SHERIFF EMERGENCY ACCESS FOR GATED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES

Ordinance 1170
Sheriff Emergency Access Reimbursement Program Guidelines
Sheriff Emergency Access Reimbursement Request form

See below for details:

ATTENTION: Rancho Mirage Homeowner Associations, Property Management, HOA Board Members, Gated Residential Property Staff

Currently, all gated communities in Rancho Mirage are required to have an emergency access system known as a KNOX box for emergency Fire access. This provision of immediate emergency access is mandated for the Fire Department via the California Fire Code, but such jurisdiction does not extend to the Sheriff’s Department. The California Fire Code does not integrate law enforcement personnel into its KNOX emergency access provisions. With this limited access provision, the Sheriff’s Department often must rely on external personnel to gain access to emergency situations when impeded by gated structures. Sheriff’s personnel are often the first to respond to emergency calls but do not have their own standard method of entry.

On March 19, 2020, the Rancho Mirage City Council passed Ordinance No. 1170 which requires gated communities that restrict entry to provide a Sheriff approved method of immediate access to law enforcement, voiding any method that requires external personnel. The purpose of this new law is to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by streamlining law enforcement’s emergency ingress into gate controlled residential communities. The adopted ordinance takes effect on April 19, 2020, and all existing gated communities have one (1) year, beginning on April 19, 2020, to comply with law enforcement’s access requirements.

The City of Rancho Mirage is also offering a $300 Sheriff Emergency Access Reimbursement Program for each access system installed within the first 6 months. The Reimbursement program is offered with the intention of accelerating the installation of these new systems. In order to receive this reimbursement, applicants must provide to the City of Rancho Mirage a completed application consisting of the following:

1. A complete Reimbursement Request Form.
2. A certification of compliance from the Sheriff’s Department.
3. Expense reports for which you are seeking reimbursement, which may include purchase of hardware and installation expenses.
4. Mail or bring the completed Reimbursement Request form, Sheriff certification, and expense reports to:

Rancho Mirage Sheriff Reimbursement
c/o City of Rancho Mirage
69-825 Highway 111
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

If you have any additional questions regarding how to comply with law enforcement requirements, please contact the Rancho Mirage Sheriff Department’s Crime Prevention Office by calling (760) 836-1600. For questions pertaining to the reimbursement program, please contact Tyler Fowlkes at (760) 324-4511, Ext. 753 or TylerF@RanchoMirageCA.gov.