Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and Small Business Saturday follows on November 28. A Holiday Closure Checklist can help Las Vegas and Phoenix businesses prepare for adjusted hours, reduced staffing, or temporary closures while accounting for the specific needs of each location.
Changed hours may affect intrusion-system arming, access permissions, business-hour notifications, and the people who receive calls about alarm activity. If the property has a fire alarm or other fire protection systems, a closure does not remove the need to keep those systems in service and follow required testing, maintenance, and impairment procedures.
The available settings differ by system, equipment, service package, and account permissions. Review the items that apply to your location and contact your provider if a feature described below does not appear in your account.
1 Update monitored account contacts
When a business chooses professional security or fire alarm monitoring, the monitoring center uses the account information and response instructions on file. Outdated names, phone numbers, or call-order instructions can make it harder to reach the appropriate person.
Phoenix Police false alarm guidance lists failure to update authorized personnel and failure to report unscheduled openings or closings among common commercial false-alarm causes. Review the City of Phoenix guidance. Businesses in either market can use the same review as a practical account-maintenance step.
- Confirm the names, phone numbers, and contact order on the account.
- Remove former employees and replace outdated contact information.
- Confirm that designated contacts know they may receive a call during the closure.
2 Review codes and access credentials
Access lists can become outdated as employees, vendors, and contractors change. Review who can arm or disarm the security system and who can enter controlled doors or gates. Deactivate credentials that no longer serve a business purpose.
On compatible Alarm.com systems, scheduled user codes can limit access to recurring times, while temporary codes can use a specific start and end time. Alarm.com notes that not every system supports these options. Alarm.com Access Control can also apply start dates, end dates, or both to supported credentials.
- Confirm that each active code or credential still belongs to someone who needs access.
- Use a unique credential for each authorized person when the system supports it.
- For seasonal personnel, review whether the system supports scheduled or temporary access and confirm the expiration date.
3 Check business hours arming schedules and notifications
Some Alarm.com commercial service packages and Access Control accounts with the appropriate reporting option support configurable Business Hours. These settings can support reports and notifications such as Not Open on Time, Not Closed on Time, and Opened Unexpectedly.
Changing Business Hours does not automatically arm or disarm the security system. Alarm.com documents Business Hours and arming schedules as separate settings. If your hours will change, review both the reporting settings and any actual arming schedules that apply to the account.
- Confirm the hours entered for the holiday period, if your service package includes Business Hours.
- Review arming schedules separately rather than assuming that Business Hours control the system.
- Confirm which people receive commercial notifications and reports.
4 Prepare employees who will open or close
Employees covering unfamiliar shifts should know how to use the security system assigned to them. Phoenix Police identifies incorrect codes, inadequate training, unsecured doors or windows, and failure to cancel an accidental alarm as common contributors to commercial false alarms.
- Show authorized employees how to arm and disarm the system correctly.
- Review the procedure for reporting or canceling an accidental security alarm.
- Tell employees not to cancel an alarm when they believe an actual emergency or crime may be occurring.
- Confirm that doors and windows are secured before the security system is armed.
5 Review decorations cameras and exit routes
Seasonal decorations can affect motion detection when they move within a sensor’s field of view. Displays can also block a camera or change the usable view. After decorating, check the areas covered by motion sensors and cameras rather than assuming that the previous setup still works as intended.
Keep workplace exit routes free of obstructions and keep exit signs visible. OSHA requires exit routes to remain free and unobstructed. Do not attach decorations to fire alarm devices, sprinkler heads, or sprinkler piping. Inspect decorative light strings for damaged wiring and follow the product manufacturer’s instructions.
6 Keep fire protection work separate from closure settings
Do not silence, power down, or place fire protection equipment out of service simply because the building will be closed. If testing, repair, or other work is planned, coordinate it with a qualified fire protection provider and follow the procedures required by the local authority having jurisdiction.
Inspection, testing, and maintenance intervals are not identical for every fire protection device or property. The applicable code, equipment type, manufacturer instructions, occupancy, and local authority determine the schedule. Review the service dates and records for the systems at your location instead of assuming that one interval applies to every device.
7 Check the rules for your jurisdiction
The City of Phoenix states that a permit is required for alarm systems whether or not an alarm company monitors them. Phoenix businesses can review the current permit and false-alarm information directly with the city.
In the Las Vegas Valley, the responsible police, fire, and permitting authority depends on the property’s jurisdiction. A business in the City of Las Vegas, unincorporated Clark County, Henderson, or North Las Vegas should confirm the rules that apply to its address rather than relying on another jurisdiction’s requirements or fee schedule.
Quick holiday closure checklist
- Account contacts and call order reviewed
- Former employees removed from security and access lists
- Seasonal access dates reviewed on supported systems
- Business Hours, arming schedules, and notification recipients checked separately
- Holiday staff trained on opening, closing, and accidental-alarm procedures
- Decorations kept clear of sensors, cameras, exits, exit signs, and fire protection equipment
- Fire protection testing, maintenance, or impairment work coordinated when applicable
- Local alarm permit or registration requirements checked with the correct jurisdiction
Review your holiday settings before the schedule changes
Sting Alarm has served Las Vegas since 2003 and now operates a Phoenix location. We provide Integrated Security and Fire Protection services for commercial properties in both markets.
For help reviewing supported security settings, access-control options, commercial notifications, or fire inspection and maintenance services, call 702-737-8464 in Las Vegas or 602-431-1300 in Phoenix, or request a free quote online.
