Oregon Security Camera Laws: Installation, Audio, and Privacy Rules

In Oregon, video-only security cameras are legal on your own property and fall outside the wiretapping statute ORS 165.540. Adding audio brings in ORS 165.540(1)(c), which requires that every participant in a captured in-person conversation be specifically informed, subject to exceptions such as the home exemption in ORS 165.540(3). Oregon law bars cameras from bathrooms, dressing rooms, and other private spaces under ORS 163.700.

Oregon security camera laws involve the intersection of two legal frameworks. The wiretapping statute, ORS 165.540, governs any security camera that captures audio. The invasion of personal privacy statutes, ORS 163.700 and ORS 163.701, restrict cameras in areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, regardless of whether audio is involved.

This guide covers everything you need to know about legally installing and operating security cameras in Oregon in 2026, including residential systems, business surveillance, audio-enabled cameras, and privacy limitations.

Video-Only Security Cameras in Oregon

General Legality

Video-only security cameras that do not capture audio are not governed by Oregon's wiretapping statute. ORS 165.540 addresses the interception of communications, specifically audio. A camera that records only visual images does not intercept a conversation.

This means video-only security cameras are generally legal when placed in:

• Driveways and parking areas
• Building exteriors and entryways
• Retail sales floors and lobbies
• Office common areas and hallways
• Warehouses and storage facilities
• Front porches and backyards on your own property

Where Video-Only Cameras Are Prohibited

Even without audio, security cameras cannot be placed where they would violate Oregon's invasion of personal privacy statutes:

• Bathrooms and restrooms in any setting
• Dressing rooms and fitting rooms in retail stores
• Locker rooms and showers in gyms, schools, and workplaces
• Tanning booths and similar private enclosures
• Any enclosed area where a person undresses that is not open to public view
• Any location where the camera records intimate areas of a person who has a reasonable expectation of privacy

The offense itself is recording another person's intimate area (nudity, or undergarments worn under clothing) without consent where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or observing a person in a state of nudity for a sexual purpose; the statute names bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, tanning booths, and enclosed undressing areas as examples, not a complete list, of places where a person has a reasonable expectation of personal privacy.

Violation of ORS 163.700 is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine. If the recording shows the person in a state of nudity (any part of the uncovered or less than opaquely covered genitals, pubic area, or female breast below the top of the areola) in a place where they expect privacy, or if the person recording has a prior conviction for invasion of privacy, public indecency, private indecency, or a sex crime, the offense rises to a Class C felony under ORS 163.701, carrying up to 5 years in prison.

Security Cameras With Audio in Oregon

The Split Consent Problem

Adding audio to a security camera changes the legal analysis entirely. Oregon's split consent framework under ORS 165.540 applies:

• Audio capturing telephone or radio communications: One-party consent under ORS 165.540(1)(a) (rarely relevant for security cameras)
• Audio capturing in-person conversations: Every participant must be specifically informed under ORS 165.540(1)(c); since 2021, ORS 165.535(1) also treats calls held through a video conferencing program as conversations under this rule

A security camera that records audio of in-person conversations in its range generally triggers the all-party notification requirement, subject to exceptions such as the home exemption discussed below. Every person whose conversation is captured must be specifically informed before recording.

Practical Challenges

The all-party notification requirement creates practical challenges for security cameras with audio:

• Security cameras operate continuously, making it difficult to notify each person before every conversation
• A "Recording in Progress" sign may help but may not satisfy the statute's requirement that participants be "specifically informed"
• Outdoor cameras may capture conversations of passersby who cannot reasonably be notified

Compliance Strategies for Audio-Enabled Cameras

If you want to use security cameras with audio in Oregon:

1. Consider disabling audio. The simplest approach is to turn off the microphone. Video-only recording avoids the notification requirement entirely.
2. Post prominent signage. If you keep audio enabled, post clearly visible signs stating "Audio and Video Recording in Progress" at every entrance to the recorded area. Signs reduce your risk but are not a guaranteed safe harbor: no Oregon court has held that a sign "specifically informs" a person under ORS 165.540(1)(c), and in State v. Bichsel (1990) the Court of Appeals held that a recorder in plain sight was not enough without an unequivocal warning.
3. Limit audio range. Position cameras so audio capture is limited to areas where notification signage is prominently displayed.
4. Use audio only in controlled access areas. In business settings, audio-enabled cameras work best in areas where all entrants pass through a point where they see clear notification.
5. Document your notification procedures. Keep records showing how you inform people about audio recording.

