If you are putting cameras in a shop, restaurant, office or warehouse, tell your employees. A short, clear notice avoids surprise, reduces arguments later and shows that the cameras are about security, not spying. This guide gives a plain-language template you can adapt, explains what each part is for and points out the places cameras should never go. It is a starting point, not a legal document, so have an attorney or HR professional look at it before you hand it out.
This is general information, not legal advice. Employment rules vary by situation, and your industry may have additional requirements.
1. The Short Version
| Item | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Tell staff before cameras go live | Yes, in writing, and keep a copy. |
| Name the camera areas | Entrances, register, stockroom, back door and similar. |
| State what is not covered | Restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas. |
| Audio | Generally off. Say so. |
| Retention | State how long footage is kept. |
| Who can view | Name roles, not everyone. |
| Acknowledgment | Ask employees to sign. |
2. Why a Notice Helps
A notice does three things. It tells people where they are recorded, which respects them. It sets the purpose, which keeps cameras from drifting into uses nobody agreed to. And it gives you a record that you told them, which helps if a dispute arises. In my experience, most employees accept cameras at the register and back door once they hear the reason. Trouble usually starts when someone finds a camera nobody mentioned.
3. The Template
Copy this into a document, replace the bracketed parts and ask counsel to review it.
Notice of Video Surveillance
[Business name] uses video cameras to protect people, property and cash and to document incidents. Cameras are located at [list areas, such as the front entrance, register, stockroom, back door and parking area].
Cameras are not placed in restrooms, locker rooms or areas used for changing clothes. [Business name] does not record audio with its cameras.
Video is stored for about [number] days and then overwritten, unless it is saved for an investigation, claim or legal request. Only [roles, such as the owner and general manager] may view or export video, and only for business reasons such as security, safety, loss prevention, disputes and legal or insurance requests.
Video will not be used for purposes unrelated to the business. If you have questions or concerns, contact [name and contact].
I have read and received a copy of this notice.
Name: __ Signature: _ Date: ___
4. Why Each Part Matters
Purpose statement. Naming the purpose limits scope creep. If the notice says security and loss prevention, a manager who starts using footage to time bathroom breaks has gone beyond it.
List of areas. Employees can see where cameras are. It also reminds you to keep them out of private spaces.
The restroom line. In New York, Labor Law section 203-c says an employer may not cause a video recording to be made of an employee in a restroom, locker room or room designated for changing clothes, unless authorized by court order. Read it at nysenate.gov.
The audio line. Recording conversations can raise eavesdropping issues under Penal Law section 250.05, and New Jersey has its own wiretap statute. That is why most installers leave audio off.
Retention. Saying how long footage is kept sets expectations and keeps you consistent.
Access. Naming roles tells employees that footage is not broadcast around the shop.
5. Where Cameras Do Not Belong
Keep cameras out of restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas and anywhere people reasonably expect privacy. New York's unlawful surveillance law, Penal Law section 250.45, addresses secret recording in private settings; read it at nysenate.gov. For New Jersey, see N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9. Break rooms deserve extra thought. A camera aimed at a locker or a changing nook is a problem. A wide camera at the break room door to see who comes and goes is a different matter, but ask counsel first.
6. Rolling It Out
- Decide the cameras first. Walk the space with the installer and agree on locations.
- Write the notice. Use the template and adapt it.
- Have it reviewed. An attorney or HR adviser should read it.
- Hold a short meeting. Explain the reasons in plain terms and answer questions.
- Hand out copies and collect signatures. Keep the signed copies.
- Post a sign at the entrance. Customers should know too.
- Review once a year. Update the notice whenever cameras move.
7. New Hires and Seasonal Staff
Add the notice to your onboarding packet so every new hire sees it on day one. For seasonal or temporary workers, hand it out before their first shift. If you use a staffing agency, tell the agency which areas are covered so its workers receive the same information. Keep signed copies in personnel files, not on the shop floor.
8. Using Footage Fairly
A notice is only as good as your behavior. Use footage for the stated purposes. Look at the relevant clip when there is an incident, not the whole week hunting for something. Treat what you see as one input and give the employee a chance to explain before acting. Our guide on using camera footage in employee discipline covers this in more detail. Do not share clips of employees on social media or group chats. Our guide on posting footage explains the risks.
9. News Context
Business owners are installing cameras because they are worried. In September 2026, News 12 reported that NYPD sought two suspects in 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods. In August 2026, ABC7 New York reported thieves breaking into several Bay Ridge restaurants overnight, with surveillance cameras capturing a hooded figure with a flashlight in a basement. Cameras help owners respond, but employees are part of the picture too, and a clear notice keeps trust intact.
NYPD reported retail theft down 15% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
10. Costs
The notice itself is free. Typical installed ranges in 2026: small shop or salon, four to six cameras, $1,800 to $5,200; office with four to eight cameras, $1,800 to $6,800; restaurant with eight to twelve cameras, $4,200 to $9,800. Having an attorney review a one-page notice commonly costs a modest flat fee, which you should ask about directly. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
11. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you keep every camera out of restrooms and changing areas?
- Will you leave audio off and show me the setting?
- Can you set up named accounts so I can limit who views footage?
- Can you help me map camera locations for the notice?
- Will you supply signs for the entrance?
- How will I export a clip if an employee dispute arises?
See our local pages for commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, business installation in Manhattan, commercial installation in Queens and our services page.
Need help mapping where cameras should go? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
12. Common Mistakes
Hiding a camera. If staff find it, trust collapses.
Aiming at the time clock to watch breaks. That use should be in the notice, if at all.
Forgetting part-timers. Everyone who works there gets the notice.
Letting every manager view footage. Limit it.
Never updating the notice. Add a camera, update the document.
13. A Note on Remote and Hybrid Staff
If some employees work from home or travel between sites, say so in the notice. Cameras at your location do not follow them home, and nothing in the notice should suggest otherwise. If you also use cameras at client sites, delivery vehicles or a shared workspace you do not control, tell staff which of those are covered by your policy and which are governed by someone else's rules. For employees who work alone at night, the notice can also explain that cameras are partly there for their safety, which many people appreciate. Keep the language factual, avoid threats, and make it easy for anyone to ask questions without worrying about how it will look.
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
Do I have to tell employees about workplace cameras? Telling them in writing is best practice and prevents disputes. Ask an attorney whether any specific requirement applies to your business.
Can I put a camera in the restroom? No. Labor Law section 203-c restricts recording employees in restrooms, locker rooms and changing areas.
Should the notice mention audio? Yes. State whether audio is recorded. Most businesses leave it off.
Do employees have to sign? Not necessarily, but a signed acknowledgment gives you a record that they received it.
How long should I keep footage? Thirty days is a common planning figure. Choose a period and say it in the notice.
Can I share clips of employees online? Avoid it. It can create legal and workplace problems.
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.