Cameras in the lobby, entrance, mailroom, parking area and exterior of a rental building are common and, used sensibly, can protect both owners and tenants. The trouble starts when cameras drift toward private spaces: aimed into a tenant's doorway, pointed at windows, recording audio or placed where people expect privacy. This guide explains where common-area cameras usually belong, what to avoid, how to communicate with tenants, how long to keep footage and how to handle requests. It is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant law is detailed and changes, so consult an attorney about your building and your leases.
1. The Short Version
| Question | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Where do landlord cameras usually go? | Entrances, lobbies, mailrooms, package rooms, stairwell landings, elevators, parking, yards, exterior perimeter. |
| Where should they not go? | Inside units, bathrooms, and anywhere aimed at private spaces. |
| Should I tell tenants? | Yes. Notice builds trust and avoids disputes. |
| Should I record audio? | Generally avoid. Audio carries higher legal risk. |
| How long should I keep footage? | Choose a period and apply it consistently. 30 days is a common planning figure. |
| Who may view footage? | A small, named group with a reason. |
2. Why Landlords Install Cameras
Owners use cameras to reduce package theft, vandalism, trespassing, unauthorized entry, illegal dumping and disputes about damage. Cameras also help resolve complaints, document deliveries and respond to insurance claims. Tenants often welcome cameras in lobbies and entrances. Many resent cameras that seem to watch their doors. The difference is design and communication.
3. Where Cameras Usually Make Sense
Building entrances. Front and rear doors, vestibules and side entries, covering faces as people enter.
Lobbies and mailrooms. Where packages arrive and mail is delivered.
Package rooms. Often a hot spot for theft.
Elevators. Many buildings use them for safety and damage disputes.
Stairwell landings and corridors. Aimed along the hallway, not at individual doors.
Garage, parking and driveways. Including gates and vehicle entrances.
Laundry rooms and trash areas. Where damage or dumping occurs.
Yards, courtyards and rear lots. For perimeter awareness.
Roof access doors and basement doors. To record entry points.
4. Where Cameras Do Not Belong
- Inside tenant units without clear consent.
- Bathrooms, locker rooms and changing areas.
- Aimed directly into a tenant's apartment door at close range.
- Aimed into windows of units or neighbors.
- Spaces where a reasonable person would expect privacy.
New York's Penal Law section 250.45 covers unlawful surveillance, including secret recording in places such as bedrooms and restrooms and recording intimate parts without consent; see nysenate.gov. In New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9 addresses invasion of privacy, including recording a person in a state of undress without consent. Read the current text and ask counsel.
5. Hallways: The Gray Area
Hallway cameras are where most tenant complaints arise. A wide-angle camera that covers the corridor and stairs is easier to defend than a camera that stares at one apartment door. Design tips:
- Mount at the end of the hall or at stair landings.
- Use a view that covers the corridor, not a single door.
- Use privacy masking for doorways where possible.
- Avoid placing a camera directly across from a door.
- Tell tenants where cameras are and why.
- Keep access to footage tightly controlled.
See our guide on landlord hallway cameras and tenant rights.
6. Audio: Usually Avoid
Audio recording in common areas can capture private conversations between tenants and visitors. New York's eavesdropping law, Penal Law section 250.05, is a class E felony, and New Jersey's wiretap statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following, regulates recording oral communications. Turn audio off unless counsel advises otherwise.
7. Notice and Tenant Communication
Good communication prevents most conflicts:
- Send a written notice describing where cameras are and what they cover.
- Post signs at entrances and in relevant common areas.
- Explain the purpose. Safety, package theft, damage.
- State who can view footage and when.
- State retention. "Footage is kept 30 days unless needed for an investigation."
- Explain how to report issues and how tenants can ask about cameras.
- Update leases or house rules with counsel.
8. Access Control and Privacy
Footage should not be a hobby. Limit access to the owner, property manager and, when needed, security staff. Use named accounts, strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Keep a log of who views or exports footage and why. Do not show footage to tenants casually, and do not post clips online. See our guide on data security for businesses and on posting footage.
9. Retention and Requests
Pick a retention period, write it down and follow it. Thirty days is a common planning figure, and longer periods may suit buildings with frequent disputes. Preserve footage immediately when there is an incident. When police, insurers or attorneys ask, export only what is relevant, verify who is asking and keep a log. See our guide on giving footage to the NYPD, and on how long to keep footage.
10. News Context
Building owners face real problems. 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 ground-floor businesses may care about both. Cameras help document what happened, and a clear policy keeps them from becoming a source of conflict.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
11. NYPD Camera Sharing for Mixed-Use Buildings
NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera. A commercial tenant on your ground floor may qualify. For a residential-only building, ask the precinct how to share footage after an incident. See our guide on registering.
12. Costs
Planning ranges for rental buildings in 2026:
| Building type | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Two-family house, 3 to 4 cameras | $1,400 to $3,400 |
| Small walk-up, 6 to 8 cameras | $3,000 to $6,800 |
| Mid-size apartment building, 12 to 24 cameras | $6,500 to $19,000 |
| Large building with elevators, garage and monitoring | $20,000 and up |
These are planning ranges, not quotes. Hallway wiring and elevator cameras can add cost.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you design hallway views that avoid aiming at individual doors?
- Can you set privacy masks?
- Can audio be disabled?
- How many days of storage will I have?
- Who has access to the recorder, and how is it logged?
- Can you provide a plan I can share with tenants?
See our local pages for commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, commercial installation in the Bronx, security camera installation in Jersey City and our services page.
Not sure where cameras belong in your building? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. A Sample Plan for a 12-Unit Building
A twelve-unit walk-up in the Bronx has had repeated package theft and a damaged front door. The installer proposes a camera in the vestibule covering faces entering, one in the mailroom, one at the rear door, one at each stair landing aimed along the corridor, one on the side yard and one at the basement door. No camera faces an apartment door directly. Audio is off. A local recorder in a locked basement closet keeps 30 days. The owner sends tenants a one-page notice with camera locations, retention and how to ask questions, and posts small signs at entrances. Estimated cost: $4,200 to $8,200. The result is clearer evidence for repairs and thefts, with fewer privacy objections because the design is limited and explained.
15. Handling Complaints and Disputes
Expect questions. A tenant may say a camera feels intrusive, a visitor may object, or two neighbors may argue about what a lobby camera shows. Keep a calm, written process. Acknowledge the complaint in writing, explain the purpose of the camera, offer to show the field of view on a screenshot rather than the live feed, and adjust the angle or add a privacy mask if the concern is reasonable. Keep notes of what you changed and when. Do not retaliate against a tenant who complains, and do not threaten to review footage as leverage. If a complaint involves harassment, discrimination or a legal demand, stop and talk to your attorney before responding. A landlord who listens and adjusts early usually avoids the larger disputes that follow when problems are ignored.
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 a landlord install cameras in hallways? Common-area cameras are common, but design matters. Avoid aiming at individual doors and check local rules and your leases.
Can a landlord put a camera inside an apartment? Not without clear consent and legal basis. Do not.
Should a landlord tell tenants about cameras? Yes. Written notice and signs prevent disputes.
Can landlords record audio? Avoid it. Eavesdropping laws carry serious penalties.
How long should a landlord keep footage? Choose a period and apply it consistently. Thirty days is common.
Can tenants see the footage? Limit access. Share only through a clear policy and, if needed, legal advice.
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.