Neighbour has Camera Pointed at My House, How to Do?

Tell me if it strikes a chord with you. Do you feel anxious or violated about your neighbor’s security camera pointed at your house? Or wonder what to do if your neighbor has a camera pointed at my house?

With the popularity of home security cameras, the disputes between camera owners and their neighbors have also arisen over privacy issues.

So, can your neighbor’s security camera record your yard or property legally? What are the privacy laws concerning neighbor’s security camera aimed at your house?

Or if you plan to install a security camera around your house, can you point your security camera at your neighbor’s house? And can you install CCTV on your property with bad neighbors?

Legality of Neighbors Camera Pointed at My House

Is it illegal for my neighbor to have a camera pointed at my house? Essentially, the legality of your neighbor’s security camera record your property depends on what the camera is used for, what acts it is capturing, and what your neighbor is doing with the video footage.

In the following scenarios, your neighbor can have cameras pointed at your house legally:

1. Your Neighbor's Security Camera Aimed at Your House Is Indeed Capturing a Broad Area

As the property owners, your neighbors are entitled to install security cameras in and around their house to stop burglars from targeting their home.

And you have the right to do so as well.

So if your neighbor places an IP camera for security purpose and it happens to capture your front door, driveway or yard which are visible from public areas, you can’t press charges against your neighbor as you have no expectation of privacy outdoors.If you have some difficult neighbors to handle, you can find a mediator to negotiate instead of you.

Chances are that your driveway or yard is the collateral background in a legitimate monitoring of your neighbor’s property. 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.”

“If your cameras are located on your property in plain view, are not in a private place, and do not violate any state or federal laws, it would appear they would be lawful.”

Though video surveillance of your neighbor’s security camera in public areas is allowed without warning or consent, audio recording generally requires consent from at least one side in most states.

2. The Footage of Neighbor’s Security Cameras Record Your Property is in Lawful Use

How your neighbor deals with the footage of his security camera pointed at your house, is another factor your need to consider.

As long as the recorded videos don’t infringe on your privacy and are for lawful purpose only (like monitoring suspects or prevent package thefts at the front door), it is legal for your neighbor to point a security camera at your property in plain view.

In this video below, two theives who stole the user's document were captured by the Reolink security camera RLC-810A pointed at the car. The security camera footage could be presented to the police as evidence.

When Is It Illegal Neighbor Has Camera Pointed at My House

There are also exceptions in which your neighbor can’t install security cameras aimed at your house.

1. Your Neighbor’s Security Cameras Point at Your House Where You Have Expectation of Privacy

Though your neighbor can record you on your property in plain sight, things are different for the places where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as your bathroom, bedroom, restrooms, locker rooms, changing/dressing rooms, etc.

According to the residence security camera laws, your neighbor might invite legal trouble in if he points security cameras at areas where you couldn’t view without physically entering the premises.

Here is what the home security camera laws in California says:

Installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events, or sounds, in a private place without permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law.

2. The Videos of Your Neighbor’s Security Cameras Are Misused

Worse yet, the perverted neighbors may point security cameras at your children’s bedrooms to be a high-tech peeping Tom.

And some even post the video footage recording your activities on the social media.

Such wrongful application of home security cameras (like spying on you), without any doubt, is illegal and you can ask for the interference of law enforcement and claim harassment.

What to Do If Your Neighbor Has a Camera Pointed at Your House

Feel uncomfortable and nerve-wrecking about your neighbor’s security camera pointed at your house/property? Here's the answer to the question "what can I do if my neighbor is recording me?"

Instead of using illegal ways to the jam the surveillance cameras, which would only make the matter become worse, below are some practical tips you can adopt after you find your neighbor recording you on your property.

The first golden rule is to talk with your neighbor, in a good manner.

Tell him/her how you feel about the security camera pointed at your house (they may be unaware of the fact) and ask with politeness if it is possible to adjust the viewing angle of the camera.

Another feasible way to block your neighbor’s security cameras recording your property is to plant grown trees or fences as buffers, so as to blind the camera’s field of view.

In case that your neighbor’s security camera pointed at your house has invaded your privacy and your talk also ends up in failure, the best solution, would be contacting the local police and contacting your attorney to file a lawsuit.

Editor’s Tip: Check out more useful tips about how to block your neighbor’s security cameras.

Can You Have a Camera Pointed at Neighbors' House? What to Consider When Installing Security Cameras Outdoors around Your House

“Can I point my security camera at my neighbor’s house?”

“Can I install CCTV on my property with bad neighbors?”

You should have got the answer after reading the above parts.

But to avoid possible disputes caused by your use of security cameras, here are some helpful tips you’d better keep in mind before installing your camera.

• Stand in your neighbors’ shoes and avoid pointing your security cameras at places where they have expectation of privacy.
• Inform your neighbor of your use of security cameras and explain to them about your purpose to avoid misunderstandings.
• Make sure the surveillance camera is installed properly.
• Ensure the footage of your security cameras is for security purpose only and protect the videos from falling into the wrong hands.

Whether you have a neighbors’ security camera pointed at your house in UK, Ireland, Scotland, California, Florida, Michigan or other places, the above information also applies for your situation.

And if you need any further help about your neighbor’s security cameras pointed at your house, please feel free to leave your comment below and we’d love to help.

FAQs

1. Can my neighbor record me on my property?

Cameras are legally allowed in all places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

2. What if Neighbor has camera pointed at my backyard?

If your neighbor has a camera pointed at your backyard, it might be a privacy issue, especially if your backyard is a private space not visible to the public.

3. What are the laws around home cameras?

Federal law on privacy expectations states that it's generally legal to record video in public places. This includes doorbell cameras and security cameras. However, anyone being recorded should not be in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Conclusion

The legality and ethics of your neighbor having security cameras pointed at your house can be a complex issue that depends on local laws, privacy considerations, and the specific circumstances. While it's generally legal for individuals to have surveillance cameras on their property, there are boundaries in terms of invasion of privacy. Respecting the privacy of neighbors is crucial for maintaining a harmonious community.

If you like this article and find it helpful, share it with your friends. Do you have something to say about camera footage? Make sure you leave a comment below!

Resources

①Quora: My neighbor has a security camera pointed directly at my front door. Is this legal or do I have the right to be annoyed?
②Reddit: Neighbors installed a security camera pointing into my garage. Anyone knows the laws around this?
③Daycare: Neighbors have surveillance camera pointed in my back yard, what should I do?
④Free advice: Neighbor has a security camera pointing at my daughter’s window. Is this legal?
⑤City-Data Forum: My neighbor’s security camera overlooking my property records everything of my backyard activities and I feel like I have no privacy at all. Any tips?