Are Your Security Cameras Legal in Colorado

Q: Can I place cameras in my backyard?

YES, you can aim your cameras at your property here, too. If they also capture part of the neighbor’s yard that is easily viewable over a fence or something, that is acceptable. If your neighbor has privacy measures, like high fences or dense trees, in place, you should not use your cameras to penetrate through or over these physical barriers.

Q: What About Bathroom Cameras/ Dressing Room Cameras?

No. You probably shouldn’t put cameras in your bathrooms and, if you send someone into a room to change, you should turn off any cameras that are inside. Capturing footage of people's private parts without their consent in situations where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy is illegal.

Q: Cameras in the bedroom?

YES- but with caution. People who come onto your property without permission don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so you can train cameras on bedrooms. When guests are using these rooms, especially when changing or otherwise exposed, you should turn off the cameras in that room. But as long as any guests know cameras are present and you turn them off when it’s appropriate, it is legal to have cameras in your bedroom.

Are you thinking of installing home security cameras in Colorado but worried about violating someone else’s privacy or the law? It’s wise to make sure, ahead of time, that you are abiding by all relevant legislation before you install your cameras. After all, you don’t want to find out later, when someone is pressing charges against you, that you accidentally broke a law you didn’t know about.

Fortunately, Colorado laws regarding security cameras are fairly lax. You should be able to install the cameras you want without breaking them. There are only a few instances where you might run into problems. As always when you have legal questions about home security camera laws in Colorado, though, the best way to protect yourself is to speak with a lawyer before you take any action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I place cameras in my backyard?

YES, you can aim your cameras at your property here, too. If they also capture part of the neighbor’s yard that is easily viewable over a fence or something, that is acceptable. If your neighbor has privacy measures, like high fences or dense trees, in place, you should not use your cameras to penetrate through or over these physical barriers.

Can I point my cameras at the street/ sidewalk?

YES- mostly. Your security cameras that are placed to view your property can pick up what is happening in front of your property, like on the street or sidewalk. These cameras may pick up all or part of your neighbor’s yard but should be aimed most directly at your own. Be sure that these cameras are not pointing into your neighbor’s home, as that can violate their right to privacy under Colorado Law.

What About Bathroom Cameras/ Dressing Room Cameras?

No. You probably shouldn’t put cameras in your bathrooms and, if you send someone into a room to change, you should turn off any cameras that are inside. Capturing footage of people’s private parts without their consent in situations where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy is illegal.

Cameras in the bedroom?

YES– but with caution. People who come onto your property without permission don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so you can train cameras on bedrooms.

When guests are using these rooms, especially when changing or otherwise exposed, you should turn off the cameras in that room. But as long as any guests know cameras are present and you turn them off when it’s appropriate, it is legal to have cameras in your bedroom.

Outdoor Cameras

Security cameras on the exterior of your home are legal, as long as they point toward your own property. No one has a legal entitlement to complete privacy if they are out in front of a home, on the street, knocking on someone’s door, etc. These cameras may pick up all or part of your neighbor’s yard, but they should be aimed most directly at your own.

If your outdoor cameras are aiming toward the interior of your neighbor’s home, you could run into trouble with Colorado laws regarding security cameras. The law tends to treat the insides of private residences as places where people can reasonably expect privacy from their neighbors. As long as someone is in their home (and not in public), and you do not have their consent, you cannot videotape them.

When it comes to the back yard, you can aim your cameras at your property here, too. If they also capture part of the neighbor’s yard that is easily viewable over a fence or something, that is acceptable. If your neighbor has privacy measures, like high fences or dense trees, in place, you should not use your cameras to penetrate through or over these physical barriers.

Indoor Cameras

Security cameras in Denver homes are generally legal, as long as they do not record a person’s private parts without that person’s consent in situations where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. This means that you probably shouldn’t put cameras in your bathrooms and, if you send someone into a room to change, you should turn off any cameras that are inside.

People who come onto your property without permission don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so you can train cameras on bedrooms, etc., as long as any guests know they’re there and you turn them off when it’s appropriate.

Notifying the Police

Some cities, like Castle Rock and Brighton, are asking homeowners to register their outdoor cameras with the police. The idea behind this request is that police will more easily be able to catch suspects because they will know who in the area may have caught them on camera. Some people resist this, though, because they feel like it could have more sinister uses.

If you’re interested in setting up security cameras on your Denver property, call us at Colorado Security Products today! Our skilled home and business security professionals can help you place your security cameras in the most effective, and legal, locations inside or outside of your home. We can even help you set up remote viewing security camera systems, so you can monitor your home or business from anywhere. Contact us today for security camera system installation in Denver or the surrounding areas.