A good apartment building camera system covers the ways people enter and move through the building, records clear faces at the front door, keeps enough days of video to resolve complaints and respects tenants' privacy. For a small walk-up that usually means six to twelve cameras. For a mid-size building with a lobby, garage and elevators it can mean twelve to thirty or more. The right system is designed around entrances, packages, parking and shared spaces, not around apartment doors. This guide is a buyer's checklist for owners and managers in New York and New Jersey: what to cover, what to avoid, what equipment to ask for, how to handle tenants and how to compare bids.
This is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules are detailed and change. Consult an attorney about leases, notice and local requirements.
1. The Short Version
| Topic | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Where cameras go | Entrances, lobby, mailroom, package area, elevators, stairwell landings, corridors (along the hall), garage, yard, roof door, basement door. |
| Where they don't | Inside units, bathrooms, aimed at individual apartment doors or windows. |
| Audio | Generally avoid. |
| Storage | Choose a retention period, 30 days is a common planning figure. |
| Tenant notice | Written notice and signs. |
| Access | Few named people, logged. |
| Typical cost | $4,000 to $20,000+ depending on size and wiring. |
2. Define the Problems First
Write down what you want the system to solve:
- Package theft in the vestibule or mailroom.
- Unauthorized entry and tailgating.
- Vandalism or damage in common areas.
- Illegal dumping.
- Disputes about elevator or hallway damage.
- Break-ins at basement or rear doors.
- Vehicle break-ins in the lot or garage.
- Liability protection for slip-and-fall claims.
Rank them. The ranking shapes the camera plan and budget.
3. Coverage Plan by Area
Front door and vestibule. One camera positioned to capture faces as people enter, and one wider view of the vestibule. This is the most important location.
Lobby and mailroom. Wide coverage plus a close view of the mailboxes or package shelves.
Package room. A camera facing the door and shelves.
Elevators. A camera inside each cab for damage disputes and safety, with notice posted.
Corridors. Mount at the end of the hall or at landings to see along the corridor, not at a single door.
Stairwells. Landing cameras at the ground floor and roof door.
Basement and utility rooms. Door cameras and a wide view.
Laundry and trash rooms. Where damage or dumping occurs.
Garage and parking. Entrances, exits and aisles, with a plate camera at vehicle gates if needed.
Yard, courtyard and alley. Perimeter views.
Roof door. A commonly overlooked entry.
See our guide on landlord cameras in common areas.
4. Privacy Limits
Do not place cameras where tenants expect privacy. Penal Law section 250.45 covers unlawful surveillance in New York, including secret recording in places such as bedrooms and restrooms; see nysenate.gov. In New Jersey, see N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9. Avoid aiming at individual apartment doors at close range. Use privacy masks where the view could extend into private spaces. Audio recording raises eavesdropping risks under Penal Law section 250.05 and New Jersey's wiretap statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following. Disable audio unless counsel advises otherwise.
5. Equipment to Ask For
Cameras. Mostly 4 MP (2K) for lobbies and halls, 4K for wide areas such as lots. Vandal-resistant domes for corridors, elevators and exteriors. Weatherproof cameras outside. Wide dynamic range at the front door. See our guide on resolution.
Recorder. An NVR with enough channels and storage for the plan, ideally with RAID and a spare channel count for growth. See our guide on sizing storage.
Network. PoE switches with enough ports and power budget, with a UPS. See our guide on PoE switches.
Cabling. Solid copper Cat6, routed with fire-stopping where it passes through rated walls.
Lighting. Good lighting at entrances and in the lobby.
Remote access. Secure viewing for the owner or manager, with named accounts. See our guide on viewing cameras on your phone.
Security. Strong passwords, segmentation and update plans. See our guide on camera cyber risk.
6. Wiring in Real Buildings
Older New York and New Jersey buildings are hard to wire. Plaster, brick, shared chases and occupied apartments complicate runs. Good installers survey risers, basements and roofs, plan routes through utility chases and minimize entry into tenant units. They coordinate access with tenants, protect finishes and patch holes. See our guide on wiring through brick and plaster. Ask who will handle building permission, tenant notice and fire-stopping.