Residential Security Cameras

Your Property, Your Cameras

Oregon homeowners and renters have broad rights to install security cameras on their own property:

• Exterior cameras: Record your own yard, driveway, porch, entryway, and perimeter
• Interior cameras: Record common areas inside your home, including living rooms, kitchens, and hallways
• Doorbell cameras: Install Ring, Nest, or similar devices on your front door

Limits on Residential Cameras

Even on your own property, some restrictions apply:

Neighbor privacy. You should not aim cameras to record inside a neighbor's home. While Oregon courts have not established bright-line rules about camera angles, recording through a neighbor's windows could support claims of invasion of privacy or harassment.

Guest and tenant privacy. If you have guests, roommates, or tenants, security cameras in shared living spaces raise privacy concerns. ORS 165.540(3) exempts subscribers or members of their family who perform the otherwise prohibited acts in their homes. In State v. Rainey (2018), the Oregon Court of Appeals held that the exception turns on where the recording is made, not where the conversation happens, and applied it to an argument outside a house that was recorded from a window inside. But the statute does not define who counts as a subscriber, and its reach to roommates, tenants, and guests is unsettled. Notifying everyone in the household, and guests, about audio-enabled cameras remains the safer practice.

Audio capture. Apart from the ORS 165.540(3) home exemption, a residential camera that records audio of in-person conversations can trigger the ORS 165.540(1)(c) notification requirement. This can include doorbell cameras, backyard cameras, and indoor cameras that capture conversations, particularly conversations of visitors and passersby.

Doorbell Camera Considerations

Doorbell cameras like Ring, Nest Hello, and Arlo are extremely popular in Oregon. These devices typically record both video and audio. Because the audio component captures in-person conversations at your doorstep:

• The all-party notification requirement may apply, especially to conversations of visitors and passersby
• The home exemption in ORS 165.540(3) may help a homeowner, since State v. Rainey (2018) looks at where the recording is made rather than where the conversation takes place, but whether a camera mounted outside the door records "in the home" and who counts as a subscriber are both unsettled
• Do not rely on the unconcealed-device exception in ORS 165.540(6)(a): it covers only listed settings (public or semipublic meetings and events, regularly scheduled classes, and private meetings or conferences where everyone knew or reasonably should have known of the recording), not ordinary doorstep conversations
• Post a small sign near the doorbell stating that audio and video recording is in use, understanding that no Oregon court has held a sign alone satisfies the "specifically informed" requirement
• Consider whether disabling the audio feature is practical for your security needs

Business Security Camera Rules

Permitted Uses

Oregon businesses can use security cameras for:

• Loss prevention: Monitoring retail areas for theft
• Employee safety: Recording work areas for safety compliance
• Building security: Monitoring entrances, exits, and parking areas
• Liability protection: Documenting incidents on business premises

Installation Guidelines

Employee Notification

Oregon employers should:

• Provide written notice of all surveillance policies in the employee handbook
• Inform employees of camera locations and whether audio is captured
• Obtain written acknowledgment from employees that they understand the surveillance policy
• Update employees when camera systems are added or modified
• Never use cameras punitively or to target specific employees

Homeowners Associations and Security Cameras

HOA Authority Over Cameras

Oregon homeowners associations can adopt rules regarding exterior security cameras. Common HOA restrictions include:

• Limits on camera visibility from common areas
• Requirements for specific camera mounting locations
• Restrictions on camera types or sizes for aesthetic reasons
• Rules about camera angles that may record common areas

HOA Common Area Cameras

HOAs can install security cameras in common areas such as:

• Parking structures and lots
• Building lobbies and entrances
• Pool areas and fitness rooms
• Playgrounds and community spaces

Audio recording in these areas requires compliance with ORS 165.540(1)(c). HOAs that keep audio on should post prominent signage and include surveillance disclosure in governing documents provided to residents, though no Oregon court has held that signage satisfies the statute, so video-only common-area cameras are the safer choice.

