You put cameras in your own home to protect your family. Then your sister comes to stay for the weekend, the cleaner arrives on Thursday and your kid brings friends over. Do they need to know? Good manners say yes. Good sense says yes. In many situations the law and common courtesy line up: people should not be surprised to find they have been recorded in someone's home, especially in spaces where they sleep, change clothes or relax. This guide explains why disclosure matters, how to do it gracefully, what to say to different kinds of visitors and what to do if someone is uncomfortable.
This is general information, not legal advice. Privacy and recording rules depend on where cameras are and what they record. Ask an attorney if you have a specific concern.
1. The Short Version
| Visitor | What to do |
|---|---|
| Overnight guest | Tell them before they arrive, and show where cameras are. |
| Cleaner, babysitter or home aide | Tell them in writing. |
| Contractor | Disclose in writing before work starts. |
| Party guests | A small sign or a mention at the door. |
| Teenagers' friends | Make sure your teen tells them. |
| Everyone | Never place cameras in bathrooms or sleeping areas used by guests. |
2. Why Disclosure Matters
People relax at someone else's home. They change clothes in a guest room, speak freely in the kitchen, take phone calls in the hall. Discovering later that a camera was watching can feel like a violation, even if you had good reasons and never looked at the footage. Disclosure respects their expectations, prevents hurt feelings and lowers the risk of legal complaints. 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. Hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms are a serious problem. Open, disclosed cameras at doors and in common areas are a different matter.
3. Where Cameras Are Reasonable
Most people understand and accept cameras at the front door, back door, driveway and garage. Interior cameras are less obvious. Cameras in an entry hall, living room or kitchen can be reasonable for a household that discloses them, but they require more care than exterior ones. Cameras in a guest room, bathroom or bedroom that visitors use should not exist. If you use an indoor camera in a shared space, consider turning it off or covering it when guests are staying, and tell them you did. Our guide on indoor cameras for pet owners explains how to use schedules and privacy modes.
4. How to Tell Overnight Guests
A short, relaxed message works: "Heads up, we have a doorbell camera and a camera in the entry hall. There's nothing in the bedrooms or bathrooms, and it doesn't record audio. I'll switch the hall one off while you're here." Send it before they arrive, so they can ask questions. When they come, point out the cameras. Don't make a big production of it. If a guest looks uneasy, offer to turn a camera off or unplug it. Most people appreciate the courtesy.
5. Cleaners, Babysitters and Home Aides
Tell service workers in writing. Say where cameras are, what they record, why and who can view footage. Do not place cameras in bathrooms or rooms where a worker may change. If a worker is your employee, Labor Law section 203-c restricts recording employees in restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms; see nysenate.gov. Audio raises eavesdropping risks under Penal Law section 250.05, so leave it off. Our guide on nanny cams discusses this in more detail. If someone objects, listen. A cleaner who does not want to be recorded in your kitchen may be perfectly reasonable.
6. Parties and Gatherings
At a party, guests are not expecting to be recorded. Consider turning indoor cameras off or setting them to a privacy mode. Exterior cameras at the door are less of an issue. A small sign near the entrance, such as "Video cameras in use at the front door and driveway," is polite and informative. Don't post party footage online without asking the people in it. If something goes wrong, such as a theft, you can still check the front-door camera.
7. Kids' Friends and Teens
Children invite friends over, and those friends' parents may have opinions. If you have indoor cameras, tell your kids to let their friends know. When a guest child sleeps over, avoid recording in rooms where they sleep or change. If a parent asks, explain where cameras are. Our guide on recording children on home cameras covers more.
8. Audio and Smart Speakers
Cameras are not the only devices that record. Smart speakers, video doorbells and baby monitors may capture sound. Check each device's settings. Disclose any device that records audio, and consider disabling it during visits. Eavesdropping laws can apply to recorded conversations, and many guests find audio recording more intrusive than video.
9. If Someone Objects
Take the concern seriously. Offer to turn the camera off, cover it, unplug it or move it. Don't argue about whether they should be bothered. If the camera is a disclosed exterior one at the front door and a neighbor visiting objects, explain what it covers and offer to show the view. If the camera is inside and a guest finds it uncomfortable, switch it off for the visit. If a guest finds a camera that was not disclosed, apologize, show them what it records and consider whether you should have told them. Keep the relationship in mind.
10. Signs Help
A small sign at the front door and near any indoor camera says what you mean. Keep the wording plain, such as "Cameras record the entrance and the hall. No cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms." Our guide on camera sign wording gives more examples. Signs don't replace conversation, but they reinforce it. They also help deliveries and visitors, and they may discourage trouble.
11. Protect the Footage
Guests' images deserve protection. Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication on camera accounts. Limit who in the household can view footage. Don't share clips of guests online. Delete old footage on schedule. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers practical advice at cisa.gov, and the Federal Trade Commission publishes consumer information at consumer.ftc.gov.
12. News Context
Cameras at doors and driveways are common because of real events. 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 January 2025, ABC7 New York reported on home break-in video from Sayreville, New Jersey, amid a surge in robberies. Exterior cameras protect the home. Telling guests about interior ones keeps relationships intact.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
13. Costs
Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed equipment: indoor camera with setup, $150 to $450; video doorbell, $150 to $550; four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600; schedule and privacy-mode configuration, typically part of installation; signs, under $50. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
14. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you set indoor cameras to turn off on a schedule or when we are home?
- Does the system have a privacy mode I can switch on from my phone?
- Will you leave audio off?
- Can you place cameras so they never view guest rooms or bathrooms?
- Can you supply small, polite signs?
- How do I give a guest a way to see what a camera covers?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, indoor security cameras in Manhattan, home camera installation in Nassau County and our services page.
Want a setup you will be comfortable explaining? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
15. A Two-Sentence Script
Keep a version of this in your phone for any visitor: "We have cameras at the front door and driveway, and one in the hall that I can switch off while you're here. Nothing in bedrooms or bathrooms, and no audio." It is short, friendly and complete. Adapt it to your setup and use it every time.
16. Hosting Long Stays and Relatives
When family members stay for weeks, the usual rules stretch. Sit down on day one and walk them through every camera, including the ones you rarely think about, such as a garage or basement camera. Agree on which indoor devices will be off for the stay, who can see the app and what happens to footage. Offering a relative a view of their own doorway can turn a possible tension into reassurance, and it shows that the cameras serve the whole household rather than watching anyone in particular.
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 tell guests about cameras in my home? Telling them is courteous and wise, especially for interior cameras. Never hide cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms.
Can I record guests in the guest room? No. Cameras should not be in spaces where guests sleep or change.
Should I tell my cleaner? Yes, in writing, and keep cameras out of bathrooms and changing areas.
What if a guest asks me to turn a camera off? Do it. Offer to switch off or cover the camera during the visit.
Should cameras record audio? Generally not. Eavesdropping laws can apply.
How should I word it? Plainly: where cameras are, what they record, and that none are in private areas.
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.