Maine

Maine Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished March 23, 2026Reviewed June 7, 20268 min read

Key Takeaways

1Security cameras are legal in Maine for both residential and commercial properties, with no state permit or registration required.
2Maine's voyeurism law (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) prohibits placing cameras in locations where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, and changing areas.
3Audio recording on security cameras follows Maine's one-party consent law (15 M.R.S.A. section 710). Recording conversations you are not a party to could be illegal.
4Employers in Maine can use security cameras in the workplace but must avoid placing them in areas where employees have privacy expectations, such as restrooms and break rooms.
5HOA and landlord camera regulations in Maine are primarily governed by lease terms, association rules, and state privacy law rather than a specific security camera statute.

Maine permits home and business security cameras without a permit. Silent video is generally legal in non-private areas, but 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511 bars cameras in bathrooms, bedrooms, and changing areas. Audio capture follows one-party consent under 15 M.R.S.A. section 710.

Security cameras are widely used in Maine for home protection, business security, and property monitoring. While Maine does not have a dedicated security camera statute, their use is governed by the state's wiretapping law, voyeurism statute, and general privacy principles. This guide covers the legal rules for residential, commercial, and workplace security cameras in Maine.

Are Security Cameras Legal in Maine?

Yes. Maine does not require permits, registration, or notification for installing security cameras on your own property. You can use security cameras at your home or business without government approval.

What Maine Law Permits

You can legally:

Install cameras on the exterior of your property (doorbell cameras, driveway cameras, perimeter cameras)
Place cameras inside your own home
Use cameras on your business premises in public-facing areas
Record video continuously without consent from anyone
Store footage locally or in cloud storage

What Maine Law Prohibits

You cannot legally:

Place cameras in areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy (bathrooms, guest bedrooms, changing areas)
Aim cameras into your neighbor's home or private spaces
Use cameras to record people in a state of undress without consent
Install hidden cameras in rental properties without tenant knowledge
Use audio recording on cameras to capture conversations you are not a party to

Maine Voyeurism Law and Security Cameras

Maine dummy security camera with a blinking red led mounted on a wall bracket

17-A M.R.S.A. Section 511

Maine's voyeurism statute (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) is the primary law governing hidden cameras and privacy violations. Under this statute, it is a crime to:

Knowingly place a camera in a location where a person may reasonably expect privacy for the purpose of observing them
Record someone in a state of undress or engaged in sexual activity without consent
Disseminate images obtained through voyeuristic recording

Penalties for Voyeuristic Recording

Offense	Classification	Maximum Penalty
Voyeuristic recording	Class D crime	Up to 1 year jail, $2,000 fine
Recording involving a minor	Class C crime	Up to 5 years prison, $5,000 fine
Disseminating voyeuristic images	Class D crime	Up to 1 year jail, $2,000 fine

Audio Recording on Security Cameras

Maine mailbox area in an apartment complex with a small camera mounted above

Many security cameras include microphones. Maine's one-party consent law (15 M.R.S.A. section 710) governs audio recording:

If you are present and part of a conversation captured by your camera, the recording is legal
If your camera records conversations between other people when you are not present, this could violate wiretapping law
The safest approach for outdoor and common area cameras is to disable audio recording or post prominent notices

Penalties for Illegal Audio Recording

Illegal interception of communications is a Class C crime under 15 M.R.S.A. section 710, carrying up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Residential Security Cameras

Maine construction site with a temporary security camera on a portable pole

Your Property

You have broad rights to install cameras on your own property in Maine:

Doorbell cameras (Ring, Nest, Arlo) at your entrance
Exterior cameras covering your driveway, yard, and perimeter
Interior cameras monitoring your home while away
Garage and shed cameras

Cameras Facing Public Areas

Cameras that capture public sidewalks, streets, or neighboring driveways from your property are generally legal. People in public spaces have reduced privacy expectations. However, cameras should not be aimed specifically to peer into a neighbor's windows or private areas.

