The email arrives on a Tuesday: an adjuster or an attorney wants the footage from your front door, your lobby or your parking lot for a particular day and time. Maybe someone slipped on your steps, a delivery went missing or a car was hit outside your shop. You are not sure whether you must hand it over, to whom, in what form or whether you should be worried. The calm answer is to preserve first, verify second, ask questions third and export only what is needed. This guide walks through those steps for homeowners, landlords and business owners in New York and New Jersey.
This is general information, not legal advice. If a request involves a lawsuit, a claim against you or anything that makes you nervous, talk to your own attorney before you respond.
1. The Short Version
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stop overwriting. Save the footage for the date and time. |
| 2 | Write down who asked, when, and what they asked for. |
| 3 | Verify the requester is who they say they are. |
| 4 | Ask your own insurer or attorney if a claim could involve you. |
| 5 | Export only the relevant cameras and times. |
| 6 | Hand over a copy, keep the original and log it. |
2. Who Might Ask
Your own insurer. After a claim you file, they may want footage to support it. Cooperating is usually in your interest.
Another party's insurer. An adjuster for someone else who was involved in an incident at your property or near it. You may have no duty to give them anything, and what you share can affect your own exposure.
An attorney. Representing you, a customer, a tenant, an employee or the other side. Treat requests from the other side with extra care.
The police. Different rules and a different process. See our guide on giving footage to the NYPD.
3. Preserve First
The first action is not to send anything. It is to make sure the footage still exists. Recorders overwrite the oldest video when the drive fills, so a request that arrives three weeks after the incident can already be too late if you only keep thirty days. Export the relevant clips right away, and note the date, cameras and time range. Our guide on camera footage retention policies explains why having this habit written down helps. If you suspect a claim could involve you, do not delete or edit anything.
4. Verify the Requester
Scammers and nosy neighbors sometimes pose as adjusters. Before you share anything:
- Ask for the requester's full name, company, claim or matter number and contact details.
- Call the company back using a number you look up yourself, not the one in the email.
- Ask for the request in writing, including what they want, why and what they will do with it.
- If it is an attorney, ask who they represent.
A legitimate requester will not mind these questions.
5. Do You Have to Give It?
It depends. A subpoena or court order is different from a friendly request. An informal request from a third party's insurer generally does not oblige you to hand over footage, though there may be reasons to cooperate. A request from your own insurer may be tied to your policy's cooperation terms. I am not going to tell you what your policy or the law requires in your situation, because it depends on facts I cannot see. If the footage could hurt you, ask your own attorney before you respond. Our guide on subpoenas for security footage covers the court-order case.
6. Decide What to Export
Export the smallest set that answers the request:
- The cameras that show the location in question.
- A time window that covers the lead-up, the incident and the aftermath, usually a few minutes on each side.
- The original format plus a standard-format copy, if possible, so the recipient can view it.
- Any built-in player or codec that the files need.
Do not hand over a week of footage because it is easier. You may be disclosing people who have nothing to do with the matter.
7. Protect Other People's Privacy
Your footage may show tenants, employees, customers and passersby. Consider whether to blur or crop faces unrelated to the incident, but do not edit the original. If you must redact, create a separate copy and label it. For multifamily buildings, be careful about showing the comings and goings of residents. Ask counsel if you are not sure.
8. Log It
Create a simple record: date of request, requester and contact, what was asked, what you provided, who exported it, where the copies are stored and how they were sent. Keep it with the exported files. Our guide on chain of custody for footage gives a short routine.
9. Send It Safely
Use a secure link with an expiry date or a physical drive handed over in person. Avoid sending large files over text or personal email accounts. Ask for a confirmation of receipt. Do not give the requester your recorder password or remote access. Create the export yourself.
10. When to Call Your Own Attorney
Call if any of these apply:
- The incident involves injury, a lawsuit threat or a serious claim.
- The footage could show your own mistake or liability.
- The request is from the opposing side.
- The request is broad, urgent or aggressive.
- The footage includes minors, medical settings or other sensitive situations.
- You are unsure what your policy requires.
An hour with an attorney costs little compared with a poorly handled response.
11. News Context
Footage requests are common because cameras are everywhere. 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. Camera owners are often the first source of evidence, which is why handling requests carefully matters.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
12. Costs
Preserving and exporting footage is usually free if your system makes it easy. If it does not, a recorder upgrade or a professional lesson in exporting may help. Planning ranges in 2026: a recorder upgrade with easier exports and more storage, $800 to $3,500; a short training or system check, $150 to $450; a new four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600. An attorney consultation is a separate cost. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- How do I export a clip with a built-in viewer?
- Can I mark footage so it is not overwritten?
- Will the system keep a log of who exported what?
- How many days of footage will I have?
- Can I create a restricted account for a manager who handles requests?
- How are timestamps kept accurate?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, security camera installation in Nassau County and our services page.
Not sure your system exports cleanly? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. A Short Script for Your Reply
If you are not ready to send footage, a polite holding reply works: "Thank you for your request. We are preserving the relevant footage. Please send your request in writing, including the claim or matter number, the specific date, time and location and how the footage will be used. We will respond after reviewing it." That gives you time without refusing or promising. Save the thread with the rest of your records.
15. Landlords and Business Owners: Extra Points
If you own a building or run a business, requests tend to come in bunches, because slip-and-fall claims, vehicle damage in your lot and tenant disputes all generate paperwork. Set one person as the contact for every footage request and tell your staff to forward anything they receive instead of answering on their own. Keep a template reply, a log sheet and a clear list of who may export. After each request, note how long it took you to find the clip. If it took more than ten minutes, your system or your process needs work, and that is worth fixing before the next letter arrives. Also check that your signs and tenant notices describe how footage may be shared, so a legitimate request never surprises the people on camera.
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 give my security footage to an insurance company? It depends on whose insurer is asking and what your own policy says. Ask your attorney or your own insurer if you are unsure.
What should I do first when someone asks for footage? Preserve it. Export the relevant clips so they are not overwritten, then verify the requester.
How much footage should I export? Only the relevant cameras and a window around the incident.
Should I edit the footage? No. Keep the original untouched. Make a separate redacted copy only if needed.
Can I charge for providing footage? That is a business decision. Ask counsel if you plan to, especially for legal requests.
When should I call an attorney? Whenever the request involves injury, a lawsuit, the opposing side or footage that could show your own liability.
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.