Many New Jersey renters want a camera for the same reasons homeowners do: to see who is at the door, to track packages and to feel safe. Whether you may install one depends mostly on your lease, your landlord and the type of installation. A plug-in or battery camera inside your apartment is often treated differently from a camera drilled into an exterior wall or placed in a hallway. This guide explains how to check your lease, ask for permission, choose renter-friendly equipment and avoid privacy mistakes. It is general information, not legal advice. If you have a dispute with a landlord, talk to an attorney or a tenant organization.
1. The Short Version
| Question | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Can I put a camera inside my apartment? | Often yes for interior cameras that do not alter the unit, but read your lease. |
| Can I drill into walls or the exterior? | Usually needs permission. |
| Can I put a camera in the hallway? | Common areas belong to the landlord. Ask first. |
| Can I record audio? | Higher risk. Be cautious. |
| Can I point a camera at a neighbor's door? | Do not. |
| What is the best first step? | Read the lease and ask in writing. |
2. Start With the Lease
Look for sections on alterations, improvements, nails and drilling, common areas, safety devices, satisfaction of the lease at move-out and any rules on surveillance. Some leases ban changes to the unit without written consent. Others are silent on cameras. Silence does not mean you may do anything, but it may mean a conversation is enough. If your building is a condo or governed by an association, rules may come from the association too.
3. Ask in Writing
A short, polite request is usually best:
- State what you want: "I would like to install a battery-powered video doorbell on my apartment door using the existing screw holes."
- Explain why: package theft, safety.
- Say how you will install and remove it: no drilling, repair any damage.
- Offer to let the landlord see the camera view.
- Ask for written approval.
- Keep a copy.
If a landlord says no, ask whether an alternative such as an interior camera is acceptable.
4. Renter-Friendly Options
Video doorbell with a no-drill mount. Adhesive or over-the-door options exist for some models.
Interior camera on a shelf or tripod. Aimed at the door from inside, mindful of the hallway view.
Battery cameras with magnetic or adhesive mounts. Fewer holes, easier removal.
Window-facing cameras. Be careful about neighbors' windows and glare.
Smart lock or sensors. Alerts without video.
Package lockers or delivery to work. Sometimes the best fix.
Landlord-installed cameras. Ask the landlord to improve entrances and package areas.
Ask your installer about wiring-free solutions that remove cleanly. See our guide for tenants in rental apartments.
5. Hallways and Common Areas
The hallway outside your door is generally a common area controlled by the landlord. A camera that records the corridor can capture neighbors and visitors, which can cause conflict and legal questions. A doorbell camera aimed at your door and a small part of the hallway is common, but the view should be modest. Ask the landlord, mask what you can and avoid recording audio. See our guide on landlord cameras and tenant rights.
6. Privacy and Legal Cautions in New Jersey
Audio. New Jersey's wiretap statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following, regulates recording oral communications. New Jersey is commonly described as a one-party consent state, meaning a participant in a conversation may record it. A camera that records conversations between other people raises risk. Turn audio off unless you have legal advice.
Private spaces. N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9 addresses invasion of privacy, including observing or recording a person in a state of undress without consent. Keep cameras out of bathrooms, bedrooms and similar spaces. Read the current statute and ask counsel.
Neighbors. Avoid aiming at neighbors' doors or windows.
Roommates and guests. Tell them about cameras and keep them out of private spaces.
7. Protect Your Security Deposit
- Photograph the unit before you install anything.
- Use no-drill mounts where you can.
- If you drill with permission, ask who will patch and paint.
- Keep the original packaging for return.
- Photograph the unit when you remove the camera.
- Keep the landlord's approval with your lease papers.
8. If the Landlord Refuses
You can consider alternatives: a camera inside the unit that views the door through a peephole or window; sensors; a doorbell chime; lockers; or asking neighbors to watch for packages. If you believe a refusal affects your safety, talk to a tenant organization or an attorney. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs publishes consumer information at njconsumeraffairs.gov, and legal aid organizations assist tenants. I am not stating any specific tenant right here. Ask a professional about your situation.
9. If Your Landlord Wants to Install Cameras
Landlord cameras are common in lobbies and entrances. Ask where they are, what they cover, how long footage is kept and who can view it. Cameras inside units without clear consent are a serious concern. If you feel uncomfortable, document what you see and consult an attorney or tenant organization. See our landlord guide for how owners should approach the issue.
10. News Context
New Jersey residents have seen their share of break-ins and package thefts. In January 2025, ABC7 reported on Sayreville, where a group pried open a window and entered a family's home despite an alarm, two Ring cameras and two dogs, according to ABC7 New York. The footage recorded the entry. Cameras document events and are one layer among locks, lighting and alarms. For renters, the right mix often means a no-drill doorbell, good locks and a conversation with the landlord about lighting and entrances.
11. Costs
Renter-friendly options are inexpensive. Planning ranges in 2026: video doorbell with no-drill mount $100 to $300; interior camera $40 to $200; sensors $20 to $100 each. Professional installation of a doorbell or interior camera typically runs $100 to $400 with a visit. Cloud subscriptions can run $3 to $20 per month. A wired system may require landlord approval and is not typical for renters. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
12. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you install without drilling or with minimal, reversible mounting?
- How will you protect my security deposit?
- Can you mask the hallway and neighbors' doors?
- Can audio be turned off?
- Will you write down the settings so I can show the landlord?
- How do I take everything with me when I move?
See our local pages for home camera installation in Jersey City, video doorbell installation in Hoboken, home camera installation in Newark and our services page.
Not sure what your lease allows? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
13. A Sample Renter Setup
A tenant in a Jersey City third-floor apartment asks the landlord for permission to mount a battery video doorbell on the apartment door using adhesive and to set a small indoor camera on a bookshelf aimed at the entry. The landlord approves in an email. The installer sets the doorbell's motion zone to the door and masks the neighbor's door across the hall, disables audio, and shows the tenant how to export clips. The tenant photographs the door before and after. Estimated cost: $250 to $600 including installation. At move-out, the doorbell comes off cleanly and the deposit is returned in full.
14. Moving Out and Moving On
Cameras are easy to forget when you move. Before your last day, export any footage you want to keep, remove the device and its mount, fill small holes only if your lease allows it, and restore any settings you changed. Log out of the app on the old device and remove it from your account so the next tenant does not appear in your history. If you installed a landlord-approved device that stays, get a note saying who owns it and who controls the account. At your new address, repeat the lease check before you mount anything. A repeatable routine of reading the lease, asking in writing, using reversible mounts and documenting the unit keeps both your deposit and your relationship with the landlord intact.
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 New Jersey tenant install a security camera? Often inside the unit, depending on the lease. Ask the landlord for anything that alters the unit or common areas.
Do I need landlord permission for a doorbell camera? Check your lease. Ask in writing, especially for anything attached to the door or hallway.
Can I record audio in my apartment? Be careful. The wiretap statute regulates recording oral communications. Disable audio unless you have advice.
Can I point a camera at the hallway? It is a common area. Ask the landlord, keep the view modest and avoid neighbors' doors.
How do I protect my deposit? Use no-drill mounts, get written approval and photograph the unit before and after.
What if my landlord refuses? Consider alternatives and talk to a tenant organization or attorney if safety is a concern.
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.