If your home or business sits in unincorporated Travis County — outside Austin city limits and outside every other city in the county — your alarm permit comes from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, not from a city hall. Inside Austin city limits the rules, the fees and the fines are different, and our City of Austin alarm permit guide covers that one. Here is what the county permit costs, how to get it, and what a false alarm runs you. Current as of September 2026.
Does Travis County require an alarm permit?
Yes. Under Chapter 68: Travis County Sheriff’s Office Alarm System Rules and Procedures, any residence or business with an alarm system inside the Sheriff’s jurisdiction has to hold a permit. The Sheriff’s Office publishes a Sheriff district map so you can check whether your address falls inside that jurisdiction before you pay anything.
If you live in Travis County but inside the city limits of Austin, Pflugerville, Lago Vista, Jonestown or another incorporated city, that city runs its own permit program and the county permit does not cover you. The Sheriff’s Office tells those residents to contact their local police department. If that city is Austin, start with our City of Austin alarm permit guide.
How much does a Travis County alarm permit cost?
- Residential: $50
- Business: $110
A Travis County permit is valid from the date it is issued through December 31, and renewal is due by January 1 — so a permit bought in November is still up for renewal in January. Fees are not prorated and the permit is not transferable, so a buyer who takes over your house buys their own. The county also asks that you keep the permit on-site.
How many false alarms are allowed in Travis County?
Five, per permit. After that the Sheriff’s Office bills you.
| False alarms on your permit | What it costs |
|---|---|
| First 5 | No charge |
| 6th and every one after | $75 each |
| Running an alarm with no permit | Class C misdemeanor, fine up to $500 |
The county is not being petty about it. TCSO says up to 95% of the alarm calls its deputies respond to are false, and every one of those pulls a deputy off patrol. A permit puts your address, your gate code and your callback numbers in front of dispatch so a real alarm gets handled like a real alarm.
What do you need before you apply?
- The alarm site address, plus the gate code if you are behind a gate (not your alarm code)
- A mailing address, if it is different from the alarm site
- Email addresses and phone numbers for the people who should be called
- Your alarm company’s name — and make sure that company has the same contact info you put on the form
- Your current permit number, if this is a renewal
How to apply for your Travis County alarm permit
- Check your jurisdiction first on the Sheriff district map. City addresses get sent back.
- Apply online. The online alarm permit application is linked from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office alarm permits page. You will get an email from TCSOAlarm@traviscountytx.gov within two business days with your permit number and payment instructions.
- Or mail it in. Fill out the Travis County alarm permit application (PDF) and send it with a check or money order payable to Travis County to: Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Alarm Permit, P.O. Box 459, Del Valle, TX 78617.
- Or walk it in. 5555 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed on county holidays.
- Watch for the permit. It is emailed or mailed to you within 10 business days. Questions go to the alarm unit at 512-854-4768.
What the county expects from your system
- Your siren must have a 30-minute shut-off. It cannot just run.
- You, or somebody you name, has to be able to deactivate and reset the alarm.
- Maintaining the system and training everyone who uses it is on the permit holder — that includes house sitters, cleaners and the kids.
- Renew by January 1. An expired permit puts you right back in the unpermitted column.
City, county, or Williamson County?
An Austin mailing address and an Austin zip code do not mean you are inside Austin city limits. Plenty of homes off 620, out past Manor, around Lake Travis and along the western edge of the county carry an Austin address and answer to the Sheriff. That is who this guide is for. If the map says you are inside the city, use the City of Austin alarm permit guide instead.
And if you are up around Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown or Leander, check the county line before you check the city line — Williamson County runs its own alarm permit through the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office for the unincorporated parts of that county, at $25 for two years, with each of those cities permitting inside its own limits.
Not sure which line you are on? Ask us. We pull the right permit paperwork for every install we do in the Austin area, and it takes about a minute to look up.
Related guides
- City of Austin alarm permit guide
- Austin home security
- Bexar County alarm permit guide
- No-contract home security
Get set up right — permit and all
When Alamo Smart Home installs your system, we walk you through registering the right permit — city or county — so you are covered from day one. We have a dedicated Austin team, our technicians are salaried Alamo employees, and monitoring starts at $19.99/mo with no required contract. Texas licensed, #B05229001. Call (210) 625-6575 for a free on-site quote.
Travis County alarm permit FAQ
Do I need a Travis County alarm permit if I live in Austin?
No. Inside Austin city limits you need a City of Austin alarm permit instead — see our City of Austin alarm permit guide. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office permit covers unincorporated Travis County only. Check the Sheriff’s district map if you are not sure which side of the line your address falls on.
How much is a Travis County alarm permit?
$50 for a residential permit and $110 for a business permit, per the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The permit is good from the date it is issued through December 31 and has to be renewed by January 1. Fees are not prorated, so a permit issued late in the year still comes up for renewal in January.
How many false alarms are allowed in Travis County?
Five free false alarms per permit. Every false alarm after the fifth is billed at $75. Operating an alarm system in unincorporated Travis County without a permit at all is a Class C misdemeanor under the county rules, with a fine of up to $500 — which is why the $50 permit is the cheap part.
Who issues alarm permits in unincorporated Travis County?
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office, under Chapter 68: Travis County Sheriff’s Office Alarm System Rules and Procedures. Not the City of Austin, and not Austin Police. You can apply online through the Sheriff’s alarm permits page, mail the application to P.O. Box 459, Del Valle, TX 78617, or bring it to 5555 Airport Blvd.
How do I know if my address is in unincorporated Travis County?
An Austin mailing address does not settle it. The Sheriff’s Office publishes a district map showing its jurisdiction, and the City of Austin publishes a jurisdiction map on its Alarm Administration page. Homes around Lake Travis, out past Manor and along 620 often carry an Austin address and still answer to the Sheriff.
Does my alarm company handle the permit for me?
Some do, most do not. When Alamo Smart Home installs your system we walk you through registering it with the right agency — city or county — and we make sure your alarm company contact details match what you put on the permit, since the Sheriff’s Office asks for that. Call us at (210) 625-6575 with permit questions any time.