An apartment building camera system in New York City typically costs between $4,000 and $9,000 for a small walk-up with six to ten cameras, between $8,000 and $25,000 for a mid-rise with 12 to 30 cameras and $25,000 to $80,000 or more for large complexes in 2026. Multi-family buildings are one of the most common places for camera upgrades, because landlords, owners, co-op boards and tenants all have reasons to want a record of who enters and exits.
This guide explains how to plan a building system, what areas to cover, what drives cost and which rules to keep in mind. Figures are planning ranges, not quotes.
1. Planning Ranges by Building Type
| Building | Typical cameras | Typical installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Small walk-up (4 to 12 units) | 6 to 10 | $4,000 to $9,000 |
| Mid-rise (20 to 60 units) | 12 to 30 | $8,000 to $25,000 |
| Large building or complex (60+ units) | 30 to 80 | $25,000 to $80,000+ |
| Add-on: garage or courtyard | 4 to 12 | $3,500 to $12,000 |
| Add-on: elevator cameras | 1 per car | $900 to $2,500 each |
| Add-on: intercom with video | Varies | Priced per entry |
2. Where Cameras Go in a Building
Front entrance and vestibule. The most important camera. Shows everyone entering and exiting, ideally with a face-height view.
Lobby and mailroom. Package theft and mailbox tampering are common problems.
Stairwells and hallways. Cameras on each floor landing or at the ends of corridors, subject to privacy rules.
Elevators. Elevator cameras record who rides and are useful for disputes.
Basement, laundry room and storage. Out-of-sight areas where theft and vandalism happen.
Roof access. Roof doors are often propped open or forced.
Rear and side doors. Often less visible than the front and more likely to be used by intruders.
Exterior and parking. Sidewalk, courtyard, driveway and any garage.
Bike room and package room. Frequent theft targets.
3. What Drives Cost
Building size and layout. More floors and units mean more cameras and more cable.
Construction. Brick, masonry, plaster and old conduit slow installation.
Number of recorders. Large buildings use multiple recorders or networked servers, with a central viewer.
Resolution and coverage. Entrances and mailrooms deserve higher resolution.
Remote viewing. Superintendents, managing agents and owners often need access from phones.
Elevator and intercom integration. More complex and more expensive.
Retention. Insurers or boards may require 30 to 60 days or more.
4. Privacy and Tenant Considerations
Cameras in a multi-family building raise privacy issues faster than in a shop. Keep cameras focused on common areas such as lobbies, mailrooms, stairwells, laundry rooms, garages and exteriors. Do not aim at doors in a way that looks into apartments, and never place cameras where residents expect privacy, such as restrooms or changing areas. Post notices that video is in use. Decide who can view footage (managing agent, super, board members), keep a log of exports and delete footage according to a written policy.
Audio recording is regulated more strictly than video. Do not enable microphones in common areas without reading our legal guide.
New York City also has rules about biometric identifier information collected by certain commercial establishments, and building owners using face recognition or biometric entry should seek legal advice. See our guide on face recognition and biometric rules.
5. Package Theft and Lobby Security
Package theft is one of the most common complaints in multi-family buildings. A lobby or mailroom camera does not prevent theft, but it documents who took what and when, and it supports police reports. Pair cameras with a package room, locker system or doorman where possible. Good lighting at the entrance helps too.
News coverage shows the range of property crimes affecting residential areas. In February 2026, CBS News New York reported on attempted burglaries in the South Shore of Staten Island, where doorstep video was part of the story. The details were not about apartment buildings, but the lesson applies: video helps communities piece together what happened.
Citywide, NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% and grand larceny down 12.4% in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
6. Insurance, Boards and Approvals
For co-ops and condos, the board must typically approve a camera project. Prepare a scope with camera locations, retention, access rules, privacy notices and a budget. For rentals, the owner or managing agent decides. Insurers sometimes ask about cameras or give credit for them, so ask your broker. If the building is landmarked, exterior changes may need review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
7. Sharing Footage with Police
NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera, so a building owner or management company may be able to register. Check the program details first. Police can view a live feed only during a crime or emergency at your location. Beyond that, keep a clear process for responding to police requests for footage: who receives them, who exports the clip and how copies are stored.
8. Saving Money in a Building Project
- Start with entrances, mailroom, roof door, basement and rear doors.
- Phase floor coverage over a few months.
- Use one central recorder with spare capacity.
- Use PoE cabling to avoid separate power lines.
- Combine camera work with other maintenance, such as lighting upgrades.
Not sure what your building needs? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
9. How Installation Works in an Occupied Building
Installers coordinate with the super or managing agent, notify residents of work times and use drop cloths and protective covers in common areas. Cable often runs through basement ceilings, stairwell chases and existing conduit. Work on each floor is done in short stretches to limit disruption. After installation, test every camera and teach the super how to view and export footage.
10. Maintenance and Service
Cameras in buildings need periodic checks: lenses cleaned, firmware updated, drives tested and times synced. A service plan helps if a camera fails or a drive dies. Ask your installer about response times and whether remote diagnostics are included.
11. Questions to Ask
- Which locations do you recommend and why?
- How will you protect privacy in hallways and stairwells?
- How many days of footage will we store, and on what hardware?
- Who gets access and how is it logged?
- What is the plan for repairs and service?
- Can you provide a certificate of insurance for our building?
See our local pages for commercial camera installation in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and business installation in Queens.
12. A Sample Layout for a 24-Unit Walk-Up
To make the numbers concrete, consider a four-story brick walk-up with 24 units. A reasonable first system might use about 14 cameras: two at the front vestibule, one in the mailroom, one on each of the four stair landings, one at the rear door, one at the basement entry, one in the laundry room, one covering the roof door, one on the courtyard and one on the sidewalk. A single recorder in a locked basement closet holds 30 days of footage, and the super and managing agent receive limited access on their phones. In 2026 this kind of system commonly falls between $9,000 and $16,000, with brick walls and old conduit pushing toward the higher end.
Costs also depend on whether the building already has usable conduit and whether the recorder can share a closet with existing electrical or internet equipment. Ask your installer for two or three layout options at different budgets, so the board or owner can see what each extra camera adds. Also ask whether lighting in the vestibule, stairwells and basement is good enough for night video, because a few inexpensive fixtures often improve footage more than a pricier camera would.
13. Common Problems After Installation
Blind spots at the front door. Check that the vestibule camera sees faces, not just the tops of heads.
Too many alerts. Hallway motion alerts can overwhelm a super. Limit alerts to entrances and the roof.
Shared passwords. One login for everyone makes it impossible to know who exported a clip. Give each person their own account.
No plan for police requests. Decide in advance who handles requests and how long footage is kept.
Neglected maintenance. Test the system every few months and clean lenses in dusty basements.
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
How much does an apartment building camera system cost in NYC? Small walk-ups commonly run $4,000 to $9,000, and mid-rises $8,000 to $25,000 or more.
Where should cameras go in an apartment building? Front entrance, lobby, mailroom, stairwells, elevators, basement, roof door, rear doors and exterior.
Can landlords put cameras in hallways? Common-area cameras are generally allowed with proper notice, but cameras should not look into apartments. Get legal advice for your situation.
How long should building footage be kept? Thirty days is common. Boards or insurers may request longer.
Do co-op boards need to approve cameras? Usually yes. Check your governing documents.
Can tenants view the cameras? Only if the owner sets that up. Most buildings limit access to management and the super.
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.