How many false fire alarms does it take before the owner is charged a fee?
An invoice is issued as of the very first false fire alarm.
How long does it take before a false fire alarm is deleted from the call history at a given address?
A false fire alarm that takes place at least one year after the previous false alarm, is considered to be the first false alarm at that address.
Once a building’s fire alarm system is repaired, what is the deadline to apply for a reimbursement?
The owner has 180 days from the date the last invoice was issued to apply for a reimbursement.
What does an owner need to do to be eligible for a reimbursement?
In order to be eligible for a reimbursement, the owner must either replace or repair their fire alarm system and provide proof of payment.
A representative of the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal must also verify that the fire alarm system is in good working order.
Which factors determine the amount of the fines imposed for false alarms?
Every time the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal responds to a false fire alarm, an invoice is issued to the owner. The amount of the fine is determined according to the category of the building.
| Category | 1st intervention | 2nd intervention | 3rd intervention | 4th intervention + more |
| 1 and 2 | n/a | $ 100 | $ 250 | $ 500 |
| 3 | n/a | $ 250 | $ 750 | $ 2200 |
| 4 | n/a | $ 250 | $ 750 | $ 2700 |
What are the steps to dispute an invoice for a false fire alarm?
You may dispute an invoice by writing to
. Your email must include the following elements:
- The subject line of the email: dispute, incident report, year of response
- The disputed invoice (pictures accepted)
- The reason you are disputing the invoice, along with any pertinent document related to your request (e.g., copy of a police report, initial co-ownership declaration, enterprise register, etc.)
If the false fire alarm is triggered by a third party, whose responsibility is it to pay the response fees?
The owner of the building is deemed responsible for the fire alarm system. They are responsible for paying the fees related to the response by the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal as a result of a false fire alarm.
If you were the victim of an act of vandalism that triggered a fire alarm, you may dispute the fees. A copy of the incident report issued by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal is required.
If the owner carries out the annual maintenance of the fire alarm system, why is it that they still have to pay a fine in case of a false fire alarm?
Even if the annual maintenance is carried out properly, it doesn't mean that construction work, new system failures or an intentional act, to name a few, cannot set off a false fire alarm. The mandatory annual inspection and regular maintenance does not release you from the responsibility of setting off a false fire alarm.
Why does the initial condo association receive all invoices for all phases?
According to the by-law, the person responsible for the fire alarm system must pay the fees for a response by the Service incendie de Montréal following a false alarm. In the case of a residential complex, various condo associations may be operating simultaneously, so the initial association listed in the co-ownership agreement is deemed responsible for the fire alarm system.