If you are renovating a brownstone, co-op, rowhouse or small commercial space in New York, you have a rare opportunity: the walls are open. Running camera cable now, while studs and joists are visible, costs a fraction of what it will cost after plaster and paint. Yet camera wiring is often forgotten in renovation plans, and owners find out after the walls are closed. This guide explains how to add camera wiring during a renovation, who to coordinate with, what to run, where to terminate, what building and permit questions to ask and how to avoid paying twice to open the same walls.
This is general information. Building rules, co-op and condo boards, landmark status and permit requirements vary. Ask your architect, contractor and building management.
1. The Short Version
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When? | After demolition and rough framing, before insulation and drywall. |
| What? | Cat6 to each planned camera location, plus a network drop and power at the recorder spot. |
| Who? | Your low-voltage installer coordinating with the GC and electrician. |
| Why now? | Open walls make the work cheaper and cleaner. |
| What to watch | Fire-stopping, permits, board rules, landmark limits. |
2. Why Renovation Is the Best Time
Plaster, brick and old floor assemblies in New York buildings make retrofit wiring hard. Cable may have to pass through fire blocking, dense masonry or inaccessible cavities. When the walls are open, the same run takes minutes. You also avoid the patching, painting and dust that come with cutting finished surfaces. If you plan to install cameras eventually, even if not right now, running cable during renovation is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Our guide on prewiring for new construction covers similar planning.
3. Who Needs to Know
Tell your general contractor and architect early. Tell the electrician so line-voltage and low-voltage don't collide. Tell your installer before demolition ends. If you live in a co-op or condo, check the alteration agreement and any house rules about exterior cameras, common areas and conduit. If you rent, get the landlord's written approval. Our guide on landlord approval for cameras explains how to ask. In landmarked buildings, exterior changes may need approval; the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission publishes guidance at nyc.gov.
4. Walk the Plan Before the Walls Close
Review the floor plan and elevations with your installer. Mark the exterior locations: front door, rear door, garage, side entries, roof access, fire escape windows and yard approaches. Mark interior locations such as stair landings, hallways, and spots where valuables are kept. Choose a recorder closet that is dry, ventilated and secure. Our guide on camera placement explains how to choose views.
5. What to Run
Cat6 is the usual choice for IP cameras. Run one cable to each planned location, plus spare drops at corners and promising spots. Add a network drop from the router to the recorder closet. Consider extra drops for access control or video intercom if you might add them. Label each end and note locations on the plans. Where cable passes through exterior walls or floors, use proper sleeves or sealants. Our guide on Cat5e vs. Cat6 explains the cable choice.
6. Exterior Considerations
Exterior boxes at eave height keep cameras high enough to be safe from tampering but low enough to service. Plan drip loops and sealant. If the facade is brick or stone, run the cable and plan the penetration while masons or siding crews are on site. If you're replacing windows, doors or siding, coordinate so cable sleeves are installed before the finish goes on. Our guide on wiring through brick and plaster explains how hard retrofits can be.
7. Fire-Stopping and Code
Cables that pass through fire-rated walls or floors need approved fire-stopping. Plenum spaces need plenum-rated cable. In multifamily buildings, running cable through shared shafts may require building permission. Keep low-voltage and line-voltage separated as code requires. Your electrician and installer can advise on local requirements. If the renovation requires permits, ask whether low-voltage work should be listed. For official guidance, check the NYC Department of Buildings at nyc.gov.
8. Power at the Closet
PoE cameras get power through the network cable, so you don't need outlets at each camera. The closet needs a dedicated outlet, ventilation and room for a switch, recorder and UPS. Ask the electrician to place the outlet on a reliable circuit. If you plan floodlight cameras, doorbells or smart locks, coordinate for those devices too. Our guide on UPS backup and surge protection explains why this matters.
9. Document Everything
Photograph each wall before drywall. Draw a simple diagram of camera numbers and locations. Label cables at both ends and keep a copy of the plan. In a renovation, many trades touch the walls, and cable can be cut or buried. Documentation helps you find a damaged run and tells future installers what's there. Our guide on documenting your camera system covers the basics.
10. Timing and Coordination
Schedule the low-voltage pull after the electrician's rough-in and before insulation and drywall. Make sure your installer inspects the runs before walls close. If the project schedule slips, confirm that wiring is still on time. If the cameras themselves will be installed later, have the cable terminated and protected so it isn't damaged by other trades. Avoid having the installer return after drywall; at that point you're retrofitting.
11. Common Mistakes
- Forgetting cameras in the plan.
- Waiting until finishes are done.
- No spare drops.
- Unlabeled cable.
- Hot, wet or hidden recorder closet.
- Ignoring building or landmark rules.
- No fire-stopping.
- Cutting cable during other work.
- No network drop at the closet.
12. If the Walls Are Already Closed
You still have options. Wireless cameras, PoE with careful fishing, exterior conduit and surface raceways can work. Our guides on wireless vs. wired cameras and on wiring through brick and plaster explain trade-offs. But if you're still in the demolition phase, call your installer now.
13. Cost
Planning ranges in 2026: pre-drywall camera cabling, $150 to $450 per drop depending on distance and difficulty; four-drop job, $700 to $1,800; eight-drop job, $1,400 to $3,400; later camera and recorder installation for four cameras on prewired locations, $1,000 to $3,000; complete four-camera system, $1,600 to $3,600; eight-camera system, $3,000 to $6,800; sixteen-camera commercial system, $6,500 to $13,000. Masonry, long runs and shared-building constraints raise cost. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
14. News Context
Renovating owners often think about security because they have empty or half-empty buildings. 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. Construction sites and vacant units are targets, and cameras installed early can help.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
15. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- When should you inspect the walls before they close?
- How many drops do you recommend for my layout?
- Who coordinates with the electrician and GC?
- What permissions do I need from my building or board?
- How will you label and document the runs?
- Can you also install temporary cameras during construction?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Manhattan, commercial camera installation in the Bronx, security camera installation in Brooklyn and our services page.
Mid-renovation? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
16. A Hypothetical Brownstone
Imagine a gut renovation of a Brooklyn brownstone. With walls and ceilings open, the installer pulls Cat6 to the front stoop, garden entry, rear facade, roof hatch, parlor stair and basement door, plus spare drops. All terminate in a ventilated basement closet with a network drop. Total labor takes a day. After the walls are plastered and painted, adding the same cameras would have meant cutting plaster at each location. The owner installs three cameras now and adds the rest later at no extra wiring cost.
17. Questions for the General Contractor
Ask your general contractor whether the schedule leaves a window for low-voltage work between rough electrical and insulation, who is responsible if another trade damages the cable, and whether the contract allows your installer on site before inspections. Ask whether any permit or inspection touches low-voltage work and who will be present. Ask how and where finished walls will be marked so that a future installer can find a cable run without guessing. Put the agreement in the project notes so that the answer survives a change of foreman. A five-minute conversation before demolition ends can save a day of rework and a patched wall later, and it keeps the camera plan from becoming an argument at the end of the project.
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
When should I run camera wiring during a renovation? After demolition and rough framing, before insulation and drywall.
What cable should I use? Cat6 for most IP camera runs, with proper ratings for the space.
Who should I coordinate with? Your general contractor, electrician, installer and building management or board.
Do I need a permit? It depends on the project and building. Ask your contractor and check NYC DOB guidance.
Can I add cameras after the walls close? Yes, but it costs more and may require patching.
How many drops should I plan? More than you need today, including spares.
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.