Can my landlord install security cameras in my building?
Landlords can generally install cameras in common areas like lobbies, hallways, and parking lots. They cannot install cameras that record inside your unit, your private patio, or anywhere you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Security cameras in shared spaces are usually legal and sometimes even welcome — they can deter break-ins and package theft. The lobby, mail room, parking garage, elevators, and building entrance are all fair game.
What's not okay: cameras pointed at your front door to monitor your comings and goings, cameras on your private patio or balcony, and obviously cameras inside your unit. Some landlords also put cameras in laundry rooms, which gets into gray territory — it's a shared space, but also a place where people handle personal items.
Audio recording raises separate legal issues. Many states are "two-party consent" states where recording someone's conversation without their knowledge is a crime. If the cameras have audio recording, your landlord may need your consent. Check your state's wiretapping and surveillance laws.
How This Works State by State
The rules vary depending on where you live. Here's how the biggest states handle it.
Under Cal. Penal Code § 632, California requires two-party consent for audio recording. Landlord cameras with microphones in common areas may be illegal.
Texas allows one-party consent for audio recording under Tex. Penal Code § 16.02. Video surveillance in common areas is generally legal.
NYC Admin. Code § 10-150 mandates lobby security cameras in certain buildings. New York is a one-party consent state for audio recording.
Florida requires two-party consent for audio recording under Fla. Stat. § 934.03. Landlord cameras with microphones need tenant consent.
Under 720 ILCS 5/14-2, Illinois requires all-party consent for audio recording. Landlord surveillance cameras with audio capability require tenant consent.
| State | Rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| California | California is a two-party consent state for audio recording. Video-only cameras in common areas are generally permitted. Cameras recording private areas violate privacy laws. | Cal. Penal Code § 632 (audio); Cal. Civ. Code § 1708.8 (privacy) |
| Texas | Texas is a one-party consent state for audio recording. Video surveillance in common areas is generally legal. Cameras in private areas violate state voyeurism laws. | Tex. Penal Code § 21.15 (voyeurism); Tex. Penal Code § 16.02 (wiretapping) |
| New York | New York is a one-party consent state. Common area cameras are legal. NYC buildings with certain security guard requirements are actually mandated to have lobby cameras. | N.Y. Penal Law § 250.00; NYC Admin. Code § 10-150 |
| Florida | Florida is a two-party consent state for audio recording. Video-only surveillance in common areas is permitted. Cameras must not record areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy. | Fla. Stat. § 934.03 |
| Illinois | Illinois is a two-party consent state (eavesdropping is a felony). Video cameras in common areas are legal but audio recording without consent is a serious crime. | 720 ILCS 5/14-2 |
●Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord install security cameras in my building?
Landlords can generally install cameras in common areas like lobbies, hallways, and parking lots. They cannot install cameras that record inside your unit, your private patio, or anywhere you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Can my landlord enter my apartment without my permission?
In most states, no — landlords must give advance notice (usually 24-48 hours) before entering for non-emergency reasons. They can enter without notice only in genuine emergencies like fires, gas leaks, or flooding.
Can my landlord show my apartment to new tenants while I still live there?
Yes, but with proper notice and at reasonable times. Most states require 24-48 hours advance notice before showing the unit. Your landlord cannot show the apartment at all hours or disrupt your daily life.
Can my landlord change my locks without telling me?
No. Changing your locks without your knowledge or consent is an illegal "self-help" eviction in virtually every state. Even during a legal eviction, only a sheriff or marshal can physically lock you out — not your landlord.
DepositHawk protects renters’ money. See what we do.
DepositHawk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information and documents are for informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship is created. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.