Maine
Maine Video Recording Laws: Public Filming, Private Property, and Consent (2026)
In Maine, video-only recording in public spaces is legal and requires no consent. Adding audio triggers one-party consent rules under 15 M.R.S.A. section 710. Recording in private spaces where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms or bedrooms, is prohibited under Maine's voyeurism statute.
Video recording in Maine is governed by a combination of constitutional protections, the state's wiretapping statute, and voyeurism law. Understanding how these laws interact helps you know when video recording is legal and when it crosses into prohibited territory.
Video Recording in Public Spaces
First Amendment Protection
The First Amendment protects the right to video record in public places. The First Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Maine, confirmed in Glik v. Cunniffe (2011) that recording in public is a clearly established constitutional right.
You can legally video record:
- On public streets, sidewalks, and parks
- At public events, parades, and demonstrations
- Government buildings and activities visible from public spaces
- Police officers performing their duties in public
- Any person or activity visible from a public vantage point
Video vs. Audio Recording
An important legal distinction exists:
- Video-only recording in public spaces requires no consent from anyone
- Audio recording is governed by one-party consent under 15 M.R.S.A. section 710 and section 712
If your video captures audio of conversations, one-party consent rules apply. You must be a participant in any conversation your recording captures.
Video Recording on Private Property
Your Own Property
You have broad rights to install video cameras on your own property in Maine. This includes interior and exterior cameras for home security, monitoring children or pets, and documenting property conditions.
Other People's Property
On private property you do not own, the property owner's rules govern. Businesses, employers, and landlords can set their own video recording policies. Recording on private property against the owner's wishes could result in trespass charges under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 402.
Maine Voyeurism Law
17-A M.R.S.A. Section 511
Maine's voyeurism statute (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) sets strict limits on video recording in private settings. It is a crime to:
- Place a camera in a location where a person may reasonably expect privacy for the purpose of observing or recording them
- Record someone in a state of undress or engaged in sexual activity without consent
- Disseminate images obtained through voyeuristic recording
Where Privacy Is Expected
Areas where video recording is prohibited include:
- Bathrooms and restrooms (public or private)
- Bedrooms and hotel rooms
- Changing rooms and fitting rooms
- Locker rooms
- Medical examination rooms
- Any location where a person is in a state of undress
Penalties
| Offense | Classification | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Voyeuristic video recording | Class D crime | Up to 1 year jail, $2,000 fine |
| Recording a minor | Class C crime | Up to 5 years prison, $5,000 fine |
| Disseminating voyeuristic video | Class D crime | Up to 1 year jail, $2,000 fine |
Federal TAKE IT DOWN Act
The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. 119-12, signed May 19, 2025; effective May 19, 2026) imposes a federal obligation on covered online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate imagery -- including AI-generated deepfakes -- within 48 hours of a victim's takedown notice. The Act applies alongside Maine state law on non-consensual intimate images (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511-A, as amended by LD 1944 / PL 2025, c. 400 to cover synthetic imagery). Victims can pursue both Maine criminal charges and federal takedown mechanisms.
Video Recording in the Workplace
Employer Video Surveillance
Employers in Maine can use video surveillance in the workplace for security and safety purposes. Cameras are generally permitted in:
- Common work areas and production floors
- Entrances, exits, and hallways
- Parking lots and loading docks
- Cash registers and point-of-sale areas
Cameras are prohibited in:
- Employee restrooms and changing areas
- Break rooms (limited privacy expectation)
- Private offices (without notification)
Employee Video Recording
Employees can video record in the workplace under one-party consent, as long as they are a party to any conversations captured. Employer policies may restrict recording, and violating these policies could result in disciplinary action.
For more on workplace recording, see our guide on Maine workplace recording laws.
Video Recording in Rental Properties
Landlords can install exterior video cameras but cannot place cameras inside rental units. Tenants can use cameras inside their own units. For details, see our guide on Maine landlord-tenant recording laws.
Video Recording and Social Media
Posting Public Recordings
Video captured in public spaces can generally be shared on social media. People in public have reduced privacy expectations regarding their appearance and actions.
Privacy Considerations
- Videos of children raise heightened concerns even when legally captured
- Sharing video with intent to harass could support a harassment claim
- Commercial use of someone's likeness may require consent
- Videos showing sensitive locations (military installations, courtrooms) may have restrictions
Video Evidence in Maine Courts
Admissibility
Video recordings are admissible in Maine courts when authenticated. The offering party must show:
- The recording device was functioning properly
- The footage has not been altered or edited deceptively
- The content is relevant to the case
- The footage accurately depicts the events captured
Common Uses
Video evidence is used in:
- Criminal prosecutions (assaults, thefts, DUI)
- Personal injury cases
- Domestic violence proceedings
- Insurance claims
- Employment disputes
- Property and boundary disputes
Drone Video Recording
Maine drone laws (14 M.R.S.A. section 8001) restrict aerial video surveillance of people in private places. Recreational and commercial drone video must comply with FAA regulations.
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
More Maine Recording Topics
More Maine Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I video record someone in public in Maine without their consent?
Yes. Video-only recording in public spaces requires no consent. People in public have a reduced expectation of privacy. However, if your video captures audio of conversations, Maine one-party consent law applies and you must be a participant in any conversation recorded.
Is it illegal to video record someone in their home in Maine?
Recording someone in their home without their knowledge or consent violates Maine's voyeurism law (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) if the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. This is a criminal offense that can result in up to 1 year in jail for adults and up to 5 years for recordings involving minors.
Can I post videos of people on social media in Maine?
Videos captured in public spaces can generally be shared on social media. However, videos of people in private settings require consent. Sharing video with intent to harass could support a criminal harassment charge under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-A.
Can my employer video record me at work in Maine?
Yes, employers can use video cameras in common work areas for security purposes. Cameras are prohibited in restrooms, changing areas, and other locations where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Maine does not have a specific workplace video surveillance statute.
Can video recordings be used as evidence in Maine courts?
Yes. Video recordings are admissible when properly authenticated. The offering party must show the footage is genuine, unaltered, relevant, and accurately depicts the events captured. Both legally and illegally obtained videos may be challenged on admissibility grounds.
Updates
Added TAKE IT DOWN Act (Pub. L. 119-12, signed May 19, 2025; effective May 19, 2026): federal 48-hour takedown obligation for non-consensual intimate video including AI deepfakes on covered platforms. Cross-references Maine LD 1944 / PL 2025, c. 400 (section 511-A deepfake NCII amendment).
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 14: COURT PROCEDURE -- CIVIL, Part 7: PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS, Chapter 740: UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGMENTS ACT
§ 8001Short titleIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
This Act may be cited as the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act. [PL 1975, c. 335 (NEW).]
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 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)
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 Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026), Maine Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Defenses (2026), Maine Smart Glasses Recording Laws: What You Need to Know
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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
- 14 M.R.S.A. section 8001 - Drone Regulations (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov
- FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems(faa.gov).gov