What states are illegal to have hidden cameras?

Asked by: Derick Klocko PhD  |  Last update: November 25, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (33 votes)

A small group of states, Tennessee, Utah, New Hampshire, Maine, Kansas, South Dakota, Delaware, Arkansas, and Michigan, prohibit video surveillance or the use of hidden cameras in all places where someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy unless you have obtained consent from people being filmed.

What states allow hidden cameras?

Georgia: Georgia permits using video surveillance cameras in public and private settings just as long as the cameras are in plain sight. Florida, Alabama, and Minnesota: Florida, Alabama, and Minnesota allows for hidden video surveillance in non-private settings.

In what states is it illegal to video record someone?

1 California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The vast majority of jurisdictions that criminalize nonconsensual videotaping of a person require that the person be in an area in which that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Can you sue for hidden cameras?

In California, privacy laws are in place to protect your rights. The most frequently cited state laws on surveillance stem from California Penal Code Section 647(j)(3), which makes it a crime to invade a person's privacy by using a camera where they expect privacy.

How illegal are hidden cameras?

California. The state's disorderly conduct law prohibits the use of “a concealed camcorder, motion picture camera, or photographic camera of any type” to secretly record a person while in a rest room, dressing room, tanning booth or while in any area where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Fact Check: Are cameras in restrooms legal?

30 related questions found

What states allow cameras in dressing rooms?

Only 13 states explicitly prohibit dressing room cameras, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Utah.

How to block neighbor security camera?

The privacy fence, bamboo curtains and yard shade sails are also effective tools to disable CCTV security cameras. Additionally, you may put up cheap posts with cloth flags along the property line to block the CCTV security camera.

Should I call the police if I find a hidden camera?

File a Police Report: Cameras in private places (bedrooms, bath- rooms, changing rooms, etc.) are likely an invasion of privacy and often illegal. To report contact your local police department to notify them of the situation.

Can a neighbor install a camera pointed at my house?

Just as the home security camera laws in California says, “There are no restrictions, for a private person to have video surveillance cameras around their property for the purposes of security.”

Is there a service to check for hidden cameras?

Notice: Our Bug Sweep services to check for monitoring devices and hidden cameras are exclusively available in all 50 States. To hire a private investigator for monitoring devices and cameras, you will need to contact our office @ (800)-577-1080 to arrange a time for our investigators to visit your residence.

What is illegal surveillance?

What is Considered Illegal Surveillance in California? California Penal Code Section 647(j)(3) prohibits the invasion of a person's privacy by using cameras in places where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

What can I do if my neighbor is recording me with his phone?

Contact law enforcement: Report your concerns to the police and provide them with the evidence you have gathered. They can investigate the matter and take appropriate action if necessary.

What states are cell cameras illegal?

Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, and Utah recently banned cameras on public lands. Now, even Kentucky is considering a ban on trail cameras for public-land hunting. These are bans on SD and cellular cameras alike.

Is private surveillance legal?

Wiretapping and Recording: Private investigators cannot intercept phone calls or electronic communications without consent. California law specifically requires all parties to consent to the recording of private conversations. Trespassing: Investigators cannot enter private property without permission.

What is the policy for hidden cameras?

In most cases, hidden cameras invade people's privacy and record them without consent. Therefore, they are illegal in such scenarios. They can't be placed in certain locations where privacy matters a lot, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. Secondly, it depends on the laws of the place you live.

How to disable neighbors ring camera?

To disable in the Ring app:
  1. Tap the. menu (≡) at the top left of your. Dashboard. screen.
  2. Tap. Control Center. on the left side of the screen.
  3. In Control Center, navigate to the. Neighbors. section via the main menu.
  4. Dsable the feature via the. toggle. .
  5. Tap. Confirm. to disable.

What to do if your neighbor is watching you?

A knock on the door from law enforcement might be the best means of sending your neighbor the message to stay away from you and your family. Keep in mind, however, that once the police respond to your call, they might have you fill out a report. It is always good to document incidents with dates and times.

Do you have to tell someone if you have a camera in your house?

In most states, yes. Georgia, Hawaii, and Utah are the exceptions. Where can I put hidden cameras? Pretty much everywhere, except in private places like bedrooms, changing rooms, bathrooms, and showers.

How do you detect if a hidden camera is watching you?

How to Detect Hidden Camera: 7 Simple Ways
  1. Scan the Environment Carefully. ...
  2. Turn off the Lights in the Room & Use Flashlights. ...
  3. Look at the Wi-Fi Network. ...
  4. Find Hidden Cameras with Your Mobile Phones. ...
  5. Use a Hidden Camera Detector. ...
  6. Check If There's a Hidden Camera behind the Mirror. ...
  7. Hire a Professional Technician.

Can a cell phone detect a hidden camera?

Your cell phone can offer some help with hidden camera detection. You can use the flashlight to search for glinting lenses in the dark, and some apps claim to detect hidden cameras by using different technologies like Bluetooth and infrared detection to pick up on radio and other frequencies cameras emit.

What are the risks of hidden cameras?

Hidden body cameras can compromise security through invasion of privacy, blackmail, hacking, misuse by authorities, and unauthorized recording in sensitive areas.

What will blind a security camera?

How to Blind a CCTV Camera. Shine an LED flashlight directly at a camera to blind it temporarily. Infrared lasers can obscure a camera's image if you shine them at the lens. Talk to your neighbor about removing or adjusting invasive cameras before you take steps to block them with a privacy fence or IR illuminator.

How to tell if a security camera is recording you?

How to Tell if a Security Camera Is Recording?
  1. Method 1. Look for a Blinking Red Light.
  2. Method 2. Examine the Camera's Settings.
  3. Method 3. Look for Indication of Recording on Digital Display.
  4. Method 4. Listen for Any Audio Recordings.
  5. Method 5. Look for a Motion Detector.
  6. Method 6. Check the Footage.

Is it illegal for my neighbor to have a camera pointed at my house?

If the cameras do not point in windows where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (bathroom, bedroom) then those may be okay but if they do point to a fenced backyard or bedrooms, bathrooms, then you could sue the neighbor for invasion of privacy.