Colorado Security Camera Laws: Residential, Commercial, and Privacy Rules

Colorado permits security cameras on residential and commercial property without a permit. Video recording is legal in public-facing areas, but using a camera to observe or photograph another person's intimate parts without consent in a private space, such as a bathroom or bedroom, is criminal invasion of privacy under C.R.S. 18-7-801. Cameras that record audio must meet one-party consent requirements under C.R.S. 18-9-303 and 18-9-304.

Quick Answer

You can install security cameras on your property in Colorado without a permit. There is no state law that prohibits residential or commercial security cameras. However, camera placement must respect privacy expectations under C.R.S. 18-7-801 (Criminal Invasion of Privacy), and cameras that record audio must comply with one-party consent rules under C.R.S. 18-9-303 and C.R.S. 18-9-304. As of July 2025, HB 24-1130 adds biometric consent requirements for cameras with facial recognition capabilities.

Residential Security Camera Laws

Installing Cameras on Your Property

Colorado homeowners can install security cameras on their own property without special permits or government approval. You can place cameras:

• On your home's exterior (front door, back door, garage, driveway)
• Inside your home (living areas, hallways, entry points)
• In your yard, including pointing at your own driveway, walkway, and garden
• On outbuildings like sheds, detached garages, and workshops

Cameras Aimed at Public Areas

Security cameras on your property can capture footage of public areas visible from your property, including:

• The public street in front of your home
• Sidewalks adjacent to your property
• Neighboring properties to the extent visible from your property line

There is no Colorado law prohibiting cameras from capturing what is visible from your own property. However, deliberately angling cameras to peer into a neighbor's windows or private spaces could raise privacy concerns under C.R.S. 18-7-801.

Cameras Aimed at Neighbors

A common dispute involves security cameras pointed toward a neighbor's property. Colorado law does not prohibit capturing incidental footage of a neighbor's property that is visible from your own. However:

• Deliberately targeting a camera at a neighbor's windows, especially bedroom or bathroom windows, could constitute criminal invasion of privacy under C.R.S. 18-7-801 if it captures a person's intimate parts without consent
• Cameras aimed at common boundaries (fences, shared driveways) are generally permissible
• If a neighbor objects, you may consider adjusting the camera angle to minimize coverage of their private areas while still covering your own property

Indoor Camera Restrictions

Even in your own home, you cannot place cameras in areas where guests, housekeepers, contractors, or other visitors have a reasonable expectation of privacy:

• Bathrooms: Never place cameras in any bathroom
• Guest bedrooms: Do not record in rooms where guests sleep or change
• Changing areas: Any space where people might undress

Using a camera in these areas to observe or photograph another person's intimate parts without consent is criminal invasion of privacy under C.R.S. 18-7-801, regardless of who owns the property.

Nanny Cameras and Hidden Indoor Cameras

Hidden cameras (sometimes called nanny cameras) are legal in Colorado for monitoring common areas of your home, such as living rooms, kitchens, and playrooms. The same privacy restrictions apply:

• No cameras in bathrooms or areas where the caregiver would change clothes
• Video-only nanny cameras do not require notification under Colorado law
• If the camera records audio, one-party consent applies. Since you are not present during the recording, the audio capture may violate C.R.S. 18-9-304 (eavesdropping) unless you are participating in the conversation

The safest approach for nanny cameras with audio is to inform the caregiver that audio recording is in use. This avoids any eavesdropping concerns and is considered best practice.

Commercial Security Camera Laws

Business Surveillance

Colorado businesses can install security cameras for loss prevention, safety, and monitoring purposes. Permissible locations include:

• Building entrances and exits
• Sales floors and customer areas
• Warehouses and storage areas
• Parking lots and loading docks
• Cash registers and point-of-sale areas
• Hallways and common areas

Prohibited Commercial Locations

Businesses cannot place cameras in:

• Customer restrooms
• Fitting rooms and dressing rooms
• Employee locker rooms and changing areas
• Any area where customers or employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy

A camera in these areas that captures a person's intimate parts without consent can lead to criminal charges under C.R.S. 18-7-801, and camera placement in these areas can also create civil liability for invasion of privacy.

