The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. In Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law.

A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance.

Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Utah also prohibit trespassing on private property to conduct surveillance of people there. In most of these states, unauthorized installation or use of a hidden camera, or trespassing to install or use one, is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine. In Maine, the privacy violation is a felony. In Michigan, unauthorized installation or use of a hidden camera is a felony, punishable by a $2,000 fine and up to two years in prison.

Several states have laws prohibiting the use of hidden cameras in only certain circumstances, such as in locker rooms or restrooms, or for the purpose of viewing a person in a state of partial or full nudity.

This page is intended to give you basic information of "hidden" camera laws are in your State. We advise you consult your Local & State Laws before installing any "Hidden" Camera.

Alabama Video surveillance in a "private place" is prohibited. For instance, a hotel room would normally be considered private, but a hotel lobby would not.
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas The Arkansas statute prohibited in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law
California Video recording of "confidential communications" is prohibited without consent.
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
Florida
Georgia Consent of all parties is required for video recording and photography in private places.
Hawaii Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
Idaho
Illinois Silent video recording is not prohibited.
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan Hidden cameras in a private place are prohibited without consent.
Minnesota Hidden cameras are prohibited in private places.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
New Jersey Hidden video recording is not prohibited by the statute.
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota Hidden cameras are prohibited without consent.
Tennessee Tennessee's "Peeping Tom" statute forbids a person to "knowingly photograph or cause to be photographed" in a privet place
Texas
Utah Hidden cameras are forbidden in private areas; violation is a misdemeanor.
Vermont
Virginia
Washington Silent video recording is not prohibited.
West Virginia
Wisconsin Wyoming

Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-31, 13A-11-32; Ark. Code § 5-16-101; Cal. Penal Code § 632 (see also People v. Gibbons, 215 Cal. App. 3d 1204 (Cal. Ct. App. 1989); but see WiInc., 71 Cal. App.4th 1066 (1999)); Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, §§ 1335, 1336; Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-60 to 16-11-64; Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1111; Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-4001 (see also State v. Martin, 658 P.2d 1024 (Kan. 1983)); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A § 511; Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.539d; Minn. Stat. § 609.746; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 644:9; S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 22-21-1; Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-401, 76-9-403, 76-9-702.7.

Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-31, 13A-11-32; Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, §§ 1335, 1336; Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-60 to 16-11-64; Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1111; Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-4001; Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A § 511; Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.539d; Minn. Stat. § 609.746; S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 22-21-1; Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-402.

See, e.g., Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-4001(a)(4); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 511.