SB169 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Alarm system, battery charged fenses, defined, counties and mun. authority limited

Summary

The bill defines a battery-charged fence used with an alarm system and restricts local governments from adding extra rules or fees for installing or using it.

What This Bill Does

It creates a formal definition of a battery-charged fence and lists the conditions it must meet, including height, warning signs, and electrical specs. The fence must connect to a monitored alarm and be on property not exclusively for residential use. It blocks municipalities or counties from requiring additional permits or fees, or from imposing inconsistent installation rules, or prohibiting the fence. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted and approved by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Property owners or tenants who install a battery-charged fence as part of an alarm system; they would need to meet the defined specifications and would not face additional local permit fees beyond the general alarm permit.
• Municipalities and counties (local governments) and alarm system regulators; they would be limited in regulating these fences and could not impose extra permits/fees, add conflicting installation rules, or prohibit the fence.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'battery-charged fence' as part of an alarm system with a fence and energizer powered by a commercial storage battery (not more than 12 volts DC) that produces a short electric pulse on contact and interfaces with a monitored alarm to summon authorities.
• Requires the fence to be located on property not exclusively residential, have an energizer meeting IEC standards, be surrounded by a non-electric fence/wall at least 5 feet high, be at least 10 feet tall, and be at least 2 feet higher than the non-electric boundary fence or wall, with conspicuous warning signs every up to 40 feet reading 'WARNING-ELECTRIC FENCE.'
• Prohibits municipalities or counties from requiring an extra permit or fee for the battery-charged fence beyond the general alarm permit, from imposing installation/operational requirements inconsistent with the act, or from prohibiting the installation or use of the fence.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after the bill is passed and approved by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alarms