In this article we have listed the CCTV surveillance laws in all 50 States for your benefit. What does it take to secure not only your home, but your legal authority as a resident protector. Read more for each of the 50 United States and view the laws. It’s important to know the security camera laws before setting up your CCTV system in your home or business. You need to protect yourself against any potential lawsuits.
Security cameras (CCTV systems) and listening devices are controlled by human beings. So anything that is present on devices as these are a direct result of human activity. Capturing a second or third person’s confidential images and audio (most likely speech) may be illegal in your community without ‘consent’ from involved parties. Even businesses have stickers on the front doors indicating a recorded property. Consult our list below for a more complete description.
Alabama CCTV Laws
If you as the person listening or recording is an involved member of the conversation or event then you may freely capture footage and audio.
Alaska CCTV Laws
In Alaska you must have consent of only one party to capture or record any private events or conversations. Although it seems that any public communications or actions do not require consent.
Arizona CCTV Laws
For Arizona all those involved in a recording must consent to the recording or consent to the awareness of such recordings. Much like other states if you are in public or using a communication method that one would not expect to be private then that does not require consent.
Arkansas CCTV Laws
Recording private matters is much like other states for security cameras, if the subject is thought to be private, consent needs to be obtained for it to be legal to video survey. If the one recording is involved then it is legal.
California CCTV Laws
In California you must have consent of all parties to capture or record any private events or conversations. Although it seems that any public communications or actions do not require consent.
Colorado CCTV Laws
Felony for recording private matters without consent. Recording equipment on personally owned property for security or business reasons is legal as long as notice in the area or to those employed there.
Connecticut CCTV Laws
In Connecticut you must have consent of all parties to capture or record any private events or conversations. You need to give prior warning or establish understanding a recording is taking place.
Delaware CCTV Laws
You may not intercept any private communications without prior consent. If you are involved in the communication you can record it though.
District of Columbia CCTV Laws
Needs consent before private recording of private conversations.
Florida CCTV Laws
All those involved must consent to the recording or the consent to the awareness of such recordings. Much like other states if you are in public or using a communication method that one would not expect to be private then that does not require consent.
Georgia CCTV Laws
Secret recordings are a felony. One party in the conversation must give consent.
Hawaii CCTV Laws
In the tropics of Hawaii, all those involved must consent to the recording or the consent to the awareness of such recordings. Much like other states if you are in public or using a communication method that one would not expect to be private than that does not require consent.
Idaho CCTV Laws
If you as the person listening or recording in Idaho is an involved member of the conversation or event then you may freely capture footage and audio.
Illinois CCTV Laws
A security system or security camera cannot be used to record anyone without the consent of all those involved. Plain sight cameras, and posted signs declaring a camera is in use is not something that requires consent in Illinois.
Indiana CCTV Laws
Recording an event or conversation must be made by either the sender or the receiver for the recording to be legal.
Iowa CCTV Laws
If you as the person listening or recording is an involved member of the conversation or event then you may freely capture footage and audio.
Kansas CCTV Laws
Kansas has adopted one-party consent for recording of conversations and has held that as long as one party consents to the conversation, the other party loses their right to challenge the footage.
Kentucky CCTV Laws
It is a felony unless at least one party consents to recording. If it’s a location and there can not be any expected privacy such as in front of a family reunion, that is legal.
Louisiana CCTV Laws
One party needs to have given prior consent if a private matter is recorded.
Maine CCTV Laws
It’s legal if the recording party is either the sender or receiver.
Maryland CCTV Laws
You need all the parties consent to record private matters.
Massachusetts CCTV Laws
Massachusetts needs consent for private communications.
Michigan CCTV Laws
A participant in a conversation may record that conversation without the permission of other parties. But if that person is not present then consent is needed from at least one party.
Minnesota CCTV Laws
Again like many other states, it is legal for a person to record secretly if that person is included in the communication or event. Also if one of the parties grants consent then it is legal.
Mississippi CCTV Laws
Mississippi is like other states, a person can legally record surveillance if that person is included in the communication or event. Also if one of the parties grants consent then it is legal.
Missouri CCTV Laws
In Missouri you can lawfully record video if that person is involved in the communication or event, or if one of the parties grants consent then it is legal.
Montana CCTV Laws
A person living in Montana cannot video record a private conversation without knowledge of all parties in the conversation. If there is a sign or warning then proceed.
Nebraska CCTV Laws
A person cannot secretly record a private conversation without knowledge of all parties in the conversation. If there is a sign or warning then proceed, it is not expected that the location will be private.
Nevada CCTV Laws
Consent from all parties is required to record a conversation in the great state of Nevada.