Neighbor Disputes

Camera disputes between neighbors are common in Maine. Key considerations:

You can record activity visible from your property
You cannot aim cameras to invade a neighbor's reasonable privacy
If a neighbor objects to your camera, consider adjusting the angle to minimize capturing their private areas
Persistent, targeted recording of a neighbor could support a harassment claim under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-A

Business Security Cameras

Retail and Commercial

Businesses in Maine commonly use security cameras for loss prevention, employee safety, and liability protection. Best practices include:

Posting visible signs informing customers that surveillance is in use
Placing cameras in public areas (sales floor, entrances, parking lots)
Avoiding cameras in customer restrooms, fitting rooms, or any private areas
Establishing data retention and access policies for stored footage
Training employees on camera locations and company recording policies

Workplace Cameras

Employers in Maine can use workplace cameras but must balance security needs with employee privacy:

Permitted locations:

Entrances and exits
Warehouse and production areas
Cash registers and point-of-sale areas
Parking lots and loading docks
Common hallways

Prohibited locations:

Employee restrooms
Changing areas and locker rooms
Break rooms (some privacy expectation)
Private offices (without notice)

Maine does not have a specific workplace surveillance statute, but the Maine Human Rights Act and common law privacy protections apply.

Landlord and Tenant Camera Rules

Landlord Cameras

Landlords in Maine can install cameras on rental property exteriors and in common areas but cannot place cameras inside individual rental units. See our guide on Maine landlord-tenant recording laws for detailed coverage.

Tenant Cameras

Tenants can install cameras inside their own units, subject to lease terms about property modifications. Wireless, adhesive-mounted cameras generally do not require lease modifications.

HOA Security Camera Rules

Maine homeowner associations can establish their own security camera rules. Common HOA provisions include:

Requirements for camera aesthetics (color, size, placement)
Restrictions on cameras visible from common areas
Rules about shared surveillance systems
Limitations on cameras aimed at common spaces

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

Security Camera Footage as Evidence

Admissibility in Maine Courts

Security camera footage is admissible in Maine courts when properly authenticated. The offering party must show:

The camera was functioning properly
The footage has not been altered
The date, time, and location are accurate
The content is relevant to the case

Common Uses

Security footage is regularly used in:

Burglary and theft prosecutions
Personal injury and slip-and-fall cases
Domestic violence and harassment cases
Insurance claims for property damage
Neighbor disputes and boundary conflicts

Data Storage and Privacy

Storage Best Practices

Use encrypted storage for footage
Establish retention periods (30-90 days is common)
Limit access to authorized individuals
Protect cloud-stored footage with strong passwords
Delete footage that is no longer needed

Maine Data Privacy

Maine's evolving data privacy framework, including the Online Data Privacy Act (LD 1822, effective July 1, 2026), may affect how cloud-connected camera services handle footage. Stay informed about new requirements.

More Maine Recording Laws

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More Maine Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to install security cameras at my home in Maine?

No. Maine does not require permits or registration for residential security cameras. You can install cameras on your own property without government approval. However, cameras must not be placed in areas where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Can my security camera record audio in Maine?

Audio recording on security cameras is governed by Maine's one-party consent law (15 M.R.S.A. section 710). If you are present and part of conversations captured, the audio is legal. If the camera records conversations between others when you are not present, this could violate wiretapping law. Consider disabling audio or posting notices.

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

You can capture what is visible from your own property, including public areas and portions of neighboring property visible from your vantage point. However, aiming a camera specifically to peer into a neighbor's windows or private areas could violate privacy expectations and lead to legal action.

Can my employer put cameras in the workplace in Maine?

Yes, employers can use cameras in common work areas, entrances, and production areas. Cameras are prohibited in restrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas. Maine does not have a specific workplace surveillance statute, but common law privacy protections apply.

How long should I keep security camera footage in Maine?

Maine does not mandate specific retention periods for residential security footage. A common practice is retaining footage for 30 to 90 days. If footage is relevant to a legal matter, preserve it indefinitely until the matter is resolved. Check with your insurance provider for any specific requirements.

Updates

May 14, 2026

Cross-spoke accuracy check: security camera use under 17-A M.R.S. section 511 (private-place prohibition) and 15 M.R.S. section 711 (civil remedy) confirmed current. FTC v. Ring LLC (May 2023, $5.8M redress) remains relevant for connected-camera vendor practices. No substantive law changes required.

