Arizona Video Recording Laws: Rules for Cameras and Filming

In Arizona, silent video recording in public is legal with no permit or consent required. Adding audio triggers one-party consent under A.R.S. 13-3005. Secretly recording someone who is undressing, nude, using the toilet or engaged in sexual activity in a bathroom, locker room, bedroom or other private place is a felony under A.R.S. 13-3019, as is capturing a person's intimate areas in a way not otherwise visible to the public.

Arizona does not have a single statute that governs all video recording. Instead, multiple laws work together to define what is legal and what is not. Your rights depend on where you are recording, whether you are capturing audio along with video, and the purpose of the recording.

This guide covers Arizona's video recording laws in full, including public filming rights, the surreptitious recording statute, voyeurism laws, and the rules for security cameras, drones, and other recording equipment.

Arizona's Key Video Recording Statutes

ARS 13-3019: Surreptitious Photographing, Videotaping, Filming

ARS 13-3019 is Arizona's primary statute addressing unauthorized visual recording. It makes it a crime to knowingly photograph, videotape, film, digitally record, or by any other means secretly view another person without that person's consent in either of two situations:

• The person is in a restroom, bathroom, locker room, bedroom, or other location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, and is urinating, defecating, dressing, undressing, nude, or engaged in sexual intercourse or sexual contact
• The recording captures or allows viewing of the person's genitalia, buttock, or female breast, clothed or unclothed, in a manner not otherwise visible to the public, wherever it happens

Both parts of the first situation must be present. Secretly filming a fully clothed person in a bedroom is not a 13-3019 offense on its own, although any audio it captures falls under ARS 13-3005 and other laws, such as harassment, can apply.

This statute applies to all forms of visual recording, including smartphones, hidden cameras, body cameras, drones, and any other image-capturing device.

ARS 13-1424: Voyeurism

ARS 13-1424 prohibits knowingly invading the privacy of another person without the knowledge of the other person for the purpose of sexual stimulation. This includes video recording. The statute classifies basic voyeurism as a Class 5 felony.

If the person distributes, discloses, displays, transmits, or publishes a voyeuristic recording in which the victim is recognizable, the offense becomes a Class 4 felony carrying up to 3.75 years in prison.

ARS 13-3005: When Audio Is Included

When your video recording also captures audio, the one-party consent rules under ARS 13-3005 apply to the audio portion. Silent video recording in public does not trigger the wiretapping statute. But the moment you record someone's voice in a setting where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, you need one-party consent for the audio component.

Video Recording in Public Places

Your Rights as a Videographer

Arizona has no law that prohibits video recording in public places. You can:

• Film on public streets, sidewalks, and parks
• Record at public protests, rallies, and demonstrations
• Film the exterior of buildings visible from public property
• Record public transportation, including buses and light rail
• Capture video at public events, fairs, and festivals
• Film government buildings from public areas
• Record in any location where you have a legal right to be

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects your right to record matters of public interest from public spaces. The Ninth Circuit, whose decisions bind federal courts in Arizona, has recognized that right in Fordyce v. City of Seattle, 55 F.3d 436 (9th Cir. 1995), and Askins v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Sec., 899 F.3d 1035 (9th Cir. 2018), subject to reasonable time, place and manner limits.

Limitations in Public

Even in public, there are boundaries:

• You cannot use recording as a pretext to harass someone under ARS 13-2921
• You cannot record up someone's skirt or down their blouse, even in public, under ARS 13-3019
• You cannot block traffic, trespass, or obstruct public operations to get a better filming angle
• Private businesses open to the public can set their own recording policies on their premises

Recording on Private Property

On private property, the property owner sets the rules. A business can prohibit video recording on its premises, and if you refuse to stop, you may be asked to leave. Continuing to record after being asked to leave could result in a trespassing charge under ARS 13-1502.

However, a property owner cannot prohibit you from recording from a public location that happens to capture their property. If you are standing on a public sidewalk and film a private building, that is protected activity.

