California security camera laws let landlords use cameras for safety, but they ban spying where you expect privacy. If a notice cites california security camera laws, the key figure is a $5,000 to $50,000 civil fine.
What California Security Camera Laws Actually Says
If you got a letter citing Penal Code 647(j) or Civil Code 1708.8, it is about california security camera laws. The first is a criminal law. The second lets a victim sue in civil court. You can read Penal Code 647 and Civil Code 1708.8 on the official state site.
Penal Code 647(j)(1) covers anyone who uses a device to view the inside of a bedroom, bathroom, or changing room. That includes a camera, a phone, or a drone. It also covers any other area where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The person must intend to invade your privacy. Paragraph (3) targets hidden cameras that record someone who may be undressed. Section 647 was last amended effective January 1, 2026.
Civil Code 1708.8 goes further. Under these california security camera laws, a person can be liable for using a device to capture your private, personal, or family activity. The capture must be offensive to a reasonable person. The law expressly protects activity on residential property where you expect privacy. In addition, it is not a defense that nothing was actually captured.
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing inside private rooms with a camera, phone, or drone | Misdemeanor if done with intent to invade privacy | Penal Code 647(j)(1) |
| Hidden camera recording a person who may be undressed | Misdemeanor; being the landlord or tenant is not a defense | Penal Code 647(j)(3) |
| Second or later violation | Up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both | Penal Code 647(k)(1) |
| Victim was a minor | Up to 1 year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both | Penal Code 647(k)(2) |
| Damages in a lawsuit | Up to 3 times general and special damages, plus possible punitive damages | Civil Code 1708.8(d) |
| Civil fine | At least $5,000 and no more than $50,000 | Civil Code 1708.8(d) |
| Court orders | Injunction or restraining order against more violations | Civil Code 1708.8(h) |
These california security camera laws apply the same way whether you rent from a big company or a single owner.
Who California Security Camera Laws Covers (and Who It Does Not)
Typically, california security camera laws protect renters in every kind of home. That includes apartments, houses, rented rooms, and backyard units. These laws apply to any person, not just landlords. As a result, property managers, maintenance workers, and roommates are covered too. Under Civil Code 1708.8(e), someone who directs another person to do the recording can also be liable.
The key test is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Inside your unit, you typically have it. However, open shared areas are different. Think of a lobby, a parking lot, or a front gate. Neither section bans cameras in those spaces outright. Whether you have privacy there depends on the facts, so check with a local legal-aid office.
There is also a narrow exception. Civil Code 1708.8(g) protects some investigators who have an articulable suspicion of illegal activity or misconduct. Beyond state law, some California cities have their own tenant protection or anti-harassment rules. Those local rules sit on top of california security camera laws. Call your city’s rent board or housing office to confirm what applies where you live.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
Under california security camera laws, the main duty is simple: stay out of your private spaces. Your landlord cannot put a camera in your bedroom or bathroom. They cannot aim a camera or drone through your windows to watch inside. For example, a camera pointed at your bathroom window could violate Penal Code 647(j)(1). Being your landlord does not change that.
Neither Penal Code 647 nor Civil Code 1708.8 sets a rule about warning signs or written notice. However, your lease, other state laws, or local rules may add duties. Other parts of california security camera laws, such as rules on audio recording, sit outside these two sections. Ask a legal-aid office to confirm what applies to your building.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
First, protect the evidence. Take photos and video of the camera and where it points. Write down dates, times, and who installed it. Do not destroy the device, because it may be key evidence. If a camera is in a private room, you can report it to local police. Under california security camera laws, a violation of Penal Code 647(j) is a crime.
Second, california security camera laws give you a way to sue under Civil Code 1708.8. A court can award up to three times your general and special damages. It may also award punitive damages if you meet the standard in Civil Code Section 3294. If the footage was used for money, the landlord may have to hand over those proceeds. The court can also issue an injunction or restraining order.
Third, a city attorney or county counsel can bring a case for the $5,000 to $50,000 civil fine. Contact your local office if you want them to act. Many tenants in California can also get free help from legal aid. If your landlord threatens eviction after you complain, contact a legal-aid office or tenant attorney immediately. These california security camera laws work best when you act fast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord put security cameras in the hallway or parking lot?
In most cases, california security camera laws focus on private spaces, not open shared areas. Neither Penal Code 647(j) nor Civil Code 1708.8 bans cameras in a lobby or lot outright. However, a camera aimed into your unit is a different story, so get advice if one points at your window.
My landlord hid a camera but says nothing was recorded. Does that matter?
Typically, it does not help the landlord. Civil Code 1708.8(j) says it is not a defense that no image was captured or sold. Under california security camera laws, viewing inside a private room with a device can also be a crime under Penal Code 647(j)(1).
What happens if my landlord does it again?
Repeat violations of california security camera laws carry heavier risk. Under Penal Code 647(k)(1), a second or later violation can bring up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both. Section 647 does not spell out the first-offense penalty, so confirm it with a legal-aid office or the district attorney.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
California Renter Guides
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.