Laguna Niguel council adopts $209 false‑alarm fee to match Orange County policy

The Laguna Niguel City Council on Aug. 19 voted 5‑0 to adopt a resolution updating the city’s fee for responses to security‑system false alarms to $209 per occurrence, matching a fee the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved June 24 and which took effect July 1.
Assistant City Manager Martin told the council the Orange County Sheriff’s Department charges the fee when it responds to a third or subsequent false alarm at the same residence or business in a calendar year, or when a false alarm is intentionally triggered. The fee is intended to reduce false alarms, preserve law‑enforcement resources for real emergencies and recover costs of repeated responses. The sheriff’s department collects the fees on the city’s behalf and applies the total collected as a credit to the city’s annual contract for services.
Staff recommended that the council adopt Resolution 2025‑1510 to align the city’s fee with the county’s updated amount. Mayor Pro Tem Johns moved to approve the staff recommendation; Council Member Otto seconded. The resolution passed unanimously.
Why this matters: The fee change is administrative but material for residents and businesses that trigger repeat alarms; aligning with the county simplifies collection and ensures the city’s contract reflects full cost recovery as determined by the sheriff’s cost study.
Additional details: Assistant City Manager Martin said the $209 figure comes from a 2025 sheriff’s department cost study. Because the county’s fee had already been adopted at the county level, contract cities must take their own formal action to adopt the same schedule. Council members asked clarifying questions and opened the public hearing; no members of the public asked to speak during the hearing. The resolution was adopted during the meeting.