How to Register Your Business Cameras With the NYPD Camera Sharing Program

The NYPD Community Camera Sharing Program is a free city program that lets any business with a security camera register its camera locations so the NYPD can access a camera feed during a criminal incident or emergency at the business's location. According to NYC311, registration is done through the NewYorkCityConnect.org website, participation costs nothing, the NYPD will access a feed only in the event of a criminal incident or emergency at your location, and the department says it will never share your information with anyone else and will contact you only if a crime occurs near your business. This guide explains how to prepare, what to ask before you join and how to make your cameras more useful to police and to you.

This is general information based on the NYC311 program page, which may change. Read the current program details before registering, and ask the NYPD or an attorney if you have questions.

1. The Short Version

Question	What NYC311 says
Who can join?	Any business with a security camera.
What does it cost?	Nothing.
How do I register?	Through NewYorkCityConnect.org, per the NYC311 page.
When can the NYPD view a feed?	Only in the event of a criminal incident or emergency at your business location.
Will my information be shared?	The page says the NYPD will never share your information with anyone else.
Will police contact me?	The page says only if a crime occurs near your business.
Does the page say whether video is stored by the NYPD?	It does not.

Source: NYC311.

2. Why Businesses Join

Faster investigations. Detectives know where cameras are when a crime occurs nearby.

Better chance of useful video. A clear view from a working camera can help establish what happened.

Community benefit. Businesses on the same block help each other by registering cameras.

No cost. Registering is free, though your own cameras are your expense.

Reassurance for customers and neighbors. Some owners like to show they cooperate with police.

None of these guarantees an arrest. Footage helps, and it has limits.

3. Before You Register: Questions to Ask Yourself

Do my cameras work reliably? A feed is only useful if it is on and clear.
Where are they pointed? Do they capture entrances, sidewalk approach and the street?
Do I record audio? If so, review the legal risks in our audio guide and consider turning it off.
Who in my business handles police contact? Name a manager.
What does my lease or insurance say? Check for any rules about sharing video.
What do employees and customers know? Update your signs and policy.
Do I understand the program? Read the NYC311 page carefully and ask questions.

4. How to Prepare Your System

Check your cameras. Make sure every camera records and has a clear view. Clean lenses and fix glare.

Check your clock. The time stamp should be accurate.

Check your network. If a feed is to be reachable, you need a stable internet connection and a configured system. Do not expose your recorder to the internet in unsafe ways. Ask your installer how remote access should be set up securely.

Check passwords and updates. Use strong passwords and keep firmware updated. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has guidance at cisa.gov.

Check retention. Keep at least 30 days, so you can respond to later requests for footage. See our retention guide.

Document your cameras. Keep a list of camera names and locations to help when you register.

5. The Registration Process

The NYC311 page says to register your camera locations on NewYorkCityConnect.org. Because websites change, use the current site and follow its steps. You will likely need to provide your business information and the location of each camera. Take note of anything the form asks about contact details, camera types or access. Keep a copy of what you submitted.

If you have questions the form does not answer, contact your local precinct or NYC311 and ask. Do not guess about how access works.

6. Privacy and Legal Considerations

Joining the program does not change your legal obligations. Keep these in mind:

Do not place cameras in restrooms, changing rooms or similar spaces. Penal Law section 250.45 is a class E felony covering secret recording in private settings; see nysenate.gov.
Employers must not record employees in restrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms. Labor Law section 203-c applies; see nysenate.gov.
Be careful with audio. New York's eavesdropping law, Penal Law section 250.05, is a class E felony, and cameras may record conversations you are not part of.
Tell employees and customers that video is used.
Protect your system. Weak passwords can expose your video to others.
Understand what you are agreeing to. If unsure, ask an attorney.

7. What About Homeowners and Renters?

The NYC311 page describes the program as open to businesses. If you are a homeowner or renter, ask your precinct how to share footage after an incident. See our guide on giving footage to the NYPD. If you own a small business out of your home or have a storefront, you may be eligible. Check the current program details.

8. Other Ways to Help Investigations

Registering is one way to help. Others include:

Keeping 30 days or more of footage.
Exporting clips quickly when asked.
Reporting crimes and keeping case numbers.
Giving police a copy of relevant footage while keeping the original.
Using NYPD Crime Stoppers to share tips. The NYPD's page at nyc.gov lists 800-577-TIPS and says rewards of up to $3,500 are offered for anonymous information that leads to the arrest and indictment of a violent felon.

9. News Context

Local business crime and video appear regularly in the news. In September 2026, NYPD sought two suspects in 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods, according to News 12. In August 2026, ABC7 reported that thieves broke into several Bay Ridge restaurants overnight, with surveillance cameras capturing a hooded figure with a flashlight in a basement, according to ABC7 New York. In 2024, the city piloted connecting business cameras to precinct detectives on 125th Street in Harlem and in Flushing, according to ABC7 New York. Pilots can change, so confirm current availability.

NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% and retail theft down 15% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).

10. Suffolk and Other Local Proposals

Other governments have explored their own approaches. In May 2026, the Suffolk County Legislature considered a bill that would require larger public-facing businesses with fixed cameras to preserve felony footage and give it to police within a day, according to News 12 Long Island. I could not confirm its final status. If you operate on Long Island, check current county law.

11. A Practical Checklist

Test every camera and clean lenses.
Fix the clock and sync to an internet time source.
Disable audio unless you have legal advice.
Confirm 30 days or more of retention.
Update passwords and firmware.
Read the NYC311 page and the registration site.
Register your camera locations.
Name a contact person and write a short policy.
Tell employees and update signs.
Review the program once a year.

12. Questions to Ask Your Installer

Are my cameras positioned to capture entrances and the sidewalk approach?
Is my network set up safely for remote access?
Can you help me list camera names and locations?
How long does my system retain footage?
Can you fix glare and night performance issues?
Can you help me write a simple policy?

See our local pages for commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, business installation in Queens, Manhattan and business installation in Staten Island.

Not sure your cameras are ready to register? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.

13. If Your Cameras Are Not Good Enough Yet

Many business owners realize at this point that their cameras are old, blurry or poorly placed. Registering a poor system helps no one. Consider upgrading the door, register and sidewalk-facing cameras first. Our guide to upgrading analog cameras to IP explains options, and our cost guides show planning ranges. A system that gives police a clear view of your entrance and the approach is worth far more than extra cameras that see nothing useful.

More From Revolvis

Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:

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

What is the NYPD Community Camera Sharing Program? A free program, described by NYC311 as open to any business with a security camera, in which the NYPD accesses a feed only during a criminal incident or emergency at the business location.

How do I register? NYC311 directs businesses to NewYorkCityConnect.org. Check the current site for steps.

Is there a cost? No. NYC311 says participation is free.

Can police watch my cameras all the time? According to NYC311, the NYPD will access a feed only in the event of a criminal incident or emergency at your business location.

Does the program store my video? The NYC311 page does not say. Ask the NYPD if this matters to you.

Can homeowners register? The page describes the program for businesses. Homeowners should ask their precinct about sharing footage.

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.