One-Page Camera Rules Checklist for NY and NJ Owners

Camera rules are scattered across criminal statutes, labor law, landlord-tenant practice, data security law, building rules and common sense. Most owners never read them, and most never need to, as long as they follow a handful of habits. This guide pulls those habits into a single checklist you can run through before you install a camera and once a year after that. It covers placement, audio, notice, employees, tenants, neighbors, data security, footage requests and maintenance, and it points to the longer guides where each topic is explained. It is not a substitute for legal advice, but it will keep you out of the most common trouble.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and facts vary. Where a question matters, ask an attorney or the relevant agency.

1. The Short Version

Area	One-line rule
Placement	Cover your own property. Keep cameras out of private spaces.
Audio	Leave it off unless counsel says otherwise.
Notice	Tell people. Use signs.
Employees	Written notice. No restrooms or changing areas.
Tenants	Common areas only, with notice.
Neighbors	Don't aim at windows. Talk first.
Data	Strong passwords, locked recorder, set retention.
Requests	Preserve first, verify, share only what's needed.

2. Placement Checklist

[ ] Cameras view my own property: doors, driveway, yard, entrances, cash areas, stockrooms.
[ ] None are in bathrooms, bedrooms used by others, locker rooms, changing areas or similar private spaces.
[ ] None are aimed into a neighbor's windows, bedrooms or private yard.
[ ] Privacy masks cover any neighbor windows that fall in the frame.
[ ] Doorbell and driveway views are narrow enough to avoid recording the whole street unnecessarily.
[ ] For multifamily buildings, cameras cover common areas only, not apartment interiors.

New York's unlawful surveillance law, Penal Law section 250.45, addresses secret recording in private settings, and New Jersey has N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9.

3. Audio Checklist

[ ] Audio is off on every camera, including doorbells.
[ ] I checked the setting after installation and after firmware updates.
[ ] If anyone wants audio, we talked to an attorney first.

New York's eavesdropping law is Penal Law section 250.05, and New Jersey has its own wiretap statute. Recording conversations without a legal basis is serious.

4. Notice Checklist

[ ] Signs at public entrances say video surveillance is in use.
[ ] Signs say only what is true: "recorded," not "monitored," unless someone watches.
[ ] Guests, caregivers and cleaners at home are told about indoor cameras.
[ ] Customers and visitors see a sign at the entrance of my business.
[ ] If I use facial recognition or biometrics in NYC, I asked an attorney about signage.

Our guides on camera sign wording and on telling guests about home cameras give examples.

5. Employer Checklist

[ ] Employees have written notice: where cameras are, why, whether audio is recorded, who can see footage, retention.
[ ] No cameras in restrooms, locker rooms or changing areas. Labor Law section 203-c restricts this; see nysenate.gov.
[ ] Footage is used for stated purposes and reviewed in context.
[ ] Employees can respond before discipline.
[ ] An attorney reviews serious actions.

See our guides on employee camera notices and on using footage in discipline.

6. Landlord and Property Manager Checklist

[ ] Cameras cover entrances, lobby, mailroom, garage, yard, roof door and corridors along the hall, not individual apartment doors.
[ ] No cameras inside tenants' units or in bathrooms.
[ ] Tenants received written notice and signs are posted.
[ ] Access to footage is limited and logged.
[ ] Requests from police, insurers and attorneys follow a written process.

See our guides on a landlord's buyer guide and on common-area cameras.

7. Tenant and Renter Checklist

[ ] I read my lease and house rules before installing anything outside my unit.
[ ] I asked my landlord or board in writing before drilling or mounting in a common area.
[ ] I used indoor, no-drill or peephole options where required.
[ ] I do not aim at shared hallways or neighbors' doors.

See our guides on apartment-door cameras in co-ops and condos and on NJ tenants.

