Can Tenants Install Security Cameras in a NYC Rental?

Often, yes, inside your own apartment, but your lease, your landlord and your building's rules decide the details. Many tenants in New York City use wireless or plug-in cameras inside their units without drilling or altering the apartment. Cameras that mount to the door, record the hallway, hang outside a window, attach to a fire escape or require drilling and wiring are different, and landlords commonly want to approve those first. This guide explains how to think about it, how to ask and how to avoid a dispute.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Leases differ, and rent-regulated tenancies can involve additional rules. For your own situation, check your lease and consider speaking with a tenant resource or attorney.

1. The Short Version

Camera type	Typical risk level	What to do
Plug-in or battery camera inside your apartment, no drilling	Lower	Check your lease. Tell the landlord if you want to be safe.
Camera aimed at your own door from inside	Lower to moderate	Avoid capturing neighbors' doors across the hall.
Video doorbell replacing the peephole or mounted on the door	Moderate to higher	Ask your landlord. Doors are often building property.
Camera that records the hallway	Higher	Hallways are common areas. Ask first.
Camera on a window facing the street	Moderate	Check lease, building rules and what it captures.
Wired system with drilling	Higher	Get written approval.
Camera on a fire escape or exterior wall	Higher	Usually requires approval and may conflict with safety rules.
Hidden camera in bathroom or bedroom	Not acceptable	Do not.

2. Start With Your Lease

Read the sections on alterations, installations, common areas, nuisances and rules for the building. Some leases forbid any changes without written consent. Others are silent about cameras. A lease that bans "alterations" may apply to drilling holes or replacing a peephole, even if it does not mention cameras by name. If the lease is unclear, ask in writing.

3. Door Cameras, Peepholes and Doorbells

A video doorbell or door camera is among the most requested devices for renters. Doors and door frames are often considered part of the building or subject to fire-safety and security standards. Replacing a peephole, drilling into a door or changing a lock can require landlord permission, and in some buildings it may affect fire ratings. Options include:

A removable, adhesive-mounted camera on the inside of the door or wall, aimed at the door.
A peephole camera that replaces the viewer, with landlord approval.
A video doorbell mounted with removable hardware if permitted.
A camera on a shelf pointed at the door from inside.

Ask your landlord before attaching anything to the door.

4. Hallways and Neighbors

Hallways are common areas. A camera aimed at the hallway can capture other tenants coming and going, which is why many landlords object. Even if a device sits inside your door, a wide-angle view through a peephole can capture the hall and neighbors' doors. Consider a narrower view, privacy masks and a conversation with the landlord. Respecting neighbors prevents complaints.

5. Privacy Rules You Should Follow

Under New York Penal Law section 250.45, unlawful surveillance in the second degree is a class E felony and covers secretly recording people in places such as bedrooms, restrooms, changing rooms and showers, and other intimate settings, without consent. The official text is at nysenate.gov. Never place a camera where people undress or bathe, including guests, roommates and workers.

Audio is regulated separately. New York's eavesdropping provisions, including Penal Law section 250.05, make eavesdropping a class E felony, and the definitions in section 250.00 describe mechanical overhearing of a conversation as intentionally recording a conversation by someone not present without the consent of at least one party. Turn off audio unless you have legal advice. See our audio guide.

6. If You Have Roommates, Guests or Caregivers

Tell everyone who lives in or visits your apartment about cameras. If you use a camera while a nanny, home health aide or housekeeper is present, tell them. Do not record in bathrooms or bedrooms. Roommates may have their own expectations. Agree on rules in writing. See our guide on nanny cams.

7. Wireless vs. Wired for Renters

Wireless and battery cameras are easy to move and usually do not need landlord approval for inside use. They depend on Wi-Fi and may require subscriptions for stored video.

Plug-in cameras need an outlet and Wi-Fi but avoid battery changes.

Wired PoE systems are more reliable but involve drilling and cable. They usually require written approval and may need to be removed or restored when you move.

For most renters, a wireless camera inside the apartment aimed at the door is the best balance. See our guide on wired versus wireless costs.

8. How to Ask Your Landlord

A short, polite email works. Include:

What you want to install and where.
Whether it requires drilling or alterations.
What it will record and that audio will be off.
That you will remove it and repair any minor damage when you leave.
A request for written approval.

Keep the response. If your landlord says no, ask whether there are alternatives, such as a camera inside the apartment pointed at the door.

9. Rent-Regulated Tenants and Services

Rent-regulated apartments can involve rules about services and building changes. If your landlord installs cameras or removes services, there may be complaints you can make to the proper agency, such as the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. For specific questions about your rent-regulated tenancy, speak with a tenant organization or attorney. This article does not cover those rules in detail.

10. When a Landlord Says No

Some landlords refuse all cameras. You can ask why, propose limits and ask about options such as a camera inside the apartment, a door alarm or a doorbell chime. You can also ask the landlord to improve building security, such as lobby cameras, lighting or locks. If you believe the building has serious safety problems, report them to the appropriate agency or seek help from a tenant organization. Do not install a camera in violation of the lease without understanding the risk, which can include a notice to cure, a warning or, in serious cases, a claim for breach.

11. Taking Cameras With You

A benefit of renter-friendly systems is portability. When you move, remove cameras, patch small holes if allowed and restore the apartment to its original condition. Keep receipts and photos of the apartment before and after. If you used adhesive mounts, test a small spot first and remove them slowly with the manufacturer's recommended method, which usually avoids paint damage. Return any landlord-owned items, such as the original peephole, exactly as you found them.

12. News Context

Renters face the same crimes as homeowners, including package theft and building entry. 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. The details involved houses, not apartments, but the lesson is the same: video that clearly shows a person helps police.

A 2022 New Jersey law made delivered-package theft a third-degree crime regardless of value, according to NJ 101.5. Verify current rules with the state. Citywide, NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).

13. Questions to Ask Your Installer

Can you install without drilling?
Can you set a privacy mask over the hallway?
Can you disable audio?
What happens when I move out?
Do you provide a letter for my landlord?
How is video stored, and what are the monthly costs?

See our local pages for video doorbell installation in Brooklyn, residential camera installation in Queens, Manhattan and our services page.

Not sure what your lease allows? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.

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

Can I install a security camera in my NYC rental? Often inside your apartment, yes. Check your lease, and get written approval for anything involving drilling, the door, the hallway or exteriors.

Can I put a camera outside my apartment door? Hallways are common areas. Ask your landlord first, and expect objections.

Can my landlord make me remove a camera? If it violates your lease or building rules, possibly. Ask for the reason in writing and seek advice if you disagree.

Do I need landlord approval for a wireless camera inside? Often not, but check your lease and consider telling the landlord.

Can I record audio? Be careful. New York regulates eavesdropping. Turn audio off unless you have legal advice.

What if my landlord installs cameras in the hallway? Landlords often can in common areas, within limits. See our landlord camera 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.