Rhode Island General Laws Title 5. Businesses and Professions § 5-57-38. Local governmental regulations of alarm business or alarm agents

(a) On September 1, 1977, no local governmental subdivision within this state shall enact any ordinance or promulgate any rules or regulations relating to the licensing of alarm businesses, alarm agents, or other individuals required to obtain an I.D. card under this chapter.

(b) Sixty (60) days after September 1, 1977, any provision of any legislation or rules or regulations of any local governmental subdivision within the state requiring the licensing of an alarm business or requiring that alarm agents or other individuals employed by or associated with an alarm business obtain I.D. cards are no longer effective.

(c) The provisions of this chapter are not intended to and do not prevent the legally constituted authority of any local governmental subdivision within the state by legislation, rules, or regulations, and within the police power of that local governmental subdivision, from requiring alarm businesses and/or alarm agents to register their names, addresses, and license certificate number or I.D. card number with the local governmental subdivision within which they operate. Those local governmental subdivisions may also require that alarm businesses and alarm agents shall be given reasonable notice of termination or suspension of licenses and I.D. cards. No fee may be charged nor may any application be required by any local governmental subdivision for that registration.

(d) Although this chapter preempts local governmental subdivisions from enacting any licensing legislation or promulgating licensing rules or regulations applicable to alarm business or alarm agents, local governmental authorities may, by legislation or reasonable rules or regulations, require alarm system users in their jurisdiction to obtain a permit at the time of installation and fix a nominal fee for those permits; those fees shall not exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00).