A. Any locality may by ordinance regulate the installation and maintenance of alarm systems operated by alarm company operators.
B. As used in this section:
"Alarm company operator" means and includes any business operated for profit, engaged in the installation, maintenance, alteration, or servicing of alarm systems or which responds to such alarm systems. Such term, however, shall not include alarm systems maintained by governmental agencies or departments, nor shall it include a business which merely sells from a fixed location or manufactures alarm systems unless such business services, installs, monitors or responds to alarm systems at the protected premises.
"Alarm system" means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or firefighters are expected to respond. Such system may be installed, maintained, altered or serviced by an alarm company operator in both commercial and residential premises.
"Battery-charged fence security system" means a system intended for security that includes a fence, a battery-operated energizer connected to the fence and designed to periodically deliver voltage impulses to the fence, a battery-charging device used exclusively to charge the battery, and any other ancillary components and attached equipment. "Battery-charged fence security system" does not include fencing engineered to exclude or contain deer or livestock.
C. 1. Any battery-charged fence security system shall (i) interface with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the system to transmit a signal intended to alert the owner or law enforcement; (ii) have an energizer powered by a commercial storage battery that provides not more than 12 volts of direct current and meets the standards set forth in the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335-2-76; (iii) be located behind a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is at least five feet tall; (iv) be on property not zoned for residential use; (v) not be taller than 10 feet or two feet taller than the height of the perimeter fence or wall, whichever is taller; (vi) be marked with warning signs posted conspicuously on the fence at 30-foot intervals that state "Warning - Electric Fence"; and (vii) include a mechanism that allows first responders to deactivate the system during an emergency.
2. A locality may require: (i) a person who provides or operates a battery-charged fence security system to comply with this subsection; (ii) a person who provides or operates a battery-charged fence security system to comply with the ministerial requirements of an alarm company operator, including a permit or registration and payment of any accompanying fee, prior to providing or operating such battery-charged fence security system; and (iii) an installer, on completion of a newly installed battery-charged fence security system, to submit to the locality an affidavit that includes the address of the installation, name of the installer, date of the installation, and an affirmation that the criteria in this subsection are satisfied.
3. A locality may inspect a newly installed battery-charged fence security system after receipt of an affidavit to ensure the system meets the requirements of this subsection. If the battery-charged fence security system fails to comply with the criteria set forth in this subsection, the locality may issue a citation describing the specific noncompliance and requiring the battery-charged fence security system to come into compliance within a reasonable period of time. The locality may also impose a penalty not to exceed $500 for the first instance if the battery-charged fence security system is not made compliant within the specified period of time.
4. If a battery-charged fence security system meets the requirements of subdivision 1, then a locality shall not establish or otherwise impose any product, installation, or operational requirements, fees, or approvals for a battery-charged fence security system nor prohibit the use of such a system.
1978, c. 587, § 15.1-28.2; 1997, c. 587; 2022, cc. 43, 44.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 9 - General Powers of Local Governments
§ 15.2-900. Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs
§ 15.2-901.1. Locality may provide for control of running bamboo; civil penalty
§ 15.2-902. Authority of locality to control certain noxious weeds
§ 15.2-906. Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures
§ 15.2-910. Ordinance certifying boiler and pressure vessel operators; penalty
§ 15.2-911. Regulation of alarm company operators
§ 15.2-912. Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons; definition; exception
§ 15.2-912.1. Regulation of martial arts instruction
§ 15.2-912.2. Proceeds exempt from local taxation
§ 15.2-912.3. Regulation of dance halls by counties, cities, and towns
§ 15.2-913. Ordinances regulating certain vendors
§ 15.2-914. Regulation of child-care services and facilities in cities and certain counties
§ 15.2-915. Control of firearms; applicability to authorities and local governmental agencies
§ 15.2-915.2. Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun
§ 15.2-915.4. Counties, cities and towns authorized to regulate use of pneumatic guns
§ 15.2-915.5. Disposition of firearms acquired by localities
