Security Camera Sign Laws: Do You Need a Sign for Cameras?

Is a security camera sign required by federal law?

We did not find a federal statute that requires a posted sign for video cameras on your own property. The federal Wiretap Act, 18 U.S.C. 2511, deals with intercepting wire, oral and electronic communications, which is a question of sound and messages, not of silent video. That is why the rules that matter for most owners come from the states.

This guide explains the rules and is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and city, and they change. A homeowner, a landlord, a shop owner and an employer can all face different rules for the same camera. Read the statute for your state, and ask a local attorney if your situation is unusual.

Audio recording is where consent laws bite

Many security cameras also record sound, and recording conversations is treated more strictly than recording video. Federal law allows a recording when one party to the communication has consented. Some states require everyone in the conversation to consent. These are often called all-party consent states.

California Penal Code section 632 prohibits intentionally recording a confidential communication without the consent of all parties. Washington's RCW 9.73.030 requires the consent of everyone in a private conversation, and says consent is considered obtained when a person has announced, in any reasonably effective manner, that the conversation is about to be recorded. Illinois (720 ILCS 5/14-2) covers surreptitious recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties. If your cameras record audio, the simplest fix in many places is to turn the microphone off.

Workplace monitoring notice laws

A few states make employers tell staff when they are monitored. Connecticut General Statutes section 31-48d requires an employer that uses electronic monitoring, which includes cameras, to give prior written notice to affected employees and to post a notice in a conspicuous place. The statute leaves out information collected for security in common areas held out for use by the public.

Other states write their rules for different tools. Delaware's 19 Del. C. 705 covers monitoring of telephone, email and internet use, not cameras, and it asks for a notice to the employee. If you have employees, put your camera policy in writing, tell your staff and check your state's labor department or statute for the exact form.

Places where cameras are not allowed

Even on your own property, some areas are off limits. California Labor Code section 435 says an employer may not make an audio or video recording of an employee in a restroom, locker room or room designated for changing clothes, unless a court order authorizes it. Connecticut General Statutes section 31-48b bars employers from operating electronic surveillance, including closed circuit television, in areas designed for employees' health or personal comfort, such as rest rooms, locker rooms or lounges.

California Penal Code section 647(j)(1) goes further. It covers anyone who uses a camera or other device to view the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room or tanning booth, or another area where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade that person's privacy. Landlords and owners of short-term rentals should keep cameras out of private spaces.

Why many owners post a sign anyway

A camera sign costs little and does real work. It tells visitors, customers, delivery drivers and staff that they are on camera, which is fair notice and helps with the workplace rules above. It also tells would-be trespassers that the property is watched, so they may choose another target.

A sign is not a substitute for consent where a law requires consent. A sticker that says video is in use does not make audio recording lawful in an all-party state. Think of the sign as one part of a plan that also includes a written policy, cameras aimed at your own property and a clear place to find the recordings.

What to put on the sign and where to hang it

Keep the words simple, such as 'Video surveillance in use' or 'Property monitored by security cameras'. Post one at each entrance, at eye level, where a visitor will see it before they step onto the property. If audio is recorded, say so on the sign, and read your state's consent rule first.

Start with security camera signs, and add your own line of text, such as 'Recording in progress' or a business name. Related signs include alarm system signs, neighborhood watch signs, private property signs and no trespassing signs. See all property signs, or check shipping times. Confirm local rules before you order.

Common questions

Sources

• 18 U.S.C. 2511, federal Wiretap Act (GovInfo, U.S. Code)
• California Penal Code section 632 (Legislative Counsel)
• California Penal Code section 647 (Legislative Counsel)
• California Labor Code section 435 (Legislative Counsel)
• Washington RCW 9.73.030 (Washington State Legislature)
• Illinois 720 ILCS 5/14-2 (Illinois General Assembly)
• Connecticut General Statutes chapter 557, sections 31-48b and 31-48d (Connecticut General Assembly)
• Delaware Code Title 19, section 705 (Delaware General Assembly)

This guide explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice. We read the sources above on October 24, 2026. Rules change and many are set by your state or city: check the current text, or ask your local code official, before you rely on it.