Notice Requirements for Commercial Cameras

Colorado does not have a state law requiring businesses to post signs notifying customers of security camera surveillance. However, posting signage is a widely adopted best practice that:

• Deters theft and misconduct
• Reduces customer privacy complaints
• Strengthens the legal position that no privacy expectation exists in monitored areas
• May be required by local ordinances in some Colorado municipalities

Audio Recording with Security Cameras

The Video-Audio Distinction

This is one of the most important distinctions in Colorado security camera law:

• Video-only cameras: Do not trigger wiretapping or eavesdropping statutes. You can record video in common areas without consent.
• Cameras with audio: The audio component must comply with one-party consent under C.R.S. 18-9-303 and C.R.S. 18-9-304.

Many modern security cameras and doorbell cameras (Ring, Nest, Arlo) have built-in microphones that record audio by default. If your security camera records audio of conversations you are not participating in, you may be violating Colorado's eavesdropping law.

Practical Solutions for Audio

• Disable audio: Turn off the microphone on outdoor security cameras that capture conversations of passersby
• Provide notice: Colorado law (C.R.S. 18-9-305(1)) does not bar audio recording devices used on your own premises for security or business purposes if you give the public reasonable notice, so post clear signs such as "Audio and video recording in progress" (see recording someone without consent)
• Limit audio range: Position cameras so microphones primarily capture sounds on your own property
• Use audio selectively: Enable audio only on cameras where you regularly participate in conversations (such as a front door camera where you greet visitors)

HB 24-1130: Biometric Data from Security Cameras

When the Law Applies

HB 24-1130 (effective July 1, 2025) requires clear notice and the person's consent (a clear, affirmative, informed agreement) before collecting biometric identifiers. This law affects security cameras that use:

• Facial recognition software that identifies or verifies individuals by facial geometry
• Gait analysis that identifies people by their walking patterns
• License plate readers with biometric cross-referencing
• Any AI-powered identification that processes biometric data from camera feeds

Standard security cameras that simply record video without biometric processing are not affected by HB 24-1130.

Impact on Businesses

Businesses using security cameras with biometric capabilities must:

1. Clearly inform people that biometric data is being collected
2. Explain the purpose of the collection
3. Obtain consent (a clear, affirmative, informed agreement) from individuals before processing their biometric data
4. Establish data retention and destruction policies

This creates practical challenges for retail environments where customers move through spaces monitored by facial recognition cameras. Businesses considering biometric security systems should consult with legal counsel on compliance strategies.

Impact on Employers

Employers using security cameras with facial recognition or other biometric processing for employee monitoring must comply with HB 24-1130's workplace-specific provisions. Employers may require biometric consent as a condition of employment only for:

• Controlling access to secure locations
• Recording work start and end times
• Monitoring workplace safety
• Protecting public safety or security during an emergency or crisis

For more details, see our Colorado Workplace Recording Laws page.

Security Cameras in Rental Properties

Landlord Camera Placement

Landlord cameras are governed by the same criminal laws that apply to anyone else:

• Observing or photographing a tenant's or guest's intimate parts without consent where they expect privacy is criminal invasion of privacy under C.R.S. 18-7-801
• Audio recording of conversations the landlord is not part of can be eavesdropping under C.R.S. 18-9-304
• Cameras in common areas of multi-unit buildings (lobbies, hallways, parking garages, laundry rooms) are common, and the lease may address cameras and the landlord's entry into units

The Colorado Division of Real Estate has issued a 2021 notice on audio and video surveillance, but it covers sellers' cameras during home showings and is addressed to real estate brokers, not landlords. It applies the same two statutes.

Tenant Camera Rights

Tenants in Colorado can generally install their own security cameras:

• Inside their rental unit (with the same privacy restrictions that apply to homeowners)
• Doorbell cameras on or near their unit's entrance (subject to lease terms and landlord approval)
• Dashboard cameras in vehicles parked in the building's lot

Tenants should check their lease for provisions about modifications to the property, as some leases restrict the installation of cameras, especially those that require drilling or permanent mounting.