§ 15.2-917. Applicability of local noise ordinances to certain sport shooting ranges
§ 15.2-918. Locality may prohibit or regulate use of air cannons
§ 15.2-920. Regulation of outdoor lighting near certain facilities
§ 15.2-921. Ordinances requiring fencing of swimming pools
§ 15.2-922. Smoke alarms in certain buildings
§ 15.2-922.1. Regulating or prohibiting the making of fires
§ 15.2-922.2. Special fee for emergency services in certain counties
§ 15.2-923. Local water-saving ordinances
§ 15.2-924. Water supply emergency ordinances
§ 15.2-925.1. Local notifications
§ 15.2-926. Prohibiting loitering; frequenting amusements and curfew for minors; penalty
§ 15.2-926.1. Bounties for coyotes
§ 15.2-926.2. Adoption of ordinances prohibiting obscenity
§ 15.2-926.3. Local regulation of certain aircraft
§ 15.2-926.4. Regulation of smoking in outdoor amphitheater or concert venue; civil penalty
§ 15.2-927. Garbage and refuse disposal
§ 15.2-928. Local recycling and waste disposal; powers; penalties
§ 15.2-929. Solid waste management facility siting approval
§ 15.2-934. Displacement of private waste companies
§ 15.2-935. Authority to prohibit placement of leaves or grass clippings in landfills
§ 15.2-936. Garbage and refuse disposal; fee exemption
§ 15.2-937. Separation of solid waste
§ 15.2-938. Preference for purchase of recycled paper and paper products
§ 15.2-939. Ordinances requiring recycling reports
§ 15.2-940. Expenditures for promoting resources and advantages of locality
§ 15.2-941. Participation by local government in certain loan programs
§ 15.2-941.1. Creation of abandoned school revitalization zones
§ 15.2-942. Local government participation in certain events
§ 15.2-943. Operation and maintenance of living historical farm museums
§ 15.2-943.1. Creation of arts and cultural districts
§ 15.2-944. Authority to acquire and preserve places and things of historical interest
§ 15.2-944.1. Notification prior to sale or transfer of ownership of certain historic properties
§ 15.2-945. Acquisition and housing of relics, paintings, carvings, sculpture and other works of art
§ 15.2-946. Regulation of tour guides and tourist guides
§ 15.2-947. Systems of public transportation for certain counties or cities
§ 15.2-948. Locality may designate continuing source of revenue for mass transit
§ 15.2-949. Shared ride taxi systems, etc.; nonprofit vanpools
§ 15.2-951. Acquisition, disposition and use of personal property by localities generally
§ 15.2-952. Political subdivisions may acquire property from United States
§ 15.2-954. Loans to volunteer firefighting and rescue organizations
§ 15.2-956. Participation in certain federal development programs
§ 15.2-957. Participation by localities in certain leasing programs
§ 15.2-958.1. Sale of certain property in certain cities
§ 15.2-958.2. Grants for homeownership; workforce housing
§ 15.2-958.2:01. Grants for certain corporations and pass-through entities
§ 15.2-958.3. Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing programs
§ 15.2-958.3:1. Local green banks
§ 15.2-958.4. Waiver of certain fees for affordable housing
§ 15.2-958.5. Local funding for community revitalization
§ 15.2-958.6. Financing the repair of failed septic systems
§ 15.2-960. Planting of trees destroyed during construction
§ 15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process in certain localities
§ 15.2-961.2. Conservation of trees; notice of infill lot grading plan
§ 15.2-961.3. Replacement of trees during development process in localities
§ 15.2-962. Authority to require a unified geographic information system for a locality
§ 15.2-963. Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers and duties
§ 15.2-965. Human rights ordinances and commissions
§ 15.2-965.1. Participation of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses
§ 15.2-965.2. Enhancement of micro-business participation in local procurement
§ 15.2-966. Establishment and operation of educational television stations
§ 15.2-966.1. Establishment of primary health care facility for employees of locality
§ 15.2-967. Parking facilities
§ 15.2-967.1. Regulation of certain transportation services
§ 15.2-967.2. Electric vehicle charging stations
§ 15.2-968. Regulation of parking of vehicles within boundaries of state-supported institutions
§ 15.2-968.01. Parking in certain residential areas
§ 15.2-968.1. Use of photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals
§ 15.2-969. Ordinances prohibiting resale of tickets to certain public events; penalty
§ 15.2-970. Construction of dams, levees, seawalls, etc.; certain proceedings prohibited
§ 15.2-971. Armories and markets; assistance to National Guard
§ 15.2-972. Appropriations for the upkeep of certain cemeteries
§ 15.2-973. Ordinances imposing license taxes on owners of certain motor vehicles
§ 15.2-974. Permits for display of fireworks; use and exhibitions
§ 15.2-975. Use of cash proffers
§ 15.2-977. Green Roof Incentive Programs
§ 15.2-979. Notice of sale under deed of trust
§ 15.2-980. Civil penalties for violations of noise ordinances
§ 15.2-981. Authority to sell dogs trained for police work
§ 15.2-982. Designation of tourism activity zones
§ 15.2-983. Creation of registry for short-term rental of property
§ 15.2-984. Adoption of flood plain ordinances
§ 15.2-985. Disposition of abandoned shopping carts; unauthorized possession; penalties