California home camera rules: what homeowners should know.

Where cameras can point

Covering your own property — doors, driveway, yard, side gates — is the normal use of a home camera. Problems start when a camera is aimed so it looks into places where other people expect privacy.

• California Penal Code section 647(j) makes it a crime to use a camera or other device to view the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, or another area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade that person’s privacy. (Penal Code 647)
• California Civil Code section 1708.8 lets a person sue when someone uses a device, in a way offensive to a reasonable person, to capture images or sound of them engaged in private, personal, or family activity that could not have been captured without trespassing. (Civil Code 1708.8)
• In practice: keep cameras pointed at your own property and public-facing areas, and avoid views into a neighbor’s windows, backyard, or other private spaces. Many cameras let us set privacy masks that black out part of the image — we use them when a view unavoidably includes a neighbor’s property.

Audio recording and all-party consent

Audio is where California is stricter than many states. Under Penal Code section 632, it is illegal to intentionally record or eavesdrop on a confidential communication with an electronic device without the consent of all parties to that conversation.

• “Confidential” means a conversation where a participant reasonably expects it to be kept between the people talking. It excludes conversations in public gatherings or other situations where people could reasonably expect to be overheard or recorded.
• Whether a particular conversation is “confidential” depends on the facts, so the safest approach is to avoid capturing private conversations at all.
• Recordings made in violation of section 632 generally cannot be used as evidence in court, except in a case about the violation itself.

Video doorbell and camera audio settings

Many video doorbells and cameras record sound by default. Because of the audio rules above, we review these settings with you during setup:

• Turn off audio recording on cameras that face areas where people may talk privately, such as a side yard next to a neighbor’s patio.
• Consider limiting audio to the doorbell itself, where visitors are speaking to the device, rather than on every camera.
• Check the app after firmware updates; settings can change.
• Indoor cameras in shared living spaces deserve extra care — talk with everyone in the household, and with anyone who works in your home, before turning on audio.

Signs and notices

A visible “video surveillance” sign is a simple courtesy and can discourage trouble. We are not aware of a general California rule requiring homeowners to post one for cameras on their own property. A sign also does not by itself mean everyone has consented to having private conversations recorded, so it is not a substitute for careful audio settings.

Sharing footage

• You can generally choose to share your own footage with police when you report a crime. Keep the original file and note the date and time.
• Think twice before posting footage of identifiable people online. Clips that show a neighbor’s private activity, include private conversations, or accuse someone of something can create legal and personal problems.
• If you receive a request, subpoena, or court order for footage, or a dispute with a neighbor, that is the time to talk with an attorney.
• Protect access: use strong passwords and two-factor sign-in on the camera app, and only share viewing access with people you trust.

How we help

During a walkthrough we look at each camera view with you, suggest angles that cover your property, set privacy masks where useful, and review audio settings before we hand off the system. Questions? Call (323) 788-3553.

Sources: California Legislative Information — Penal Code 632, Penal Code 647(j), Civil Code 1708.8. Reviewed November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.