8. Neighbor Checklist

[ ] I talked to neighbors about shared driveways, fences or lanes before installing.
[ ] I did not attach hardware to a shared fence or party wall without clear ownership or written consent.
[ ] I'll adjust or mask if a neighbor raises a reasonable concern.
[ ] I don't post neighbors' footage online.

See our guides on shared driveways and on shared fences and party walls.

9. Data Security Checklist

[ ] Default passwords changed on every camera and the recorder.
[ ] Unique logins for each person; two-factor authentication on.
[ ] Firmware updated on a schedule.
[ ] Recorder in a locked space.
[ ] Cameras on a separate network from payment and office systems (businesses).
[ ] No exposed remote access without expert setup.
[ ] Retention period chosen and written down; thirty days is a common planning figure.
[ ] Devices comply with the FCC Covered List; see fcc.gov.

New York's SHIELD Act, General Business Law section 899-bb, requires businesses that own or license computerized data including private information of New York residents to maintain reasonable safeguards, with a scaled standard for small businesses; see nysenate.gov. See our SHIELD checklist for small businesses.

10. Footage Request Checklist

[ ] I know how to export a clip with a viewer.
[ ] Footage is preserved before it is overwritten.
[ ] I verify who is asking.
[ ] I share only relevant cameras and times.
[ ] I keep a log and a copy.
[ ] I call an attorney for subpoenas, lawsuits or anything sensitive.

NYC311 describes the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program as open to any business with a security camera; see portal.311.nyc.gov.

11. Building and Permission Checklist

[ ] I read my lease, proprietary lease, bylaws, declaration or HOA rules.
[ ] If my building is landmarked, I checked the Landmarks Preservation Commission before exterior work.
[ ] If electrical work is involved, I asked who is qualified to do it.
[ ] I asked the installer which approvals, if any, apply.

See our guide on permits for camera installation in NYC.

12. Maintenance Checklist

[ ] Monthly: confirm cameras record, check the clock, wipe lenses if needed.
[ ] Quarterly: review user list and access.
[ ] Annually: professional inspection, replace failing drives, update documentation.
[ ] After storms or power surges: check views and recording.

See our guide on a monthly camera maintenance checklist.

13. News Context

Why bother? Because cameras are worth having and worth getting right. 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. Cameras that follow the rules produce footage you can use.

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

14. Costs

Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed systems: video doorbell, $150 to $550; four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600; small business system with four to eight cameras, $1,800 to $6,800; building system for a small walk-up, $3,000 to $6,800; annual maintenance plan, $300 to $1,500. A professional system review against this checklist, $150 to $450. These are planning ranges, not quotes.

15. Questions to Ask Your Installer

Can you walk the property and mark every camera against this checklist?
Will you confirm that audio is off?
Will you set privacy masks where needed?
How will you secure the recorder and accounts?
Which approvals, if any, apply to my building?
Can you give me a written summary of what was installed?

See our local pages for security camera installation in Brooklyn, business camera installation in Manhattan, security camera installation in Jersey City and our services page.

Want a checklist-based walkthrough? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.

16. How to Use This Page

Print it. Check the boxes that apply to you. For any box you can't check, write a note and a date to fix it. Review it every year on the same day you change your smoke detector batteries. If you add cameras, add the new ones to the list. If you hire help, hand them a copy. It is a short list that covers most of the ground, and it's easy to keep current.

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 are the main rules for home and business cameras? Cover your own property, keep cameras out of private spaces, leave audio off, give notice and secure the system.

Do I need permission to install a camera? It depends on your building and lease. Renters, co-op and condo owners and landmarked buildings often need approval.

Can I record audio? Be careful. Eavesdropping laws are strict, and most owners leave audio off.

Do I have to tell employees? Written notice is best practice, and cameras must stay out of restrooms and changing areas.

How long should I keep footage? Thirty days is a common planning figure. Choose a period and write it down.

Who can answer my specific legal question? An attorney, or the agency linked in the relevant guide.

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.