New Hampshire CCTV Laws
It is a felony to record unknowingly something private and share this content. Consent should be granted if a private matter is captured on a security camera.
New Jersey CCTV Laws
Fine to record as long as it’s not a private matter, then of course here comes the need for, you guess it, consent.
New Mexico CCTV Laws
If you record someone without their knowledge and they have expected privacy in their own personal phone call for example you could be in hot water if charged. Get consent for private matters, post a convenient sign and your good.
New York CCTV Laws
Like many, many other states, New York says it’s legal to record and monitor, if you, the one recording are involved, and there is consent with other parties involved. Again a sign stating the camera on premises will clear all expectations of privacy and consent requirements.
North Carolina CCTV Laws
It is a felony to record a communication without consent from the parties involved. So don’t record anyone’s phone calls, and put up a sign.
North Dakota CCTV Laws
If you are personally included in the recorded events or have consent then that seems to be legal and just fine.
Ohio CCTV Laws
Like many other states, Ohio says it is okay and legal to record and monitor, if you are the one recording and are involved, or there is consent when the camera operator is not involved in the events or conversations.
Oklahoma CCTV Laws
Oklahoma says it is legal to record and monitor, if you are the one recording and are involved, or there is consent when the camera operator is not involved in the events or conversations.
Oregon CCTV Laws
All parties involved must give consent for private video recording or surveillance. Unless you are involved in the events or conversations.
Pennsylvania CCTV Laws
All parties involved must consent as long as there is no expectation of privacy.
Rhode Island CCTV Laws
If you are one of the parties included in the recorded events or have consent then that seems to be legal and just fine.
South Carolina CCTV Laws
If you are secretly recording and are one of the parties included in the recorded events or have consent then that is legal. Consent is not needed if the location is not expected to be secure and private.
South Dakota CCTV Laws
Much similar to South Carolina, If you are secretly recording and are one of the parties included in the recorded events or have consent then that is legal. Consent is not needed if the location is not expected to be secure and private.
Tennessee CCTV Laws
As a resident of Tennessee, if you are secretly recording and are one of the parties included in the recorded events or have consent then that is legal. Consent is not needed if the location is not expected to be secure and private.
Texas CCTV Laws
If you’re included in an event or conversation you can record it. If you are not involved you need consent.
Utah CCTV Laws
If you are secretly recording and are one of the parties included in the recorded events or have consent then that is legal. Consent is not needed if the location is not expected to be secure and private.
Vermont CCTV Laws
There are no specific laws concerning recording with a home security camera. Just use common sense with those involved. There are other types of privacy laws of course.
Virginia CCTV Laws
Like many other states, in Virginia it is legal to record and survey if the recording person is involved or there is simply consent when the camera operator is not involved in the events taking place or conversations.
Washington CCTV Laws
All parties involved must consent as long as there is no expectation of privacy.
Washington DC CCTV Laws
It’s the country’s capital, of course they have strong laws. Needs consent before private recording of private conversations. Post a sign and expected privacy is invalid.
West Virginia CCTV Laws
It’s legal to record and survey if you the recorder are involved or there is simply consent when the camera operator is not involved in the events taking place or communications.
Wisconsin CCTV Laws
If you are included in the events or communications you are not liable for consent. Just like many other states, if there are no expectations for privacy at a given location, then it’s legal to record.
Wyoming CCTV Laws
Wyoming is a free to record state as long as the person does not expect reasonable privacy. If three parties are involved you only need one of the two for consent.
Conclusion
Laws and regulations are difficult to understand at times. They change, they get buried, and forgotten. Most of the time, generally, if a security camera sign is posted or a camera is in plain sight, it is considered a place where little-to-no privacy would be expected. And as such this would free up the property owner or media owner of any wrongdoing. Let it be understood that all security cameras are used as crime deterrents and they are treated differently than just a tape recorder placed under some pillows. It presents a loss of expectation for privacy when a sign is placed in a window or hung on a wall. If you can’t overhear speech with your own natural ears and the aid of electronic devices are needed, that’s where legality comes into play. It has a big relation to your overall ‘intent’.
Security cameras get smaller and lighter and quicker, so people find new unique ways to use them. Talk to family, play games, work with business clients and the list keeps expanding. Using them requires a cup of common sense and logic. It is not hard to stay out of trouble. Have you considered fake cameras? They don’t have laws attached.
This list is not intended to be of any legal quality document, but merely a soft guide into CCTV surveillance Laws for the 50 States. Please consult your local law authorities for detailed rules and current law. And more importantly, always put up a surveillance warning sign.
