A good camera sign does three jobs: it tells people video is in use, it may discourage opportunistic crime and it supports your claim that visitors and employees were told. A bad sign overpromises, confuses or invites trouble. "24-hour live monitoring" on a system nobody watches, "Smile, you're on camera" outside a restroom corridor or a threat in capital letters can cause more problems than it solves. This guide gives plain-language wording examples for homes, shops, offices and apartment buildings, explains placement and size and lists what to avoid.
This is general information, not legal advice. Some situations carry specific signage rules, and the right wording depends on what your system does. Ask an attorney if you use audio, facial recognition or other special features.
1. The Short Version
| Principle | Why |
|---|---|
| Say only what is true | Overclaiming can mislead and create liability. |
| Keep it short | People read signs in two seconds. |
| Put it where people see it | Entrances and the cameras' coverage area. |
| Avoid threats | A sign informs. It does not intimidate. |
| Mention audio only if true | And ideally you do not record audio. |
| Match your policy | Retention, access and notice should line up. |
2. Residential Examples
Basic: "Video surveillance in use."
Friendly: "This property is protected by security cameras."
Doorbell and package area: "Cameras record this entrance. Deliveries are monitored."
Shared driveway or multi-family: "Cameras cover this driveway. No cameras view neighboring windows."
Vacation or rental home exterior (disclosure for guests): "Exterior cameras record the driveway and front door. There are no cameras inside the home."
Keep the tone calm. A homeowner does not need to sound like a security company.
3. Retail and Restaurant Examples
Entrance: "Video surveillance is in use in this establishment."
Register area: "Cameras record this counter for the safety of customers and staff."
Back-of-house door: "Authorized personnel only. Video surveillance in use."
Parking lot: "Video surveillance in use in this parking area. Management is not responsible for loss or damage." (Ask counsel whether the second sentence is accurate and useful before you use it; see our guide on parking garage signs.)
4. Office and Professional Examples
Reception: "Video cameras operate at entrances and common areas for security."
Medical or dental office: "Video surveillance is used at entrances and hallways. There are no cameras in exam rooms or restrooms." (Only if true; see our guide on medical office cameras.)
Coworking and shared suites: "Cameras monitor entrances and common areas. Please contact management with questions."
5. Apartment Building Examples
Lobby: "Security cameras record the lobby and entrances. Footage is kept for a limited time and may be shared with law enforcement."
Package room: "This package room is under video surveillance."
Garage and bike room: "Video surveillance in use. Report problems to management."
A tenant notice letter should go with the signs. Our guide on a landlord's buyer guide explains what to say.
6. Industrial and Warehouse Examples
Loading dock: "Video surveillance in use. All visitors must check in."
Yard and gate: "Cameras record this property 24 hours a day."
Use "24 hours" only if the system actually records continuously, not just on motion.
7. Wording to Avoid
- "Live monitoring" or "monitored 24/7" unless someone actually watches. If footage is only recorded and reviewed after an incident, say "recorded."
- "Smile, you're on camera" where people expect privacy.
- Threats or insults such as "Thieves will be prosecuted" in large red letters. Pair signs with action, not bluster.
- "Audio and video recorded" unless you truly record audio and have taken legal advice. Eavesdropping laws, including Penal Law section 250.05, are strict. Most owners turn audio off.
- Claims about police response like "Police notified automatically" unless your system does that.
- Promises of safety such as "This area is secure."
8. Biometrics and Special Features
If your system uses facial recognition or other biometric identification, additional signage rules may apply in New York City. According to a legal summary, NYC has a biometric identifier law that can require clear notice at entrances of certain commercial establishments. I am not linking a primary source, so ask your attorney to confirm. See our guide on facial recognition and biometric signage. A generic camera sign is not a substitute.
9. Size, Language and Placement
Size. Big enough to read from a few feet. A small sticker on a door at eye level works; a metal sign on a fence post should be larger.
Language. In neighborhoods with many languages, add a second language. Use simple words.
Placement. At eye level at every public entrance and near cameras. Not hidden behind a shelf.
Visibility at night. Reflective or lit signs help.
Condition. Replace faded or damaged signs. A tattered sign suggests nobody checks the cameras.
10. Make the Sign Match Reality
Signs should reflect your actual policy. If your sign says footage is kept for thirty days, keep it thirty days. If it says "no cameras in restrooms," make sure that is true. Review signs when you add cameras. Our guide on retention policies helps align the two.
11. Do Signs Deter Crime?
Some. A visible camera and sign can discourage casual offenders who look for easy targets. Determined thieves may ignore them. Signs work best with real cameras, good lighting and locks. A sign without a camera is a bluff that can backfire if it creates a false sense of security or misleads customers. Our guide on whether camera signs deter crime looks at the evidence and the limits.
12. News Context
Visible cameras matter because cases do get solved with footage. 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. A sign tells people the camera is there. The footage does the rest.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
13. Costs
Signs are inexpensive. Planning ranges in 2026: window decals or small signs, $5 to $40; metal or aluminum signs, $15 to $120; custom multilingual or reflective signs, $40 to $250. Professional installation of a camera system with signs included: small shop with four to six cameras, $1,800 to $5,200; four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
14. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Do you supply signs, and can you customize the wording?
- Where should signs go for this property?
- Can you confirm that audio is off before we say "video only"?
- Can signs be placed at eye level at each entrance?
- Can you add a second language?
- Will you update signs if we add cameras?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, business camera installation in Brooklyn, commercial installation in Queens and our services page.
Want signs that match your system? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
15. A Checklist You Can Use Today
Walk your property and ask: Is there a sign at every public entrance? Can I read it from three feet away? Does it say only things that are true? Is it in the languages my visitors speak? Does it match our retention and audio settings? Is it clean and undamaged? If you answer no to any, fix it this week. It is one of the cheapest improvements you can make.
16. Updating Signs Over Time
Signs age faster than cameras. Sun fades vinyl, rain peels stickers and renovations move doors. Put sign checks on the same calendar as your camera maintenance, and replace anything that is hard to read. When you change your system, such as adding a camera on the side street, turning on audio-free analytics or switching recorders, reread the wording and make sure it still says only what is true. Keep a spare set of signs so replacements happen the same day, and photograph each sign in place for your insurance documentation.
17. Where to Buy and What to Look For
Choose weather-rated aluminum or UV-resistant plastic for outdoor signs, and use screws or strong adhesive rated for your surface. Order a few extras. Local sign shops can print custom wording in a day or two, and many installers include basic signs with a job. Check that colors contrast well and that text is large enough to read from the distance where people will first notice the sign.
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
What should a security camera sign say? Short and true, such as "Video surveillance in use." Avoid overclaiming or threats.
Do I need a sign? I am not aware of a general requirement for ordinary video-only cameras, but signs are good practice, and some situations carry specific rules.
Should I say "24/7 monitored"? Only if someone actually watches the cameras. Otherwise say "recorded."
Should the sign mention audio? Only if audio is recorded, and most owners leave audio off. Ask an attorney before recording audio.
Where should signs go? At eye level at every public entrance and near the cameras.
Do signs deter crime? They may discourage casual offenders, but they work best alongside real cameras, lighting and locks.
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.