Hosts want to protect their property and know who is arriving. Guests want privacy in the place they are paying to sleep in. Platforms sit in between with their own rules, which change. The safest approach for most hosts is simple: put cameras outside only, disclose them clearly before booking, keep them away from anywhere a guest sleeps, undresses or relaxes and leave audio off. This guide explains the basics of camera disclosure for short-term rentals in New York and New Jersey, what to check on the platform you use, how to handle guests' questions and what alternatives exist if you want to monitor a rental without recording the inside.
This is general information, not legal advice. Short-term rental rules in New York City and in many towns are strict and change. Platform policies change too. Read the current platform rules and local laws, and ask an attorney about your situation.
1. The Short Version
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Exterior cameras at the door or driveway? | Often acceptable if disclosed. Check the platform's current rules. |
| Cameras inside bedrooms or bathrooms? | Never. |
| Cameras in living areas? | Risky. Many platforms restrict or prohibit them. Check current policy and ask counsel. |
| Audio? | Leave off. |
| Disclosure? | Clearly, before booking, in the listing. |
| Alternatives | Door sensors, noise monitors that do not record audio, smart locks. |
2. Why Hosts Want Cameras
Common reasons are checking who arrives, preventing unauthorized guests, documenting damage, seeing package deliveries and securing the property between stays. Those goals can usually be met without cameras inside. A doorbell camera, a driveway camera and a smart lock log answer most of the questions: who came, when and did they leave.
3. Platform Rules: Check the Current Version
Platforms publish rules about security cameras and recording devices in listings. Those rules may restrict indoor cameras, require disclosure of any camera, prohibit cameras in certain rooms and address how devices are described. I am not going to quote them, because they change. Before you install, read the current policy on the platform you use, check your local rules and screenshot what you read. If the platform requires you to disclose cameras in the listing, do it accurately and keep the listing updated when you add or remove one.
4. Where Cameras Belong
Front door or doorbell. Records arrivals and departures.
Driveway or parking area. Records vehicles.
Yard and entrances. Rear doors and side entrances, pointed at the entry, not at guests' outdoor seating if the guests are using it as a private space.
Common hallways. In a multi-unit building, check with the owner or board. Our guide on cameras at an apartment door in a co-op or condo explains why.
Garage or storage. If it is a host-only space and guests cannot access it, a camera may be acceptable with disclosure.
5. Where Cameras Do Not Belong
Bedrooms, bathrooms, and any space where guests may change clothes or sleep are off limits. New York's unlawful surveillance law, Penal Law section 250.45, addresses secret recording in private settings, and New Jersey has N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9. Living rooms, kitchens and shared areas inside the rental are where guests expect privacy while they are staying there. Many hosts and platforms treat indoor cameras as unacceptable. Even with disclosure, guests may be uncomfortable, and reviews can suffer. If you believe you need an indoor camera, talk to an attorney and read the current platform policy first.
6. Audio
Leave audio off, outdoors and indoors. Eavesdropping laws, including Penal Law section 250.05 in New York and New Jersey's wiretap statute, can apply to recorded conversations. Even a doorbell camera with audio can record guests' conversations on the porch, so turn that setting off.
7. Disclose Honestly
A good listing says exactly where cameras are and what they record. For example: "One camera at the front door and one covering the driveway. Cameras record video only, no audio, and there are no cameras inside the home." Put the same text in your house manual and, if you like, on a small sign. Do not hide cameras in smoke detectors, clocks, outlets or decor. Hidden cameras are a major source of trouble for hosts. Our guide on hidden cameras explains the risks. Answer guests' questions directly.
8. Alternatives to Indoor Cameras
You can protect a rental without recording inside:
- Smart lock with unique codes. A log shows when each code is used. See our guide on smart locks for rental hosts.
- Door and window sensors. Alert you to unexpected opening.
- Noise-level monitors that measure decibels without recording sound. Useful for party prevention. Check that the device does not record audio and check the platform's rules.
- Occupancy sensors. Some track count of devices connected to Wi-Fi, but be careful about privacy and disclosure.
- Exterior cameras. Doors, driveway and yard.
- Cleaner check-in photos. Between stays, a cleaner can photograph the condition of the home.
9. Local Rules
Short-term rental rules vary widely. New York City has strict rules about renting out apartments for short stays, and many buildings and towns in New York and New Jersey have their own rules and registration requirements. I am not describing them here. Check with your city or town, your landlord or board and an attorney. Camera disclosure is only one piece of a larger compliance picture.
10. Protect the Footage
Footage from a rental shows guests' faces, arrival times and companions. Treat it as personal information. Use a strong password and two-factor authentication on the camera account, limit who can view it, delete old footage on schedule and do not share clips of guests publicly. New York's SHIELD Act, General Business Law section 899-bb, requires businesses that own or license computerized data including private information of New York residents to maintain reasonable safeguards, with a scaled standard for small businesses; see nysenate.gov. Ask counsel how it applies to you.
11. News Context
Rental properties sit empty between guests, which makes them targets. In January 2025, ABC7 New York reported on home break-in video from Sayreville, New Jersey, amid a surge in robberies. In February 2026, NYPD released stills and video from a Staten Island doorstep to help identify three young men who tried to enter three homes overnight, according to CBS News New York. Exterior cameras and smart locks give hosts awareness without recording guests inside.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
12. Costs
Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed equipment: video doorbell, $150 to $550; smart lock with code management, $250 to $900; door and window sensors, $100 to $450 for a small home; two-camera exterior setup, $700 to $2,200; four-camera exterior system, $1,600 to $3,600. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you help me set up cameras outside only?
- Will you turn audio off on the doorbell and show me?
- Can you set up a smart lock with unique guest codes?
- Can I turn exterior cameras on a schedule?
- Can you place a small sign that matches my listing?
- How do I keep my camera account secure?
See our local pages for video doorbell installation in Brooklyn, smart lock installation in Manhattan, home camera installation in Suffolk County and our services page.
Hosting guests? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. A Sample Setup for a Two-Family Rental Unit
A host in Queens rents the lower unit of a two-family home. The plan: a video doorbell at the unit's entrance with audio off, one driveway camera, a smart lock with unique codes and a door sensor on the rear door. There are no indoor cameras. The listing states the locations and says there is no recording inside. A small sign at the front door repeats it. Estimated cost: $1,100 to $2,600.
15. If a Guest Finds a Camera
Respond calmly. Confirm what it is, whether it was disclosed and where it records. If it was disclosed and exterior, explain. If it was not disclosed or is inside, apologize, remove it and talk to the platform and an attorney before doing anything else. Do not argue or retaliate. Keep any relevant messages. A host who handles it respectfully avoids most of the damage.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have security cameras at my Airbnb? Exterior cameras are often acceptable if disclosed. Check the platform's current rules and local law.
Can I put a camera inside the rental? Risky. Never in bedrooms or bathrooms, and many platforms restrict or prohibit indoor cameras. Ask an attorney.
Do I have to tell guests? Disclose clearly in the listing before booking. Do not hide cameras.
Can I record audio? No. Turn audio off, including on the doorbell.
What are alternatives to indoor cameras? Smart locks with codes, door sensors, noise-level monitors that do not record audio and exterior cameras.
What if a guest complains? Listen, explain what is disclosed, remove anything improper and seek advice.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.