What license does a central station alarm monitoring company need?

What license does a central station alarm monitoring company need?

• A. BSIS ACO Alarm Company Operator license only
• B. BSIS ACO Alarm Company Operator license and possibly a state contractors license
• C. State fire marshal license
• D. No license needed

Answer: (B)

In California, the business that operates a central station to monitor alarms must be licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services as an Alarm Company Operator. That license is the baseline permission to run the monitoring and respond to alarm signals on behalf of customers. The “and possibly a state contractors license” part is about scope. If the company sticks to monitoring and dispatch coordination, the Alarm Company Operator license covers it. If they also perform installation, construction, or major service work on alarm systems, they’d need the appropriate state contractor license from the Contractors State License Board. A license from the fire marshal isn’t the licensing path for operating an alarm company, and saying no license is needed isn’t correct.

In California, the business that operates a central station to monitor alarms must be licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services as an Alarm Company Operator. That license is the baseline permission to run the monitoring and respond to alarm signals on behalf of customers. The “and possibly a state contractors license” part is about scope. If the company sticks to monitoring and dispatch coordination, the Alarm Company Operator license covers it. If they also perform installation, construction, or major service work on alarm systems, they’d need the appropriate state contractor license from the Contractors State License Board. A license from the fire marshal isn’t the licensing path for operating an alarm company, and saying no license is needed isn’t correct.