Video Recording in Private Locations

The Reasonable Expectation of Privacy Test

Arizona law protects video recording privacy in locations where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Courts evaluate this on a case-by-case basis, considering:

• Whether the location is open to the public or restricted
• Whether the person took steps to ensure privacy (closing doors, drawing curtains)
• Whether a reasonable person would expect to be observed in that setting
• The nature of the activity being recorded

Locations Covered by ARS 13-3019

ARS 13-3019 names restrooms, bathrooms, locker rooms and bedrooms, and also covers any other location where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Secretly recording someone in these places is a felony when the person is using the toilet, dressing or undressing, nude, or engaged in sexual activity:

• Bathrooms and restrooms (including portable toilets)
• Locker rooms (at gyms, pools, schools, or workplaces)
• Changing rooms (at retail stores, fitness centers, or any other facility)
• Bedrooms (in private homes, hotel rooms, or other sleeping areas)
• Any other location where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and is undressed or engaged in sexual activity

Video Recording in Your Own Home

You can generally install cameras in your own home, but there are limits:

• You can record common areas like living rooms, kitchens, and hallways
• You cannot record in bathrooms or areas where guests have a privacy expectation
• If you have roommates, recording shared common areas is generally permissible, but recording in their private bedrooms is not
• Secretly recording another person nude, undressing, or engaged in sexual activity without consent is a felony under ARS 13-3019, and if done without their knowledge for sexual stimulation it is also voyeurism under ARS 13-1424
• Hidden cameras used to capture nonconsensual intimate images can lead to felony charges

Drones and Aerial Video Recording in Arizona

State Drone Laws

Arizona regulates drone use primarily through ARS 13-3729, which addresses the use of unmanned aircraft. Key provisions include:

• It is illegal to operate a drone in a manner prohibited by federal aviation regulations, or in a way that interferes with law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency response operations
• Using a drone to intentionally photograph or loiter over or near a critical facility (such as a power plant, a water treatment facility or dam, a courthouse, or a jail) in furtherance of a criminal offense is a class 6 felony under ARS 13-3729
• The same statute restricts flying civil drones near ticketed entertainment events and hobby drones 200 feet or less above posted school property
• Drone operators must comply with all FAA regulations, including registration, altitude limits, and airspace restrictions

FAA Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration governs airspace and drone operations nationwide. Arizona drone operators must:

• Register drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds with the FAA
• Fly below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace
• Maintain visual line of sight with the drone
• Avoid restricted airspace near airports without authorization
• Follow Part 107 rules if flying for commercial purposes

Security Cameras and Video Surveillance

Residential Security Cameras

Arizona homeowners can install security cameras on their property with few restrictions. However:

• Cameras must not be positioned to record areas where neighbors have a reasonable expectation of privacy (looking into bedroom windows, for example)
• Audio recording through security cameras follows one-party consent rules under ARS 13-3005
• There are no statewide permit or registration requirements for residential security cameras

Business Security Cameras

Businesses in Arizona can use video surveillance in areas where employees and customers do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This includes:

• Sales floors, lobbies, and reception areas
• Parking lots and exterior areas
• Hallways and common spaces
• Loading docks and storage areas

Businesses cannot place cameras in:

• Bathrooms and restrooms
• Locker rooms and changing areas
• Break rooms where employees have a privacy expectation (this varies by court interpretation)

Some Arizona municipalities may have additional ordinances regarding security camera placement and signage. Check your local city or county regulations.

Penalties for Illegal Video Recording in Arizona

ARS 13-3019 Penalties

ARS 13-1424 Voyeurism Penalties

AI Deepfakes and Synthetic Video in Arizona

State Deepfake Laws

Arizona enacted two AI-related visual media laws in 2024. HB 2394 (ARS 16-1023), signed May 21, 2024, lets an Arizona resident or candidate sue, within two years, over a published digital impersonation (a realistic fake image or recording) made without consent. The basic remedy is a court declaration that the content is fake. Damages and an injunction are available only for sexually explicit fakes that meet extra conditions, including that the person shown was not a public figure and the publisher knew it was fake or did not correct it within 21 days. SB 1359 (ARS 16-1024), signed May 29, 2024, bars creating and distributing a deceptive deepfake of a candidate within 90 days before an election unless it clearly discloses that it contains AI-generated content. SB 1078 was not enacted.