Data Storage and Retention

Storing Security Camera Footage

Oregon does not have a general statute mandating specific retention periods for private security camera footage. However, best practices include:

• Retain footage for at least 30 days for security purposes
• Maintain longer retention if footage captures an incident under investigation
• Store footage securely to prevent unauthorized access
• Implement automatic overwrite schedules for routine footage
• Back up critical footage to a separate location

Sharing Security Camera Footage

You can voluntarily share security camera footage from your own cameras with law enforcement or other parties. However:

• Law enforcement generally needs a warrant, subpoena, or other court order to compel production of security camera footage from private parties; a subpoena for records does not require the probable-cause showing a warrant does, and ignoring one has consequences
• Sharing footage that contains audio recorded in violation of ORS 165.540 could create additional legal exposure
• Footage shared on social media that captures private conversations may raise liability concerns

Penalties for Security Camera Violations

Wiretapping (Audio Violations)

Invasion of Privacy (Camera Placement Violations)

Oregon Recording Laws by Topic

Phone Call Recording | Audio Recording | Video Recording | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras

Back to Oregon Recording Laws

More Oregon Recording Topics

• Oregon Biometric Privacy Laws
• Surveillance Camera Laws

See Also

• Oregon Surveillance Camera Laws covers home, HOA, neighbor, workplace, and landlord camera rules in Oregon.

More Oregon Laws

• Oregon AI Meeting Recording Laws
• Oregon Dashcam Laws
• Oregon Data Privacy Laws
• Oregon Deepfake Laws
• Oregon Employee Monitoring Laws
• Oregon GPS Tracking Laws
• Oregon Police Bodycam Laws
• Oregon Smart Glasses Recording Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

Are security cameras legal in Oregon?

Yes. Video-only security cameras are legal in Oregon in most locations. They are not governed by the wiretapping statute. However, cameras cannot be placed in bathrooms, dressing rooms, or other areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Adding audio to cameras triggers the all-party notification requirement under ORS 165.540(1)(c).

Can my security camera record audio in Oregon?

Security cameras with audio that capture in-person conversations must comply with the all-party notification requirement under ORS 165.540(1)(c). Every person whose conversation is recorded must be specifically informed. ORS 165.540(3) separately exempts subscribers and members of their family recording in their own homes; the Court of Appeals held in State v. Rainey (2018) that this turns on where the recording is made, but who counts as a subscriber is unsettled. The simplest compliance strategy is to disable audio recording. Posting signs helps, but no Oregon court has held that a sign alone specifically informs everyone a camera picks up.

Can I point my security camera at my neighbor's property in Oregon?

You should aim cameras at your own property. While no specific Oregon statute prohibits pointing cameras toward a neighbor's exterior property, recording through their windows or into private areas of their home could support invasion of privacy claims. Aim cameras at your driveway, yard, and entryways.

Does my business need to post signs about security cameras in Oregon?

Oregon law does not specifically require signage for video-only cameras, but it is a strong best practice. If cameras record audio, ORS 165.540(1)(c) requires that people be specifically informed, and no Oregon court has held that a sign alone is enough, so many businesses simply turn audio off. Signs still deter theft and demonstrate good faith.

Can my landlord install security cameras in my apartment in Oregon?

A landlord can install security cameras in common areas of a rental property (lobbies, parking lots, exterior hallways). A landlord cannot install cameras inside your rental unit without your consent, and cameras must never be placed in bathrooms or other private spaces.