Arizona

Arizona Video Recording Laws: Rules for Cameras and Filming

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished March 23, 2026Reviewed May 15, 202610 min read

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. Secret recording in private locations such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and bedrooms is a felony under A.R.S. 13-3019.

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 any of the following situations:

The person is in a restroom, bathroom, locker room, bedroom, or other location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy
The recording captures the person in a state of undress or engaged in sexual activity
The recording is made by looking under or through clothing without consent

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 identifiable, 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

Arizona over-the-shoulder crop of two people seated across a small table mid-conversation, seen from behind one shoulder so no faces visible

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. Arizona courts have consistently upheld this right.

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

Arizona dome security camera in the corner of an office ceiling, soft interior daylight

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 Where Secret Video Recording Is Always Illegal

Under ARS 13-3019, these locations carry an automatic expectation of privacy for video recording purposes:

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 location where a person is in a state of undress and has not consented to observation

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
Recording intimate activities of another person without consent violates ARS 13-1424
Hidden cameras used to capture nonconsensual intimate images can lead to felony charges

Drones and Aerial Video Recording in Arizona

Arizona folded pair of smart glasses resting on a wooden desk beside a closed notebook, soft daylight

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 use a drone to intentionally photograph or record an individual on private property without consent if the drone is flown in a manner that is intrusive to a reasonable person
Critical infrastructure facilities (power plants, dams, water treatment facilities) are protected from drone surveillance under ARS 13-3729
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

Offense	Classification	Maximum Sentence
Surreptitious recording in a private location	Class 6 felony	2 years
Distribution of surreptitious recording (victim recognizable)	Class 4 felony	3.75 years
Recording under or through clothing	Class 6 felony	2 years

ARS 13-1424 Voyeurism Penalties

Offense	Classification	Maximum Sentence
Voyeurism (basic offense)	Class 5 felony	2.5 years
Distribution of voyeuristic recording (victim identifiable)	Class 4 felony	3.75 years

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, creates a private civil right of action against any person who knowingly creates, distributes, or publishes a synthetic digital image that falsely depicts an identifiable person in a sexually explicit manner without consent. SB 1359, signed May 29, 2024, requires disclosure labeling on AI-generated content in political advertising during election cycles. SB 1078 was not enacted.

Federal TAKE IT DOWN Act

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. No. 119-__) 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 pursuing state civil remedies under ARS 16-1023 and ARS 13-1425.

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
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

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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, secret video recording is a felony under ARS 13-3019. 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 record someone on private property without consent in a manner that would be intrusive to a reasonable person.

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

Secretly filming someone in a bathroom, locker room, bedroom, or other private location is a Class 6 felony under ARS 13-3019, punishable by up to 2 years in prison. 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 was permanently enjoined by stipulated injunction in Arizona Broadcasters Ass'n v. Mayes (D. Ariz. July 21, 2023), not struck down on the merits.

Sources and References

Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3019 - Surreptitious Photographing, Videotaping, Filming(azleg.gov).gov
Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1424 - Voyeurism Classification(azleg.gov).gov
Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3005 - Interception of Communications(azleg.gov).gov
Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3729 - Unmanned Aircraft(azleg.gov).gov
FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)(faa.gov).gov
Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3732 - Recording of Law Enforcement Activity(azleg.gov).gov
Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1502 - Criminal Trespass(azleg.gov).gov

Arizona's Key Video Recording Statutes