If you are looking for a hidden camera, one of the first things you should look for are hidden camera laws that apply to spy equipment in your particular state or jurisdiction. By knowing what the laws are, you can make sure that you only use your hidden cameras and security cameras in a legal and lawful manner.

In general, homeowners are allowed to install hidden cameras inside their own homes, or around their property. This is usually done to protect your property against theft, vandalism, or other illegal activity. It’s also often done to protect children when babysitters or nannys are caring for them in your home. Read on to determine state-specific hidden camera laws.

So where CAN’T you install a camera?

Depending on the state that you live in, you may or may not be able to install a camera in a place of “privacy.” These places include:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Changing Rooms
• Locker Rooms
• Dressing Rooms
• Hotel Rooms

Interestingly enough, currently 38 of the 50 states have hidden camera laws that allow recording in these areas, if the owner of the property has given permission. The states that DO NOT allow recording in these areas, even if the owner has given permission, are as follows:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Kansas
• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Hampshire
• South Dakota
• Utah

However, even in those 38 states that do allow cameras to be installed in areas of “privacy,” the person who installed the camera can still press charges if they feel their privacy has been invaded, so it is best to simply avoid 100% of those areas for hidden camera security.

What it all comes down to is the INTENT for the camera being installed. Hidden camera laws are in place to protect people from being recorded for malicious purposes. But if you are a homeowner trying to make sure your child is being properly cared for, this would be a reasonable and lawful intent.

What about hidden camera laws for businesses?

Chances are you’ve been to a business or retail store before and saw plenty of surveillance cameras and monitors around the store. In fact, it’s been proven that having a monitor at the entrance to a store that shows consumers they are being videotaped drastically cuts down on the amount of shoplifting. But what about having hidden spy cameras in the store, and how do hidden camera laws come into play with retail stores?

This is more of a gray area that hasn’t gotten a lot of definitive court rulings on the legality. Obviously if a store owner puts a spy camera in a place like a dressing room, tanning bed, locker room, or other places of privacy, that will likely result in a lawsuit, because no one would give their consent to have their privacy invaded. But in most cases, having a hidden camera in places where there aren’t expectations of privacy are legal, and hidden camera laws would be on the business owners’ side.

Many people every day are looking for spy equipment. But what does “spy equipment” actually entail? It can involve dozens of types of products, including hidden cameras, gps trackers, computer and cell phone monitoring devices.