Homeowners in Los Angeles and across the country ask one question more than any other when they reach out to CountBricks: “What is the cost to install a security system?” The answer matters because it protects families, affects insurance premiums, and influences resale value. In this guide, CountBricks breaks down every line item so you can budget accurately and move forward with confidence.
In residential construction, a security system is no longer a luxury—it is a code-driven requirement on many custom projects. CountBricks’ AI estimating platform captures real-time material prices, regional labor rates, and permit fees, transforming a vague allowance into an exact figure. That precision keeps projects on schedule and shields homeowners from mid-build surprises.
• Device mix: cameras, motion sensors, door/window contacts, smart locks, and control panels
• Wiring method: retrofit surface raceways, attic/crawl routing, or new-construction rough-ins
• Monitoring preference: self-monitor, cellular backup, or full professional monitoring
• Integration level: stand-alone security versus whole-home automation tied to lighting and HVAC
• Local code and permit requirements
Using data pulled directly from CountBricks.com/services, the typical single-family residence falls into three bands:
1. Entry Level (self-monitor, four cameras, basic panel): $1,950 – $3,100 installed
2. Mid Tier (eight cameras, smart locks, cellular backup): $3,800 – $6,200 installed
3. Premium (full perimeter, glass-break sensors, integrated lighting scenes): $6,500 – $11,000 installed
These figures include hardware, low-voltage cabling, labor, system programming, and start-up training. Tax, permits, and monitoring subscriptions are additional.
• Cameras: $120 – $420 each depending on resolution and night-vision rating
• Smart locks: $180 – $350 each
• Control panel & hub: $350 – $700
• Sensors (door, motion, glass): $35 – $80 each
• Cabling & terminations: $0.45 – $0.75 per linear foot
Because CountBricks syncs to local supplier APIs every hour, the numbers you see in our estimate are the same numbers your installer sees at the wholesaler counter.
Labor averages 45 % – 55 % of the total cost to install security system equipment in a finished home. CountBricks assigns task codes—rough-in, device mount, panel program, homeowner orientation—so you can track time accurately. Typical labor rates in Los Angeles run $85 – $110 per technician hour. New construction rough-ins often come in 20 % cheaper because open framing reduces routing time.
• New builds: conduit paths are planned during design, eliminating drywall cuts
• Retrofits: expect 10 % – 25 % higher labor for fishing wires and patching finishes
CountBricks’ blueprint takeoff tool flags stud bays, attic obstructions, and electrical panel locations so retrofit premiums are visible before demo day.
DIY kits claim to save money, but hidden expenses add up—specialized drill bits, extra cat5 cable, and replacement drywall. CountBricks data shows homeowners spend an average of 32 % more than planned when going fully DIY, primarily because of duplicate trips to the store and device misconfigurations. Professional installation via a CountBricks-verified contractor typically pays for itself in reduced callbacks and warranty coverage.
Los Angeles requires an alarm permit for any system capable of dispatching police. Fees range from $35 – $140 depending on jurisdiction. CountBricks automatically inserts the correct permit line in your estimate and tracks submission deadlines, keeping inspectors off your back and the job on time.
• AI-optimized camera layout reduces device count without sacrificing coverage
• Real-time supplier pricing avoids inflated allowances
• Task-level scheduling trims idle labor hours
• Integrated invoicing prevents double-billing between trades
On recent CountBricks projects, these efficiencies shaved an average 12 % off initial client budgets.
Many insurers offer 5 % – 15 % premium discounts for monitored systems. CountBricks supplies completion certificates you can forward to your agent. Our financing partners allow homeowners to roll security installations into broader remodel loans, spreading cost over 5- or 10-year terms.
1. Voice consult: Speak live with our AI estimator to scope devices
2. Instant takeoff: Upload your floor plan; CountBricks marks optimal camera spots
3. Live budget: See the cost to install security system update as you talk
4. Contractor match: Select a verified installer from the CountBricks network
5. Final review: Approve, sign, and schedule—straight from your phone
Technology evolves fast. CountBricks specifies open-protocol hubs and PoE cameras so homeowners can add AI analytics, facial recognition, or new sensors without ripping out wiring. Firmware updates push automatically through our cloud portal, keeping systems secure.
Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to launch a no-obligation voice estimate today. Within minutes, you will know the exact cost to install security system hardware that protects your family and raises your property value.
A recent CountBricks client in Pasadena planned a 3,000 sq ft custom home. By looping CountBricks into the architectural stage, the team:
• Routed low-voltage conduit through interior shear walls before insulation, saving 18 labor hours
• Consolidated two planned control closets into one centralized hub, trimming $620 in redundant hardware
• Swapped four exterior cameras for two ultra-wide PoE units, reducing equipment spend by $740 without losing coverage
The final invoice showed a total installed cost of $5,950—nearly $1,500 under the original allowance.
• Plan a dedicated low-voltage chase from attic to basement—future additions become plug-and-play
• Choose equipment with open ONVIF standards to avoid vendor lock-in
• Install extra Cat6 drops behind TVs; many smart cameras double as video doorbells when wired to displays
• Label every cable at both ends—CountBricks prints heat-shrink tags for free on all new-construction packages
• Negotiate monitoring fees upfront; multi-year contracts can cut monthly costs by 25 %
Security gear often overlaps with lighting, HVAC, and shade control. CountBricks engineers map these touchpoints during the estimate so one app controls all systems. The result is a seamless homeowner experience and fewer call-backs for builders because subs are working from a unified drawing set.
If you are designing or remodeling a residential property and want concrete numbers, launch a voice session at CountBricks.com/consultation. You will receive a detailed breakdown of the cost to install security system components—customized to your ZIP code—along with a construction-ready scope you can drop straight into your contract documents.