For more details, see our Colorado Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws page.

Doorbell Cameras

Legal Status in Colorado

Doorbell cameras (Ring, Nest Hello, Arlo, and similar devices) are legal in Colorado. These cameras typically record both video and audio of your front door area. Legal considerations include:

• Video: Recording the area visible from your front door is legal
• Audio: The microphone captures conversations at your door. If you are speaking through the two-way audio feature, you are a participant and one-party consent is satisfied. If the camera records conversations between visitors when you are not participating, the audio component could raise eavesdropping concerns
• Neighbor footage: Doorbell cameras commonly capture portions of sidewalks, streets, and neighboring properties. This incidental footage is generally legal

HOA Restrictions

Homeowners associations in Colorado may impose rules about doorbell cameras and exterior security cameras. Common HOA restrictions include:

• Aesthetic requirements for camera mounting
• Approval processes before installation
• Restrictions on camera visibility from common areas
• Rules about camera angles that capture shared spaces

Check your HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) before installing exterior cameras.

Security Camera Footage as Evidence

Admissibility in Court

Security camera footage is generally admissible as evidence in Colorado courts if:

• The camera system was functioning properly at the time of recording
• The footage is authentic and has not been altered
• The footage is relevant to the case
• Proper chain of custody has been maintained

Sharing Footage with Law Enforcement

You can voluntarily share your security camera footage with law enforcement in Colorado. You are not required to share footage unless served with a valid warrant, subpoena, or court order. If law enforcement requests footage:

• You can choose to share voluntarily
• You can decline and wait for a warrant
• You should preserve the footage if you believe it may be relevant to a crime (destroying evidence can have legal consequences)

Data Retention

Colorado does not mandate a specific retention period for security camera footage. Most residential systems retain footage for 7 to 30 days depending on storage capacity. Businesses may retain footage longer based on industry requirements or insurance recommendations.

Penalties for Illegal Security Camera Placement

More Colorado Recording Topics

• Colorado Recording Laws
• Colorado Audio Recording
• Colorado Video Recording
• Colorado Medical Recording
• Colorado Schools Recording
• Colorado Police Recording
• Colorado Phone Calls Recording
• Colorado Voyeurism Recording
• Colorado Dashcam Recording
• Colorado Public Recording Recording
• Colorado Biometric Privacy Laws
• Surveillance Camera Laws

See Also

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

More Colorado Recording Laws

• Colorado Landlord-Tenant Laws
• Colorado Drone Laws
• Colorado Employee Monitoring Laws
• Colorado GPS Tracking Laws

More Colorado Laws

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to install security cameras in Colorado?

No. Colorado does not require a permit for residential or commercial security cameras. You can install cameras on your own property freely. However, camera placement must respect privacy expectations, and HOA or local rules may impose additional requirements.

Can security cameras record audio in Colorado?

Video-only recording does not require consent. If your security camera has a microphone that records audio, Colorado's one-party consent law applies. You should either disable audio, provide notice of audio recording, or ensure you are a participant in any captured conversations.

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

You can capture incidental footage of a neighbor's property that is visible from your own. However, deliberately targeting cameras at a neighbor's windows or private areas could constitute criminal invasion of privacy under C.R.S. 18-7-801 if the camera captures a person's intimate parts without consent. Aim cameras primarily at your own property.

Does HB 24-1130 affect home security cameras in Colorado?

Usually not. Standard security cameras that simply record video are not affected, and the Colorado Privacy Act does not apply to an individual using data in a purely personal or household activity. HB 24-1130 (in effect since July 1, 2025) matters when a business uses cameras with facial recognition or other biometric processing: it must tell people clearly and get their consent before collecting biometric identifiers.

Can my landlord install cameras inside my apartment in Colorado?

The criminal limits are the same as for anyone else. A camera that observes or photographs your intimate parts without consent where you expect privacy violates C.R.S. 18-7-801, and recording audio of your conversations without a participant's consent can be eavesdropping under C.R.S. 18-9-304. Your lease and the landlord's right to enter also matter. Landlords commonly use cameras in common areas like lobbies and hallways.