You live on the fourth floor of a co-op in Queens or a condo in Hoboken, and you want to know who is at your door and whether the package that was supposed to arrive actually did. A camera or video doorbell seems simple. In an apartment building, it is not, because your door opens onto a shared hallway, and the hallway belongs to everyone. Boards worry about privacy, fire rules, appearance and precedent. Neighbors worry about being watched. This guide explains how to get coverage of your own doorway without overstepping, what to ask your board or managing agent, what no-drill options exist and how to keep the peace with the people next door.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your proprietary lease, bylaws, declaration and house rules control. Ask your managing agent or an attorney before you install anything on or near a common area.
1. The Short Version
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Can I put a camera inside my apartment facing my door? | Usually, if it only sees inside your unit. |
| Can I mount a camera in the hallway? | Not without approval. The hall is a common area. |
| Can I install a video doorbell? | Check the rules first. Many buildings require written approval. |
| Can I drill into the door or frame? | Often restricted. Doors and frames may belong to the corporation or association. |
| What about the peephole? | A peephole camera is usually the easiest compromise. |
| Should neighbors know? | Yes, politely. |
2. Who Owns What
In a co-op, the proprietary lease usually defines what is yours and what belongs to the corporation. In a condo, the declaration and bylaws do the same. The apartment entry door, its frame and the hallway outside are commonly treated as building elements with rules about changes, fire ratings and appearance. That is why a simple screw into the door can turn into a board matter. The inside of your apartment is generally yours to equip, subject to the rules and to the law. Read the documents or ask the managing agent for the rule in writing.
3. Cameras Inside Your Apartment
A camera on a shelf inside your unit, aimed at your own entry area, is the lowest-friction option. It records people who enter your home and sees your hallway only if the door is open. Place it so it does not look through a window into a neighbor's apartment or toward a shared light well. Use it in addition to motion alerts from a door sensor. For living spaces, avoid recording where guests or housekeepers have an expectation of privacy, and tell them about cameras. Our guide on telling guests about home cameras covers this.
4. Peephole Cameras
A peephole viewer camera replaces the optical peephole with a small digital camera and a screen inside. It leaves the door face unchanged and is usually easy to remove. Some buildings treat it as an alteration to the door, so ask. Image quality varies, and many models have small sensors that struggle at night, so check the specs. Battery life also differs. It is a good fit for people who want to see a visitor and capture a clip without permanently modifying the door.
5. Video Doorbells at an Apartment Door
A traditional doorbell camera mounts on the wall or the frame outside. In an apartment hallway it faces a shared corridor, so it may record neighbors who walk by. Many boards prohibit it, restrict it to certain models or require that it view only your door. If you get approval, ask for the conditions in writing and follow them. Options include:
- Door-frame adhesive mounts that avoid drilling.
- Over-the-door mounts that hang on the door's top edge.
- Peephole-style devices that mount inside.
- A narrow-angle camera with privacy masking for neighbors' doors.
See our guide on no-drill video doorbells for apartments.
6. Hallway Privacy
The central issue is that a camera at your door may see across the hall into a neighbor's doorway, or record the comings and goings of people who have nothing to do with you. Even if your board allows it, think about how it feels from the other side. Aim narrow, mask the neighbor's door, turn off audio and avoid posting clips. 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. Audio raises separate eavesdropping concerns under Penal Law section 250.05. Most installers leave audio off.
7. Fire and Safety Rules
Hallways and doors have fire-safety requirements. Cameras and cables should not block egress, interfere with self-closing doors or obstruct signs. Do not drill through a fire-rated door. If wiring is needed, ask the managing agent and a qualified professional to confirm what is allowed. A wireless, battery-powered device avoids most of these concerns, though you will need to charge or replace batteries.
8. Ask in Writing
Send the managing agent or board a short request:
- Describe the device and where it goes.
- State that it will point only at your own door and that audio is off.
- Say whether it requires drilling, adhesive or a clamp.
- Offer to follow conditions, such as removing it when you move.
- Ask for a written response.
Keep the answer. If the board says no, you can still use an indoor camera or a peephole device if those are allowed. If it says yes with conditions, follow them to the letter.
9. Talk to Your Neighbors
A short, friendly note avoids drama: "I'm installing a small camera that only covers my door. It won't record audio, and I've masked the hallway. Happy to show you the view." Neighbors worry about being watched in their own home. Showing the view often settles it. Avoid sharing clips with others except where needed for a report. Our guide on posting footage explains why.
10. Packages and Lobbies
Many building thefts happen in the lobby or mailroom, not at the apartment door. If the building has a package room or lobby camera, your own door camera may not be the highest-value spot. Ask whether the building can add cameras at common entries, which helps everyone. Our guide on lobby package theft covers that. If you do get packages at your door, a camera helps document delivery.
11. News Context
Doorstep cameras matter everywhere, not just in houses. 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 September 2026, News 12 reported that NYPD sought two suspects in 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods. Mixed-use buildings, with shops on the ground floor and apartments above, feel both kinds of crime.
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: indoor camera with setup, $150 to $450; peephole camera, $150 to $350; video doorbell, $150 to $550; no-drill door-frame mount, add $0 to $120; a four-camera home system for a larger apartment, $1,600 to $3,600. If the board requires an insurance certificate or a licensed contractor's paperwork, ask your installer what they provide. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
13. Common Mistakes
Installing first and asking later. Boards can order removal and may fine you.
Pointing across the hall. It is the fastest way to upset a neighbor.
Drilling a fire door. It can compromise the door's rating.
Leaving audio on. It adds legal risk and annoys people.
Posting clips of neighbors. Even a harmless clip can cause a dispute.
Forgetting the move-out. Remove the device and patch holes when you leave.
14. A Sample Plan
A one-bedroom co-op in Brooklyn has repeated missed deliveries. The owner asks the managing agent in writing about a peephole camera and gets approval with conditions: no drilling, view limited to the owner's door and removal at sale. The installer fits a peephole camera, adds an indoor shelf camera facing the entry and a door sensor that sends an alert when the door opens. Audio is off. The owner tells the next-door neighbor and shows the view. Estimated cost: $300 to $800.
15. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you do this without drilling the door or frame?
- Will you mask the hallway and neighbors' doors?
- Will you leave audio off?
- Can you provide documents my board might ask for?
- Can the device be removed without damage when I move?
- How are clips stored and who can see them?
See our local pages for video doorbell installation in Manhattan, indoor security cameras in Brooklyn, video doorbell installation in Queens and our services page.
Not sure what your building allows? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
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 put a video doorbell outside my apartment door? Check your lease, bylaws and house rules. Many buildings require written approval or prohibit it.
Can I put a camera inside my apartment aimed at the door? Usually, if it records only inside your unit. Avoid views into neighbors' windows.
Can I drill into my apartment door? Often restricted. Doors and frames may be building property, and fire doors should not be drilled.
What is a peephole camera? A digital viewer that replaces the optical peephole and shows visitors on a screen inside.
Should I record audio? Generally not. Eavesdropping laws can apply.
What if the board says no? Use an indoor camera or other allowed device, and ask whether the building can add common-area cameras.
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.