Amanda Push

Last updated on May 20, 2021

Reviews Report

• The best home security system in Charlotte is SimpliSafe, earning a 4.4 out of 5 based on price, equipment, customer satisfaction, and more.
• The best Charlotte home security camera systems have low monitoring prices, high-quality cameras, and no contract requirements.

In Charlotte, home alarm systems are available for your home’s protection, and we aim to help you make the best decision. We examined Charlotte security systems reviews, monthly prices, professional or DIY monitoring services, up-front costs for equipment, how easy the installation process is, and the overall tech quality of each provider. 

Despite the many options available for home security in Charlotte, North Carolina, we’ve reduced it down to the best packages according to their key components so you can find the most suitable provider for your home. Once you decide on a security system, you’ll be able to better prepare your home’s integrity as well as the safety of your loved ones against the unknown.

The 4 Best Home Security Systems in Charlotte

• SimpliSafe: Most Flexible Charlotte Home Security System
• Ring: Best Charlotte Home Security System for Ease of Use
• Abode: Best Charlotte Home Security System for Budget
• Arlo: Best Charlotte Home Security System for Tech Features

Compare the Best Charlotte Home Security Systems

Information accurate as of February 2021

Home Security in Charlotte: What You Need to Know 

Charlotte, North Carolina, crime statistics

Empowered by partnerships between the City of Charlotte and the Real-Time Crime Center, Charlotte has the second-highest rate of property crime, trailing behind Durham, in the entire state of North Carolina. With a city population of 885,708, residents have a one in 29 chance of being a victim of property crime. Charges that were dropped, or cases that were never prosecuted, are excluded from the statistics. Unsolved murders and unapprehended assailants are not included in the following statistics.

• 14% decrease in overall property crime
• 16% increase in violent crime
• 18% increase in homicide

Research your neighborhood

In Charlotte, the Uptown neighborhood is monitored by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Central Division. With over 20 million visitors each year, the overall growth of the city has enabled neighborhoods like the Fourth Ward as well as Ballantyne to blossom into the most desirable places to call home within the state. Both the Fourth Ward and Ballantyne have experienced a steep increase in commercial growth, totaling over 4 million square feet of office space combined. In this area, there is approximately one police station per square two miles. Rivaled only by the Fourth Ward and Ballantyne, Dilworth is a neighborhood that has become the quintessential suburb with visitors charmed by Victorian-style homes shaded by mature oak trees. The crime rates here have significantly decreased since 2019. To learn more about evaluating the safety of your neighborhood, browse through our resources here. 

Recently enacted, Charlotte County has required all home security systems to be registered in their county database. Incidents where a false alarm occurs are covered in the legislation known as “False Alarm Prevention.” False alarms place hefty costs on first responders, so the county has approved fines for residents responsible for false alarms. 

Rates and fines for each time a first responder is dispatched and responds to a false alarm are as follows:

• First false alarm: Warning
• Second false alarm: Warning
• Third false alarm: $45
• Fourth false alarm: $70
• Fifth false alarm: $95
• Sixth false alarm: Court appearance required for the user

Exceptions include storm surges, natural disasters, and power outages that warranted your alarm system to be triggered.

Register your home security system in Charlotte

For those of you preparing your home for the installation of its security system in Charlotte County, be aware that you are required to register your security system with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Note that you must have access to a printer and print the form mentioned below. Beneath, you will find steps to register your home security system: 

1. You will need to visit the Public Interest page of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
2. Once you reach the page, download and complete their alarm registration form.
3. After entering the appropriate information, print the document.
   1. You may not save this document. Instead, you must print it.
4. After you print the document, mail it to the address listed at the bottom, or turn it on at your local district office. 
   1. If this is your first time registering your home security system, you will be charged $25 as an initial registration fee.
   2. Renewal costs $10 each year and is required for each year.
   3. Late fees are $5 per day, capping at $25.

How to Choose Your Charlotte Home Security System

• Interior/exterior cameras: The most important note for home security systems in Charlotte’s neighborhoods are the weather ratings for exterior cameras. Charlotte can become hot and humid, as well as cold and frozen throughout different periods of the year. Is the camera you hope to install into your new home rated for your climate? Is your exterior camera meant to operate in Charlotte’s highest relative humidity index? Be sure that your home security’s devices that are exposed to the climate may operate within Charlotte’s varying climates.
• Control panel: The interface that enables a user to access the functions and metrics of their home’s security system is usually straightforward. If you happen to have poorer dexterity than most or live with a complication with handling or vision, your best bet is to choose a control panel with the least amount of interfacing possible. Getting lost in the details and subfolders of your computer can become labyrinthian. So can a control panel. Consider using a limited interface control panel or taking some time to become familiar with the control panel you have to install, especially if you have to enter a code to suppress a false alarm. 
• Compatibility: There are three primary operating systems for phones, Android, Google, and iOS. Rarely are there smart hubs and home security systems that work with only one operating system, although the possibility isn’t eliminated. Be sure to verify that the home security system’s software, like an app, supports your phone and its app marketplace. A quick phone call to your home security system’s customer support can address such a question, so don’t feel ashamed to reach out to them. 
• Storage: Live in a neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic, swaying trees, or wildlife? Your motion-activated cameras may be stacking up video storage more than you’d expect. Our first recommendation is to position the camera so that it monitors the points of entry of your house. This will cause any video recording that is prompted by motion to be limited to activity close to home, excluding motion on your sidewalk or the road that may be within view. Alternatively, you may opt for a higher storage capacity. Sure, this is pricer, although this is preferred for the sake of overall security. Instead of slicing footage from before and after an event has taken place (a common technique to decrease storage space), your spacious storage allows for full motion-activated video to be stored, as well as continuous video in case subsequent events warrant such recording. The more storage space, the less you have to worry about data management and superfluous monitoring.
• Window/door sensors: Due to the frequent return of humidity and rain throughout Charlotte’s changing seasons, your door and window sensors should be weatherproofed for such varying climates. Your best bet is to place the sensors inside, away from elements and minimizing their exposure. 

Local vs. national companies 

Charlotte Home Security Systems FAQ

Methodology 

We evaluated Charlotte home security companies based on equipment cost, monthly costs, contract options, installation and customer satisfaction to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best home security reviews. To compare home security companies with other providers across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Monthly Price: The lower the cost of a home security company’s monthly contract, the higher the score. Inversely, the higher the cost of the monthly contract, the lower the score in this metric. 
• Equipment Cost: Affordability is important with home security, so we awarded higher scores to home security companies with lower prices on equipment.
• Contracts: Reviews.com reviewed the flexibility in contracts of the home security companies. The more flexibility, like having no contracts to bind customers for long periods, the higher the score. 
• Customer Satisfaction: With J.D. Power’s 2020 Home Security Satisfaction Study, we assigned a score to each company based on the rating it received.
• Installation: Just like with contracts, we award higher scores to companies that have flexible installation options, like DIY or professional options.

About the Authors

Amanda Push Contributing Writer

Amanda Push is a writer based in Colorado who covers personal finance, technology, safety and security, moving, and more. Her writing has also been featured at TheSimpleDollar.com, Interest.com, MyMove.com, and Safety.com.

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