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

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 without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there. 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, its violation-of-privacy 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 private place, such as while undressing, without their consent, or to capture a part of someone's body hidden under their clothing
• Install hidden cameras in rental properties without tenant knowledge
• Use audio recording on cameras to capture conversations you are not a party to

Maine Violation-of-Privacy Law and Security Cameras

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

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

• Install or use any camera or recording device in a private place, such as a bathroom or changing room, without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there
• Install or use a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside it that could not ordinarily be seen or heard from outside
• Use a camera, even in a public place, to observe or record a part of someone's body that is concealed under clothing, where a reasonable person would expect it to be safe from surveillance
• Trespass on property intending to overhear or observe someone in a private place

The statute defines a private place as one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from surveillance. No sexual purpose or state of undress is required.

Penalties for Voyeuristic Recording

A conviction for recording under someone's clothing (section 511(1)(D)), or for a sexually motivated violation involving a child under 16 (section 511(1)(F)), also requires sex offender registration: both offenses are listed in 34-A M.R.S. section 11273, and the duty to register is set by 34-A M.R.S. section 11282.

Audio Recording on Security Cameras

One-Party Consent Rules

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

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 recording aimed at a neighbor can become criminal harassment under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-A if it is meant to harass, torment, or threaten and continues after police or a court has told the person to stop

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 and private offices are not named in the statute. Whether a camera there is lawful depends on whether employees could reasonably expect to be safe from surveillance, so many employers avoid them or give notice.

Maine's employer surveillance law, 26 M.R.S. section 620-A, in effect since July 29, 2026, requires employers to notify employees before electronically monitoring them, to tell job applicants during the interview process, and to give current employees written notice at least once a year. It also bars audiovisual monitoring in an employee's home, personal vehicle, or property unless the job requires it. Violations carry a fine of $100 to $500 each.

That law's definition of employer surveillance excludes cameras used for security or safety purposes, so ordinary security cameras fall outside it. Cameras in restrooms, changing rooms, and similar private places remain a crime under 17-A M.R.S. section 511, and common-law privacy claims can also 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 does not currently have a comprehensive consumer data-privacy law. A proposed Maine Online Data Privacy Act (LD 1822) did not pass into law. The data privacy protections that do exist in Maine are narrower, sector-specific statutes, such as the broadband customer-privacy law at 35-A M.R.S. section 9301. Stay informed, since additional consumer privacy legislation could still be introduced in a future session.

More Maine Recording Laws

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

Back to Maine Recording Laws

More Maine Recording Topics

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See Also

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

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• Maine AI Meeting Recording Laws
• Maine Dashcam Laws
• Maine Data Privacy Laws
• Maine Deepfake Laws
• Maine Employee Monitoring Laws
• Maine GPS Tracking Laws
• Maine Police Bodycam Laws
• Maine Smart Glasses Recording 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's employer surveillance law (26 M.R.S. section 620-A) requires notice before electronic monitoring of employees, but it excludes cameras used for security or safety purposes. Common law privacy protections also 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.