7. Tenant Communication
Tell tenants before cameras go up. A good notice includes:
- Where cameras are and what areas they cover.
- That no cameras are inside apartments or in bathrooms.
- Whether audio is recorded (generally not).
- How long footage is kept.
- Who can view it and why.
- How tenants can ask questions or raise concerns.
- How footage is shared with police.
Post signs at entrances. Update house rules and, with counsel, leases. Handle complaints calmly and in writing.
8. Retention, Access and Requests
Pick a retention period. Thirty days is a common planning figure. Use named accounts. Log access and exports. Verify who is asking when police, insurers or attorneys request footage. Preserve footage when an incident occurs. See our guides on retention and on giving footage to the NYPD. NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera; a commercial tenant in your building may qualify, and residential-only owners should ask their precinct how to share footage.
9. News Context
Multi-unit buildings and nearby businesses are affected by neighborhood crime. 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 face both. Clear footage at entrances and rear doors gives owners something concrete to hand to police and insurers.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
10. Costs
Planning ranges for professionally installed building systems in 2026:
| Building | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Two-family, 3 to 4 cameras | $1,400 to $3,400 |
| Small walk-up, 6 to 8 cameras | $3,000 to $6,800 |
| Mid-size building, 12 to 24 cameras | $6,500 to $19,000 |
| Large building with elevators and garage | $20,000 and up |
| Added for elevator or garage work | Varies |
| UPS, switches and RAID recorder | $800 to $4,000 |
Hallway wiring, elevator access and fire-stopping raise costs. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
11. How to Compare Bids
Ask each bidder for a floor-by-floor plan with camera locations, models and views. Compare camera count, resolution, recorder capacity and days of footage, network equipment, cabling, warranty, response time and exclusions. Verify credentials and insurance, and ask whether the bidder will provide a certificate naming the building as additional insured if required. See our guides on comparing three quotes and on licensed installers.
12. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you provide a floor-by-floor plan with the view of each camera?
- How will you keep corridor cameras from aiming at individual doors?
- How will you route cables with minimal entry to apartments?
- How many days of footage will I have, and is there RAID?
- What is your response time if a camera fails?
- Will you provide a tenant notice template and signs?
See our local pages for commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, the Bronx, security camera installation in Newark and our services page.
Planning a building system? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
13. A Sample Plan for a 16-Unit Building
A sixteen-unit building in Brooklyn has repeated package theft and a damaged vestibule door. The installer proposes 16 cameras: two at the front vestibule, one in the lobby, one at the mailroom, one in each of the two elevators, one at each of the four stair landings, one at the rear door, one in the basement, one at the roof door, one in the yard and one in the laundry room. Corridors are covered by landing cameras aimed along the hall. Audio is off. A 16-channel recorder with RAID holds 45 days. Tenants receive a written notice and signs go up at entrances. Estimated cost: $9,500 to $16,500.
14. Maintenance and Governance
Assign someone to check the system monthly, confirming cameras record and the clock is correct. Review who has access quarterly. Test exports. Clean lenses yearly. Replace drives on schedule. Keep a log. Review the camera policy annually with counsel and update tenant notices when anything changes.
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
How many cameras does an apartment building need? Small walk-ups often need six to twelve. Larger buildings with elevators and garages can need twenty or more.
Where should cameras go in an apartment building? Entrances, lobby, mailroom, elevators, stairwell landings, corridors along the hall, garage, yard and rear doors.
Can I put cameras inside tenants' apartments? No, not without clear consent and legal basis. Do not.
Should I tell tenants? Yes. Written notice and signs prevent disputes.
How long should I keep footage? Thirty days is a common planning figure. Choose and apply a policy.
How much does it cost? From a few thousand dollars for small buildings to $20,000 or more for large ones.
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.