. 34-66(b))

Operating an alarm system during a revocation period is itself a violation subject to the $500.00 criminal penalty provision. (Sec. 34-63(a)(1) and (b))

Reinstatement After Revocation

Under Sec. 34-69, reinstatement requires the alarm user to submit an updated registration application, pay all outstanding fees, provide alarm company certification of repairs, complete the alarm user awareness class, and pay a $100.00 reinstatement fee.

Appealing a False Alarm Fee

Under Sec. 34-68, fees and revocations may be appealed to the alarm administrator within 15 days of the notice date. An appeal fee accompanies the filing: $25.00 for appeals involving up to four false alarm fees, and $50.00 for five or more. The appeal fee is returned if the appeal is successful. Filing an appeal stays the assessment until the administrator makes a decision.

Audible Alarm Auto-Shutoff

Under Sec. 34-62(b), alarm users must ensure their alarm system's exterior audible signal sounds for no longer than ten minutes after activation, or 15 minutes for systems operating under UL standards 365 or 609.

How Enhanced Call Verification Protects Buford Homeowners

The Gwinnett County ordinance's fee structure — escalating from $25 at the second false alarm to $100 at the fourth and beyond, with registration revocation possible after four false alarms in a year — creates a strong financial and practical incentive to avoid unnecessary dispatches. That's where the monitoring process matters.

Callaway's customers are monitored 24/7 by Cen-Signal, a U.L. Listed central monitoring station based in Columbus, Georgia. Before requesting any police dispatch, Cen-Signal works through an Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) process designed to confirm whether a real emergency is occurring — or whether the activation can be cancelled before a response unit is sent.

Two-Call Telephone Verification

When your alarm activates, a Cen-Signal operator immediately calls your primary contact number, then a second alternate number if the first attempt doesn't reach someone who can identify themselves. If an authorized person confirms the alarm is a false activation and provides the account passcode, the alarm is cancelled — no dispatch, no false alarm logged, no fee. If no one can be reached, or if the correct passcode is not provided, dispatch is requested without delay.

Central Station Dispatch Hold Window

Cen-Signal completes the verification sequence within a brief hold window before contacting the Gwinnett County communications center. Every alarm successfully cancelled before a police unit is sent does not count as a false alarm under the Gwinnett County ordinance — and carries no fee. Given that fees start at $25 for the second false alarm and reach $100 from the fourth alarm onward — with revocation possible after four in a calendar year — a monitoring process that prevents even one or two unnecessary dispatches per year has measurable value for Buford homeowners and businesses.

Keep your contact list current and make sure everyone on it knows the account passcode. Under Sec. 34-62(a)(2), you are required to respond to your alarm site within 30 minutes when requested by police. If Cen-Signal cannot reach anyone during verification, dispatch goes out — and your response time obligation begins immediately.

How Callaway Security Helps Buford Homeowners Stay Compliant

Callaway Security has been installing and monitoring alarm systems across the north Atlanta suburbs since 1991. We understand the Gwinnett County ordinance's registration requirements, the 2022 fee schedule, the inspection triggers at two and four false alarms, and what revocation means for a homeowner. We help Buford customers stay ahead of it:

• Professional alarm system installation & 24/7 U.L. Listed monitoring through Cen-Signal
• Guidance on completing your Gwinnett County CryWolf registration within the required 30-day window
• Exterior audible alarm systems configured to comply with the 10-minute auto-shutoff requirement under Sec. 34-62(b)
• Two-call ECV verification on every activation before dispatch is requested
• User training at installation so household members understand proper arm/disarm procedures — the most common source of false alarms
• Keeping your contact list and alternate numbers current so verification works as intended

Have questions about Buford's alarm rules or need compliant monitoring?
Contact Callaway Security Today