Federal TAKE IT DOWN Act

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. No. 119-12) was signed May 19, 2025, and requires online platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, within 48 hours of notice. Platform compliance obligations became effective May 19, 2026. Victims whose intimate images appear online, including AI-generated depictions, may send takedown notices directly to covered platforms under this federal law in addition to reporting the disclosure to police and pursuing any civil claim available under ARS 16-1023 for a published AI-generated fake. Under ARS 13-1425, intentionally disclosing a nude or sexual image of an identifiable person to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten or coerce them is a felony for a real image the person expected to stay private (class 4 if shared electronically) and a class 1 misdemeanor for a realistic AI-generated or altered image.

Civil Liability

Victims of illegal video recording can pursue civil lawsuits for:

• Invasion of privacy
• Intentional infliction of emotional distress
• Negligent infliction of emotional distress
• Statutory damages under applicable federal laws
• Punitive damages in cases of willful misconduct

Using Video Recordings as Evidence in Arizona

Admissibility Standards

Video recordings are generally admissible in Arizona courts if they meet standard evidence requirements:

• Authentication: A witness must testify that the video accurately represents what it purports to show, under Arizona Rule of Evidence 901, a rule of the Arizona Supreme Court
• Relevance: The video must relate to a material issue in the case
• Not illegally obtained: Videos made in violation of ARS 13-3019, ARS 13-1424, or ARS 13-3005 may be excluded
• Probative vs. prejudicial: The court will weigh the evidentiary value against any unfair prejudice

Best Practices for Video Evidence

• Preserve the original video file without editing
• Note the date, time, and location of the recording
• Maintain a clear chain of custody
• Back up the file to a secure secondary location
• If the video includes audio, ensure compliance with one-party consent rules

Arizona 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 Arizona Recording Laws

More Arizona Recording Topics

• Arizona Biometric Privacy Laws
• Surveillance Camera Laws

More Arizona Laws

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to video record someone in Arizona without their consent?

It depends on where the recording takes place. In public areas, you can freely video record anyone without consent. In private locations like bathrooms, locker rooms, and bedrooms, secretly recording someone who is undressing, nude, using the toilet, or engaged in sexual activity is a felony under ARS 13-3019, and capturing someone's intimate areas in a way not otherwise visible to the public is a felony anywhere. For video with audio in private settings, one-party consent rules under ARS 13-3005 apply.

Can I install security cameras at my Arizona home?

Yes. Arizona homeowners can install security cameras on their own property. However, cameras should not be pointed into areas where neighbors have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as looking into bedroom windows. Audio capture through security cameras follows one-party consent rules.

Is it illegal to fly a drone with a camera in Arizona?

Flying a camera-equipped drone is legal in Arizona, but you must follow FAA regulations and Arizona state law. Under ARS 13-3729, it is illegal to use a drone to intentionally photograph or loiter near a critical facility (such as a power plant, water treatment facility, courthouse, or jail) in furtherance of a criminal offense, or to operate a drone in a way that interferes with law enforcement or emergency response operations.

What is the penalty for secretly filming someone in a private location in Arizona?

Secretly filming someone who is undressing, nude, using the toilet, or engaged in sexual activity in a bathroom, locker room, bedroom, or other private location is a Class 5 felony under ARS 13-3019, punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison for a first offense. If the recording is distributed and the victim is recognizable, it becomes a Class 4 felony with up to 3.75 years in prison.

Can I film police officers in Arizona?

Yes. The First Amendment protects your right to record police officers performing their duties in public, as confirmed by Fordyce v. City of Seattle, 55 F.3d 436 (9th Cir. 1995), and Askins v. DHS, 899 F.3d 1035 (9th Cir. 2018). Arizona's HB 2319 eight-foot buffer (ARS 13-3732) was declared unconstitutional under the First Amendment and permanently enjoined in Arizona Broadcasters Ass'n v. Mayes (D. Ariz. July 21, 2023), on a judgment the Attorney General stipulated to, after a September 2022 preliminary injunction.