§ 12-121. Definitions.

For purposes of this article, the word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. As used in this article and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the terms and phrases defined in section 15-20 of this Code shall have the meanings therein ascribed, and the following terms and phrases and their derivations shall have the meanings herein ascribed:

(a)

Access box shall mean a secure box of a type approved by the fire chief within which keys, cards or other implements or devices for gaining immediate and unforced access to an alarm system location may be stored, and which can be unlocked using the access box master key maintained by the fire department.

(b)

Agency shall mean the sheriff's office or the fire department.

(c)

Alarm signal shall mean the sound, signal or message produced or transmitted by an alarm system or an audible alarm to provide an alert that an event the alarm system or audible alarm is intended to signal or detect has occurred.

(d)

Alarm system shall mean any mechanical, electrical or radio-controlled device or signaling device, or any combination of mechanical, electrical or radio-controlled devices or signaling devices designed or used to signal or detect a fire, robbery, burglary, unauthorized entry or medical emergency, including any fire alarm or audible alarm.

(e)

Alarm system contracting shall mean engaging in the business of laying out, fabricating, installing, maintaining, altering, repairing, monitoring, inspecting, replacing, modifying or servicing of any alarm system for compensation if a license is required therefor.

(f)

Alarm system contractor shall mean any person holding a license.

(g)

Alarm system location shall mean the site at which any alarm system has been installed or at which any equipment has been located or installed that produces any alarm signal.

(h)

Alarm user shall mean any person in control of any building, structure or facility or appurtenance thereof wherein an alarm system is maintained.

(i)

Audible alarm shall mean a device designed for the detection of fire or smoke or of unauthorized entry on premises which generates an audible sound when activated.

(j)

Authorized, with respect to a classification, shall mean authorized under a particular license issued pursuant to Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, and the ordinances and codes of the county.

(k)

Building department shall mean the county's building department.

(l)

Classification shall mean any of the several types or classifications provided under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, or established by rule of the state board or by the ordinances and codes of the county under which a person may engage in alarm system contracting.

(m)

County shall mean Clay County, Florida.

(n)

County manager shall mean the county manager of the county.

(o)

Current, with respect to a decal, a permit, a statewide certificate or a registration, shall mean valid, unexpired and not suspended or revoked.

(p)

Decal shall mean the decal for an alarm system required pursuant to section 12-125.

(q)

DBPR shall mean the state's department of business and professional regulation.

(r)

False alarm shall mean an alarm signal caused by the mechanical or electrical failure, malfunction or improper installation of an alarm system or audible alarm, or by the willful act or negligence of an alarm user or a lessee, licensee, invitee, employee or agent thereof, or by any other cause, resulting in a response by an agency to the alarm system location if the condition that the alarm system is designed to signal or detect at the alarm system location does not in fact exist, or if such condition exists but the agency receiving the alarm signal or audible alarm and responding to the alarm system location is not the responsible agency with respect to the type of condition that the alarm system or audible alarm is designed to signal or detect; provided, a false alarm shall not include any alarm signal caused by a telephone line malfunction, by a transient meteorological phenomenon, by an electrical power interruption, or by an alarm system test conducted pursuant to section 12-126.

(s)

Fire alarm shall mean an alarm system or part thereof designed to signal when manually activated, or to detect and signal automatically, the presence of fire, products of combustion, smoke or any other fire signature, or the activation of a sprinkler or other fire suppression system.

(t)

Fire chief shall mean the fire chief of the county or his or her designee.

(u)

Fire department shall mean the fire/rescue division of the county's department of public safety.

(v)

Keyholder shall mean an individual designated by an alarm user to be responsible for responding to an alarm signal from an alarm system location within thirty minutes after being requested to do so by an agency who has the authority and means to enter such alarm system location and gain access to the controls for each alarm system maintained thereon, and who has the training, knowledge and information required to deactivate or reset the same.

(w)

License shall mean a current statewide certificate or a current registration.

(x)

Monitoring service shall mean any person providing services for compensation by which an alarm system is monitored from a remote location for the receipt of an alarm signal from such alarm system.

(y)

Permit shall mean a current permit issued by the building department under applicable state law and ordinances and codes of the county authorizing specific alarm system contracting services at a particular alarm system location.

(z)

Person shall mean any natural person or firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

(aa)

Registration shall mean a registration issued by the DBPR pursuant to section 489.515(2), Florida Statutes, evidencing the authority of a person to engage in an authorized classification of alarm system contracting within the county.

(bb)

Responsible agency shall mean the sheriff's office with respect to law enforcement matters, and the fire department with respect to fire and emergency medical matters.

(cc)

Revoke, with respect to a decal, shall mean declare and render the status of the same as no longer current.

(dd)

Sheriff shall mean the sheriff of the county or his or her deputy or designated representative.

(ee)

State shall mean the State of Florida.

(ff)

State board shall mean the electrical contractors' licensing board created under section 489.507, Florida Statutes.

(gg)

Statewide certificate shall mean a certificate of competency issued by the DBPR pursuant to section 489.515(1), Florida Statutes, evidencing the authority of a person to engage in an authorized classification of alarm system contracting throughout the state.

(hh)

Subscriber shall mean a person who buys, leases or otherwise maintains or operates an alarm system and has an agreement with a monitoring service therefor or with an alarm system contractor for the monitoring or servicing thereof.

(ii)

Telephone alarm device shall mean any device which, when activated, automatically transmits by telephone line a recorded alarm signal to any telephone device.

(jj)

Unincorporated area shall mean the unincorporated area of the county.

(Ord. No. 91-40, § 2(1), 6-18-91; Ord. No. 2002-14, § 1, 3-12-02)