Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

Outdoor surveillance laws you need to know

Amelia Wilson
By

If you’re considering placing an outdoor surveillance system around your home, you should invest some time learning home security camera laws and surveillance laws pertaining to you and your property. Your first priority is to keep your home safe, of course, though there are a few laws that you need to be aware of so  you can ensure you are surveilling your property legally.

Local laws and restrictions

Before you purchase or install your new home security system, you need to cross-reference your federal, state, and county laws to ensure you are following proper protocol. Local laws can differ between states and counties, so it’s important to double-check local security standards before implementing your new security system.

National law

National law for the United States is fairly broad, though it is still important to understand their regulations when it comes to surveillance cameras.

home security camera in backyard
Photographicss/Shutterstock

Expectation of privacy

One of the main things you need to know about outdoor surveillance in the U.S. is the expectation of privacy. The national government considers home surveillance a legal action so long as you respect the privacy of others.

For example, the government does not agree with audio and video recording in bathrooms, locker rooms, hotel rooms, or bedrooms. These spaces tend to be private for sole occupants and users and are not regarded as places where surveillance footage would be an acceptable argument under the law.

To make this rule a bit more practical for the average homeowner, your neighbor’s house would be considered a private space where recorded footage may not be viable in court. Your outdoor security camera can’t point directly at your neighbor’s house or “peer” through a window as this is an invasion of privacy. The best way to point your outdoor camera is so the camera focuses only on the front yards and/or driveways of yours and your neighbor’s homes as these outdoor spaces are considered public. 

Video and audio are not the same

The national government doesn’t recognize video and audio as being the same. For example, hidden recording devices are discouraged in the U.S. Often, hidden recording devices are used expressly for blackmail or gaining confessions. Since there is no consent for these recordings, the audio footage is not accepted in a court of law. 

Of course, you should always check with local law to determine the details regarding public and private audio recording as municipalities differ from one another.

hidden home security camera in plant
Sergey Privalov/Shutterstock

Hidden cameras

Hidden cameras and other sources of video footage are entirely separate from the rules of hidden audio footage. Generally, hidden cameras are acceptable inside and outside your home. Many people put hidden cameras in garden bushes or around decorative porch pieces to keep them from being noticed. 

There is no need to gain consent from others for silent video footage so long as you obey the expectation for privacy. You can have a hidden camera on your porch as long as it is not aimed at a neighbor’s house. Or, you can have a nanny cam in your home so long as it isn’t in the bathroom, bedroom, or space where there is an expectation of privacy.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
How to install a security light with a motion sensor in 3 easy steps
how to install security lights shutterstock 1340722961

Your home is your haven, and it should be where you and your family feel the safest. Keeping your home protected with a home security system is the most comprehensive way to guard it, but if you're not ready for that financial commitment, you can always install a motion-detecting security light outside. To answer any questions you may have, we'll discuss the benefits of motion sensor lights and how to install them quickly so you and your family can sleep a little easier.

Benefits of a security light with a motion sensor
While they don't come with all the bells and whistles of a complete home security system, outdoor motion sensor security lights give you a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to keeping your home secure.
Improve security
Of course, the primary benefit of a security light with a motion sensor is that it deters would-be intruders. Not only would an intruder be caught off-guard by the sudden burst of light, but they are likely to retreat and move along since they don't want to be seen.
Promote safety
Falls happen in the driveways and walkways of homes not only when the ground is wet or iced over, but also when it's too dark to see any trip hazards. With a motion sensor light, every time you enter or exit your home, you can be confident that you'll have a light to illuminate the way, preventing slips, trips, and falls.
Convenience
Outdoor motion sensor lights also mean you don't have to remember to turn your outdoor lights on and off every time the sun goes down or a guest arrives. The light simply turns on when your movement is detected, with no effort on your part.
Budget-friendly
Since full home security systems can be pricey, motion sensor security lights present a more economical way to secure the home without breaking the bank.
Where to install motion sensor lights
For the motion sensor on your outdoor security light to be most effective, install it in a location with no obstructions, like trees or parked cars, that would otherwise prevent it from sensing movements in the area.  Ensure the sensor is approximately 10 feet above ground level and in such a position where any movement that occurs in the area will travel across the motion detector instead of moving directly toward or away from it. Cross movement is more easily detected by the sensor, so make sure it's perpendicular to any walking path.

Read more
Can you paint in high humidity? What you need to know
Painting in humid weather: How to make sure your paint job is still gorgeous
the best white acrylic paint

If you're planning a painting project and you're concerned about humidity levels while you paint, you've come to the right place. Since paint needs to dry properly to have a beautiful and smooth-looking result, moisture in the air is certainly an issue. So, is painting in humid weather possible? While the answer to that question is yes, we're going to discuss some of the concerns and tips for dealing with humidity and painting indoors or outdoors.

How does humidity affect your paint job?
Moisture in the air means that there's moisture on the surface you're about to paint. A damp surface is not ideal for painting, and you will find that your overall result doesn't look as great as you'd hoped. Let's dig into the specifics of how high humidity negatively impacts your paint job.
Moisture could lead to mold growth
When you're dealing with high humidity, surfaces tend to dry slowly. When you're painting indoors, for example, you always want to wash your walls before slapping down a coat of paint, so high humidity could slow down the drying process. If your walls are damp when you start to paint, this could lead to mold growing between the wall and the paint. The mold will eventually grow through the new layer of paint, and you will need to clean the area and paint again.
Paint will struggle to dry
For a coat of most paint types to dry, the water in the paint needs to evaporate more quickly than the solvents. In high humidity, the water struggles to evaporate, making for a gunky, gel-like layer of paint. Eventually, when the humidity level falls, you'll find that this type of consistency will dry with a wavy texture since it has not been set properly, and you won't be satisfied with the result.
Wood surfaces could swell
As you may know, moisture on wood causes it to swell. If you're painting wood when there's a lot of moisture in the air, the wood could start to swell a bit after you've put on a coat of paint. This swelling could cause cracks or chips in your coat of paint which will eventually lead to the surface needing to be repainted.
Paint may not adhere to metal surfaces
Painting metal objects can be difficult enough, since paint doesn't adhere to them as easily as it does to wood. Humidity can worsen this, so if you're trying to paint something metal, it might be best to leave that for a drier day.

Read more
The pros and cons of ductless heating and cooling systems you need to know about
Are ductless heating and cooling systems right for your home? These are the pros and cons
ductless heating and cooling shutterstock 1023973342

Your heating and cooling system contributes to your overall comfort, so it's a crucial element of your home. It also tends to be the largest energy expense for most homes. It's important to be sure the system you use is both effective and economical. If you're wondering about ductless heating and cooling systems and whether they're right for your space, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss how they work, who they're ideal for, and all the pros and cons of those ductless heat and air units.

How do ductless heating and cooling systems work?
Most modern homes have duct-based HVAC systems that use an outdoor unit for air conditioning and a furnace for heating. Those units push heated or cooled air through a duct system that's set up throughout the house. Ductless heating and cooling systems, however, require no ducts and simply consist of a condensing unit outside the house and indoor units mounted on the wall or ceiling. The indoor units are responsible for distributing cooled or heated air into the home.

Read more