The Law Behind This Article

This article rests on 3 statutory provisions held in our own legal record, each retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 15: COURT PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL, Part 2: PROCEEDINGS BEFORE TRIAL, Chapter 102: INTERCEPTION OF WIRE AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

§ 710OffensesIn forcecited in 14 of our articles

1. Interception, oral communications prohibited. Any person, other than an employee of a communication common carrier, a law enforcement officer, an investigative officer, another employee of the Department of Corrections authorized to exercise law enforcement powers as described in Title 34‑A, section 3011 or a jail investigative officer or a jail employee acting at the direction of a jail investigative officer, carrying out practices otherwise permitted by this chapter, who intentionally or knowingly intercepts, attempts to intercept or procures any other person to intercept or attempt to intercept any wire or oral communication is guilty of a Class C crime. 2. Editing of tape recordings in judicial proceedings prohibited. Any person who knowingly or intentionally edits, alters or tampers with any tape, transcription or other sound recording, or knows of such editing, altering or tampering, and presents that recording in any judicial proceeding or proceeding under oath, without fully indicating the nature of the changes made and the original state of the recording, is guilty of a Class C crime. 3. Disclosure or use of wire or oral communications prohibited.

Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-30 · Read the full section at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Maine Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026), Maine Dashcam Laws: Mounting Rules, Audio Recording, and Evidence (2026), Maine Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras, Audio, and Privacy Rights (2026)

§ 711Civil remedyIn forcecited in 7 of our articles

Any party to a conversation intercepted, disclosed or used in violation of this chapter shall have a civil cause of action against any person who intercepts, discloses or uses such communications and shall be entitled to recover from any such persons: [PL 1973, c. 561 (NEW).] 1. Damages. Actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages, computed at the rate of $100 per day for each day of violation; and 2. Attorney's fee. A reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation disbursements reasonably incurred.

Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-30 · Read the full section at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Maine Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Cell, Landline, and VoIP (2026), Maine Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Defenses (2026), Maine Smart Glasses Recording Laws: What You Need to Know

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE, Part 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES, Chapter 21: OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER

§ 511Violation of privacyIn forcecited in 10 of our articles

1. A person is guilty of violation of privacy if, except in the execution of a public duty or as authorized by law, that person intentionally: A. Commits a civil trespass on property with the intent to overhear or observe any person in a private place; [PL 1997, c. 467, §1 (AMD).] B. Installs or uses in a private place without the consent of the person or persons entitled to privacy in that place, any device for observing, photographing, recording, amplifying or broadcasting sounds or events in that place; [PL 1997, c. 467, §1 (AMD).] C. Installs or uses outside a private place without the consent of the person or persons entitled to privacy therein any device for observing, photographing, hearing, recording, amplifying or broadcasting images or sounds originating in that place that would not ordinarily be visible, audible or comprehensible outside that place; [PL 2023, c. 227, §1 (AMD).] D.

Official text (excerpt) · as of 2026-07-30 · Read the full section at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Maine Laws on Recording in Public: Your Complete Guide (2026), Maine Video Recording Laws: Public Filming, Private Property, and Consent (2026), Maine AI Meeting Recording Laws: One-Party Consent and Class C Penalties

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Sources and References

15 M.R.S.A. section 710 - Interception of Communications (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov
17-A M.R.S.A. section 511 - Voyeurism (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov
15 M.R.S.A. section 711 - Civil Remedies (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov
Maine Human Rights Act (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov

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Maine

Maine Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished March 23, 2026Reviewed June 7, 20268 min read

Key Takeaways

1Security cameras are legal in Maine for both residential and commercial properties, with no state permit or registration required.
2Maine's voyeurism law (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) prohibits placing cameras in locations where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, and changing areas.
3Audio recording on security cameras follows Maine's one-party consent law (15 M.R.S.A. section 710). Recording conversations you are not a party to could be illegal.
4Employers in Maine can use security cameras in the workplace but must avoid placing them in areas where employees have privacy expectations, such as restrooms and break rooms.
5HOA and landlord camera regulations in Maine are primarily governed by lease terms, association rules, and state privacy law rather than a specific security camera statute.