In general, yes. In New York, it is legal to install video security cameras on your own property to watch your own doors, driveway, yard, store or office, and millions of New Yorkers do. The legal trouble starts in a few predictable places: recording audio, pointing cameras into places where people expect privacy, recording employees in restrooms or changing rooms, and aiming cameras at other people's homes. This guide explains those lines in plain language and links to the official statutes so you can read them yourself.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and facts matter. If you have a specific dispute or a business with complex needs, talk to a New York attorney.
1. The Short Version
| Question | General answer in New York |
|---|---|
| Can I put a camera on my own house or business? | Generally yes, for your own property. |
| Can I record video of my front door and driveway? | Generally yes. |
| Can my camera record sound? | Audio is regulated more strictly than video. Be careful. |
| Can I put a camera in a bathroom or bedroom? | Not where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and have not consented. |
| Can an employer record employees in a restroom or changing room? | No. State law prohibits it. |
| Can I point a camera at my neighbor's window? | That can create serious legal risk. Do not. |
| Do I need to post a sign? | There is no general statewide rule for homes. Signs are good practice. Some situations may call for notice. |
| Does a landlord need approval for cameras? | Depends on the building, lease and area. See our related guides. |
2. Why Video on Your Own Property Is Generally Allowed
People have a much lower expectation of privacy in places that are visible from the street or shared spaces than they do inside a bedroom. A front door, a driveway and a store entrance are exposed to public view. Recording what can be seen from your property, for security, is a common and widely accepted use of cameras.
That said, "generally allowed" is not "anything goes." The law focuses on what you record, where, how and why.
3. Where New York Law Draws Lines
Private spaces
Penal Law section 250.45, "unlawful surveillance in the second degree," is a class E felony. According to the text on the New York State Senate website, it covers, among other things, secretly using an imaging device to record someone undressing or their intimate parts where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and secretly recording someone in a bedroom, restroom, changing room, shower or similar space for no legitimate purpose and without consent. You can read the official text at nysenate.gov.
The practical takeaway: never place a camera in a bathroom, bedroom, changing area or similar space where someone could be undressed, unless everyone present knows and agrees, and even then consider whether it is wise. Hidden cameras in those spaces create enormous risk. See our guide on hidden cameras at home.
Employees
Labor Law section 203-c says no employer may cause a video recording to be made of an employee in a restroom, locker room or room designated by the employer for changing clothes, unless authorized by court order. It also says a recording made in violation cannot be used by the employer for any purpose, and it allows civil damages, attorney's fees and injunctive relief. Read the text at nysenate.gov. See our guide to workplace cameras in New York.
Audio
Conversations are treated differently from video. New York's eavesdropping provisions, including Penal Law section 250.05, make "eavesdropping" a class E felony. Under the definitions in Penal Law section 250.00, "mechanical overhearing of a conversation" covers intentionally overhearing or recording a conversation with a device by someone who is not present, without the consent of at least one party. Read section 250.05 and section 250.00. A camera with a microphone can pick up conversations you are not part of, so audio is where well-meaning owners can stumble. Our audio guide covers this in detail.
Neighbors
Aiming a camera into a neighbor's windows or private spaces invites legal and personal conflict. Even if a statute does not clearly apply, it can lead to complaints, police involvement, civil claims or neighborhood disputes. See our guide on neighbors and cameras.
4. What Is Usually Fine
- A camera on your front door or porch that records people approaching.
- A video doorbell.
- A camera covering your driveway, garage and yard.
- Cameras inside your own home in common areas, if everyone who lives there knows, and not in bathrooms or bedrooms of other people.
- Cameras in a business covering entrances, registers, stockrooms, parking and sales floors.
Reasonable people disagree about some edge cases, such as a camera that also captures part of the public sidewalk. A narrow view of the public way next to your door is common. Aim primarily at your property.
5. What to Avoid
- Hidden cameras in bathrooms, bedrooms or changing areas.
- Audio recording of conversations you are not part of.
- Cameras aimed at neighbors' windows or private yards.
- Recording employees in restrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms.
- Sharing footage in ways that harass or embarrass people. See our guide on posting footage online.
- Ignoring building rules, leases and co-op or condo documents.
6. Owners, Renters and Businesses
Homeowners have the most freedom on their own property, subject to the rules above and any HOA or local rules.
Renters should check their lease and talk to their landlord. Wireless cameras inside your apartment are common, but drilling, hallway cameras and exterior mounting may need approval. See our guide for tenants in NYC rentals.
Co-op and condo owners face board rules. See our guides on co-op approvals and condo exterior cameras.
Landlords must be careful about common areas and tenants' privacy. See our landlord guide.
Businesses should use signs, written policies and limited access to footage, and avoid employee-privacy areas. See our guides on workplace cameras and retention.
7. Signs and Notice
There is no single statewide sign rule for a home camera. Still, a visible sign helps deter and avoids surprise. For businesses, notice to employees and customers is good practice and may matter in some settings, such as with biometric technology in New York City. See our guides on camera signs and on facial recognition and NYC's biometric rule.
8. Cameras and Police
You are generally free to share footage with police voluntarily. Police may also seek footage through other legal means. NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera, under which the NYPD will access a feed only during a criminal incident or emergency at the business location. See our guide on giving footage to the NYPD.
9. News Context
News stories show how often cameras play a role in New York investigations. 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. In Brooklyn in March 2026, News 12 reported on video showing home break-ins a few blocks apart in Sheepshead Bay and Gravesend. These stories show why many owners install cameras, and why they should do so lawfully.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% and grand larceny down 12.4% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD). Crime trends change. Your legal responsibilities do not depend on them.
10. A Practical Compliance Checklist
- Aim cameras at your own property.
- Keep cameras out of bathrooms, bedrooms and changing areas.
- Turn off audio unless you have confirmed it is lawful for your setup.
- Post a visible sign.
- Limit who can view footage and protect passwords.
- Check your lease, board rules and local requirements.
- Keep a written policy if you are a business.
- Ask a lawyer about unusual situations.
Not sure how to set up cameras lawfully? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
11. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Will you disable audio by default?
- How will you avoid capturing neighbors' windows?
- Can you set privacy masks for areas that should not be recorded?
- Who controls access to the recorder?
- How long will footage be stored?
- Can you provide documentation for my landlord or board?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Brooklyn, Queens, home camera installation in Staten Island and our services page.
12. When to Talk to a Lawyer
Consult an attorney if you plan to record employees in sensitive settings, use facial recognition, record audio, install cameras in a rental you share with others, deal with a hostile neighbor, collect footage for a legal dispute or receive a demand or complaint. A short consultation can prevent a costly mistake.
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
Are home security cameras legal in New York? Generally yes on your own property. The main limits involve audio, private spaces, employees and neighbors.
Can I record audio with my camera in New York? Be careful. New York regulates eavesdropping, and a microphone can capture conversations you are not part of. See our audio guide.
Can I put a camera inside my home? Usually, in common areas, but not in places such as bathrooms or bedrooms where people expect privacy, and not without regard to who lives with you.
Do I have to tell people they are being recorded? There is no general statewide sign rule for homes. Signs are good practice, and businesses should consider notice.
Can my employer put a camera in the restroom? No. Labor Law section 203-c prohibits employers from recording employees in restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms.
Is a neighbor's camera on my property allowed? It depends on what it records. Talk to your neighbor and consider legal advice if it points into private spaces.
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.