Security cameras are generally legal on your own property, but both New York and New Jersey draw firm lines around places where people expect privacy: bathrooms, bedrooms, changing rooms, showers and similar spaces. Employers in New York may not record employees in restrooms, locker rooms or rooms designated for changing, and both states regulate audio recording more strictly than video. Secretly recording someone in a private setting can be a felony. This guide lists the main off-limits places, explains the statutes in plain language and links to official sources. It is general information, not legal advice.
1. The Short List of Off-Limits Places
| Place | Camera status |
|---|---|
| Bathroom or restroom | Do not place cameras. |
| Bedroom (someone else's, or shared) | Do not, unless all occupants know and agree, and even then think carefully. |
| Changing room, locker room, fitting room | Do not, with narrow notice-based rules in some retail settings. |
| Shower or tub area | Do not. |
| Hotel or short-term rental guest rooms | Do not hide cameras in places guests use privately. |
| Employee restrooms and changing areas (NY) | Prohibited by statute for employers. |
| Neighbor's windows and private spaces | Do not aim at them. |
| Spaces where people undress, such as nursery changing areas used by caregivers | Use caution and notice. |
| Conversations you are not part of (audio) | High risk. Disable audio. |
2. New York: Unlawful Surveillance
Penal Law section 250.45, unlawful surveillance in the second degree, is a class E felony. According to the text on the New York State Senate website at nysenate.gov, it covers, among other things:
- Intentionally using or installing an imaging device to secretly view, broadcast or record a person undressing or their intimate parts, where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and has not consented, for amusement, entertainment, profit or to degrade or abuse the person.
- The same conduct for sexual arousal or gratification.
- Secretly recording someone in a bedroom, restroom, changing room, shower or similar space, for no legitimate purpose and without consent. The statute includes a rebuttable presumption of no legitimate purpose in hotels, motels and inns.
- Secretly viewing or recording under a person's clothing.
- Secretly recording an identifiable person engaged in sexual conduct, for the stated purposes.
The statute's exact language controls. Read it, and talk to an attorney if you have a question.
3. New York: Employees
Labor Law section 203-c provides that no employer may cause a video recording to be made of an employee in a restroom, locker room or room designated by the employer for employees to change their clothes, unless authorized by court order. A recording made in violation may not be used by the employer for any purpose, and the section allows civil remedies such as damages, attorney's fees and injunctive relief. Law enforcement personnel acting in their authorized duties are excepted. Read the text at nysenate.gov. See our guide to workplace cameras in New York.
4. New York: Audio
Audio is a separate area of risk. New York's eavesdropping law, Penal Law section 250.05, makes eavesdropping a class E felony. The definitions in section 250.00 describe "mechanical overhearing of a conversation" as intentionally overhearing or recording a conversation with a device by someone who is not present, without the consent of at least one party. A camera microphone can pick up conversations among other people. See our audio guide for New York.
5. New Jersey: Invasion of Privacy
N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9 addresses invasion of privacy. According to the New Jersey Judiciary's model jury charge on the observation offense, available at njcourts.gov, the State must prove that the defendant observed another person without consent, knew he or she was not licensed or privileged to do so, and did so under circumstances where a reasonable person would know the other person may expose intimate parts or engage in sexual conduct, in a place where the person would not expect to be observed. The charge notes a retail fitting-room provision: observing in the access way or entrance is not a violation, and photographing or recording there is not a violation if the store conspicuously posts prior notice, but observing inside a private dressing stall is a violation. It also describes an affirmative defense based on prior notice and a lawful purpose.
The details are technical. In plain terms, do not put cameras where people undress, bathe or use the toilet.
6. New Jersey: Audio
New Jersey's Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-1 and following, regulates intercepting wire, electronic and oral communications. A party to a conversation, or someone with a party's consent, may generally record it unless the purpose is criminal or tortious, but a camera that records other people's conversations may not fit that exception. See our guide to audio recording and cameras in New Jersey. You can find the statutes through the New Jersey Legislature at njleg.gov.
7. Places That Are Not Automatically Illegal but Require Care
Bedrooms of children or caregivers. Parents of young children and families that employ caregivers often ask about nanny cams. The rules are nuanced. Never place a camera where someone dresses, bathes or uses the toilet, and be careful with audio. See our nanny cam guide.
Common areas of multi-family buildings. Hallways, lobbies and stairwells can be monitored with care. Do not point cameras into apartments, and avoid audio. See our landlord guide.
Rental properties. Landlords and short-term hosts must disclose cameras and avoid private spaces. Hidden cameras inside units are a serious problem.
Workplaces. Video in work areas is common, but restrooms and changing areas are off limits in New York, and break rooms raise policy questions. See our guide on workplace cameras.
Medical and therapy settings. Special privacy rules may apply. Seek legal and compliance advice.
Schools and childcare. Rules and policies are specific. Consult the institution or an attorney.
8. Practical Placement Rules
- Aim cameras at doors, driveways, yards, entrances, registers, hallways and stockrooms, not at restrooms or changing areas.
- Use privacy masks to block windows and neighbors' property.
- Turn off audio unless you have legal advice.
- Disclose cameras to people who live in or visit your property, especially guests who stay overnight.
- Never hide cameras in smoke detectors, clocks, outlets or other objects in places like bedrooms or bathrooms of rentals or guest rooms.
- Document where your cameras are and what they see.
9. If You Find a Hidden Camera
If you discover a hidden camera in a bathroom, bedroom, hotel room or rental, leave it in place if you can, take photos, leave the area if you feel unsafe and contact the police. Do not post about it online before talking to police, because that can complicate an investigation. Keep records. An attorney can advise on civil claims.
10. News Context
Most news about home security cameras concerns doorstep and driveway video, not private spaces. 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 reported on a Sayreville, New Jersey, break-in captured by multiple cameras, according to ABC7 New York. Those are the uses that most people want from cameras, and they are the uses that stay on the right side of the line.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
11. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Will you avoid aiming cameras at restrooms, bedrooms and changing areas?
- Can you set privacy masks on windows and neighbors' property?
- Will audio be disabled?
- Can you document camera locations for my records?
- Do you recommend legal review for any unusual setup?
- How will you handle cameras in rental or multi-family settings?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Queens, Jersey City, commercial installation in Brooklyn and our services page.
Not sure what is safe to cover? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
12. When to Talk to a Lawyer
If you are planning cameras in a business with sensitive areas, a rental, a childcare setting, a medical office, a home with caregivers or any situation involving audio or hidden cameras, get legal advice before installing. If you have discovered a camera aimed at you, contact the police and consider speaking with an attorney.
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
Where are security cameras illegal in New York? Secretly recording people in bedrooms, restrooms, changing rooms, showers and similar private spaces without consent can violate Penal Law section 250.45. Employers cannot record employees in restrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms under Labor Law section 203-c.
Where are cameras illegal in New Jersey? N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9 addresses invasion of privacy in places where people would not expect to be observed, such as when they may expose intimate parts.
Can I put a camera in a bedroom? In your own bedroom, usually yes, but not where others undress without knowing. Be careful with guests, caregivers and tenants.
Are hidden cameras legal? Hidden cameras in private spaces can be felonies. See our hidden camera guide.
Is audio recording illegal? It can be, if it records conversations you are not part of without consent. Turn audio off unless you have legal advice.
What should I do if I find a hidden camera? Document it and contact the police.
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.