Townhouse developments, condo complexes and planned communities across northern and central New Jersey are run by homeowners' associations, and every association has its own view on cameras. Some welcome them. Some forbid anything attached to the exterior. Most fall in between, with a process, a form and a list of conditions. This guide explains how to find the rules that apply to you, how to ask for approval in a way boards say yes to, how common-area cameras fit in and how to avoid privacy trouble with the neighbors you share walls and parking with.
This is general information, not legal advice. Associations are governed by their own documents and by New Jersey law. For a dispute or a rules question, ask an attorney who handles community association matters.
1. The Short Version
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Where are the rules? | Master deed or declaration, bylaws, house rules and architectural guidelines. |
| Do I need approval? | For anything on the exterior or common elements, often yes. |
| Can I install inside my unit? | Usually, if it only sees inside. |
| What do boards worry about? | Appearance, privacy, drilling and liability. |
| Can the HOA install cameras in common areas? | Often yes, with proper notice and policy. |
| What if I'm denied? | Ask the reason in writing, offer changes and consult an attorney if needed. |
2. Find the Documents
Start with the governing documents you received at closing or can request from the management company: the master deed or declaration, the bylaws, the rules and regulations and any architectural or exterior modification guidelines. Search for words like "exterior," "alteration," "satellite," "camera," "surveillance," "security," "common elements" and "limited common elements." Many communities have a form for exterior changes. If the rule is unclear, ask the manager for a written interpretation.
3. What Is Yours and What Is Not
In townhouse and condo communities, what you own and what the association controls is not always intuitive. Front doors, siding, rooflines, decks and driveways may be your responsibility to maintain but still be subject to association control. Walls and foundations may be common elements. A video doorbell might be fine if mounted on the door frame but barred if it needs a hole in the siding. The documents decide, and so does the board's history of how it enforces them.
4. Making a Request That Gets Approved
Boards respond well to complete, respectful requests. Include:
- What and where. Model, color and exact mounting location, with a photo.
- Appearance. Matches trim color, low profile, no exposed wiring.
- Method. No drilling into masonry or siding if possible, or a description of how the penetration will be sealed.
- View and privacy. The camera will cover your door, driveway or yard only, with masking for neighbors.
- Audio. Off.
- Who installs. A professional installer, with insurance information if requested.
- Removal. You will remove it and repair any damage if you sell or the board requires it.
A neat request often sails through. A vague one gets denied.
5. No-Drill and Low-Impact Options
If approval is slow or uncertain, start with things that avoid exterior changes:
- Indoor cameras aimed at doors and windows.
- Door and window sensors with alerts.
- Door-frame adhesive video doorbells where allowed.
- Battery cameras on existing hardware.
See our guide on no-drill video doorbells. These steps do not replace a full system, but they provide immediate visibility while a request is pending.
6. Common-Area Cameras
Associations often install cameras at entrances, clubhouses, pools, mailrooms, parking lots and dumpsters. Residents have a stake in how they are used. A good association has a written policy covering where cameras are, who can view footage, how long it is kept, how requests are handled and how residents are notified. If your community is considering cameras, offer to help the board draft the policy. Cameras should avoid pointing at windows and private patios. Our guide on landlord and common-area cameras explains similar principles. Our guide on camera policies for associations applies the same ideas.
7. Privacy Limits
Wherever cameras go, they must respect privacy. New Jersey's invasion of privacy statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9, addresses recording people in a state of undress or intimate parts without consent; see the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at njconsumeraffairs.gov for consumer information and consult counsel for the statute itself. New Jersey also has a wiretap statute that deals with recording conversations, so audio should generally be off. Do not point a camera into a neighbor's windows. Use privacy masks.
8. Insurance and Liability
A camera installed on common property may involve the association's insurer. Associations often ask owners for a certificate of insurance from the installer, and a letter that the owner takes responsibility for the device. Ask your installer what documents they can provide. Ask your own homeowner's insurer whether cameras affect your policy. See our guide on insurance discounts.
9. Disputes With the Board or Neighbors
If your request is denied, ask for the reason in writing. Offer a change that addresses it: a different location, a smaller device, a color match, a trial period. If your neighbor complains about your camera, listen and consider masking or adjusting the angle. Our guide on shared driveway disputes covers similar ground. For serious disagreements, a community association attorney can advise, and some counties and municipalities have mediation services.
10. News Context
Security is a live concern in New Jersey communities. In January 2025, ABC7 New York reported on home break-in video from a Sayreville house amid a surge in robberies. In January 2024, WOBM reported that Ring ended its Request for Assistance feature, which allowed police to ask users for footage. Residents who want cameras should check their documents, and associations should have a clear process.
11. Costs
Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed systems: video doorbell, $150 to $550; four-camera townhouse system, $1,600 to $3,600; eight-camera system, $3,000 to $6,800; common-area system for a small community with twelve to twenty-four cameras, $7,500 to $22,000. Documentation, insurance certificates and color-matched hardware may add modestly. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
12. A Sample Plan for a Townhouse
A three-level townhouse in a Jersey City community has a shared parking court and a rear patio. The owner submits a one-page request with photos: a doorbell camera on the door frame, a camera under the eave covering the driveway apron and a rear camera covering the patio, all in matching bronze, with masks for the neighbors' windows and audio off. The board approves with a condition that cables stay hidden. The installer routes wiring through the soffit, seals penetrations and gives the manager an insurance certificate. Estimated cost: $2,200 to $4,200.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you help me prepare the board request with photos and mounting details?
- Can you color-match the hardware?
- Can you avoid drilling into siding or masonry?
- Can you provide a certificate of insurance for the association?
- Will you set masks to protect neighbors' privacy?
- What happens to the holes when I sell?
See our local pages for residential camera installation in Jersey City, security camera installation in Hoboken, commercial camera installation in Newark and our services page.
Not sure what your HOA will accept? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. If You Sit on the Board
Boards that want to say yes safely can adopt a short camera policy: approved locations, color and size limits, privacy and audio rules, insurance requirements and a removal clause. Publish it so owners know what to expect and so decisions are consistent. Consistency protects the association from claims of unfair treatment. Have the association's attorney review the policy before adopting it.
15. Moving Out or Selling
When you sell a unit in an association, buyers and their attorneys read the file. Any exterior device you installed should be documented as approved, and you should be ready to say whether it stays or goes. If you remove it, patch holes in matching material and ask the manager to inspect so the board has no complaint later. If it stays, hand over the app login details properly, reset the account and give the new owner the paperwork. Clean documentation avoids delays at closing and awkward conversations with the board afterward.
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 my New Jersey HOA ban security cameras? Associations can set rules about exterior changes under their governing documents. Read yours and ask an attorney about your situation.
Do I need approval for a video doorbell? Often yes if it attaches to the exterior. Check the architectural guidelines.
Can I put a camera inside my unit? Usually, if it only records inside your home.
Can the HOA install cameras in common areas? Often yes, ideally with a written policy on viewing, retention and notice.
What if the board denies my request? Ask for the reason in writing, offer changes and consider legal advice.
Should I record audio? No. Wiretap laws can apply, and most installers leave audio off.
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.