New Hampshire Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

New Hampshire allows video-only surveillance cameras on your own property but requires all-party consent to record oral communications under RSA 570-A:2. Cameras in private areas such as bathrooms are illegal under RSA 644:9. No single statute governs all cameras; these two laws together set the rules.

Overview of New Hampshire Surveillance Camera Laws

New Hampshire does not have a single statute that governs all surveillance cameras. Instead, several laws work together to regulate when and where cameras can be used, whether audio recording is permitted, and what penalties apply for violations. The primary statutes include RSA 570-A (Wiretapping and Eavesdropping), RSA 644:9 (Violation of Privacy), and RSA 644:23 (Unlawful Operation or Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft System).

The central principle across all of these laws is the concept of a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Surveillance cameras are generally permitted in New Hampshire when they record areas visible to the public, such as front yards, driveways, and sidewalks. Recording becomes illegal when cameras capture images or sounds in places where people reasonably expect to be free from observation.

New Hampshire stands out among U.S. states because of its strict all-party consent requirement for audio recording. Under RSA 570-A:2, intercepting a telecommunication or an oral communication without the consent of every participant is a criminal offense. How far that rule reaches depends on a definition: RSA 570-A:1, II defines an "oral communication" as verbal communication uttered by a person who has a reasonable expectation that the communication is not subject to interception, under circumstances justifying such expectation. Speech carried on with no justified expectation of privacy falls outside the statute. Even so, any security camera with a built-in microphone creates significant legal risk if the audio recording feature is left enabled, because whether a particular recorded conversation met that definition is decided after the fact.

Understanding these overlapping laws is essential for homeowners, employers, landlords, and anyone who wants to install security cameras or protect their own privacy rights in the Granite State.

Home Security Camera Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire homeowners have the legal right to install security cameras on their own property to deter crime, monitor visitors, and protect their homes. No state law requires homeowners to register security cameras or obtain a permit before installing them.

Where You Can Place Home Security Cameras

You can legally place cameras in the following areas of your property:

• Front door and porch areas for monitoring visitors and package deliveries
• Driveways and garages to record vehicle activity
• Backyards to monitor your own property
• Common living areas inside your home, such as living rooms and kitchens
• Exterior walls aimed at your own property and public areas

Where You Cannot Place Home Security Cameras

Cameras become illegal when they are positioned to record areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Under RSA 644:9, the following placements are prohibited:

• Bathrooms and restrooms in your home where guests or residents expect privacy
• Guest bedrooms where visitors are staying and may undress
• Aimed directly into a neighbor's windows or interior living spaces
• Any area where someone may be undressing or engaged in private activities

A "private place" under RSA 644:9 includes public restrooms, locker rooms, the interior of a dwelling, and any location where a person's body, including genitalia, buttocks, or female breasts, may be exposed.

Ring Doorbells and Smart Cameras

Video doorbells and smart security cameras such as Ring, Nest, and Arlo are legal in New Hampshire. These devices typically record your own porch and the public sidewalk or street in front of your home. Since these areas are in public view, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and video recording is permitted.

However, if a doorbell camera captures a wide angle that includes a neighbor's interior spaces through their windows, this could raise privacy concerns under New Hampshire law. Position your smart cameras to focus primarily on your own property and public areas.

Audio Recording on Home Security Cameras

This is where New Hampshire law creates the biggest risk for homeowners. Many modern security cameras include microphone capabilities that record audio by default.

New Hampshire is an all-party consent state under RSA 570-A:2. This means you cannot record an oral communication, as RSA 570-A:1, II defines that term, without the consent of every person participating in the conversation. Unlike one-party consent states where you can record if you are a participant, New Hampshire law requires that all parties agree.

Conversations on a porch, driveway, or public sidewalk may or may not carry the justified expectation of privacy the definition requires, and that question is resolved case by case on the facts. Because you cannot know in advance which side of the line a recorded conversation falls on, the safest approach for outdoor security cameras is to:

• Disable audio recording on all exterior cameras
• Post visible signage indicating that audio and video recording is in progress
• Obtain written consent from anyone who regularly visits the property

Failing to comply with the all-party consent requirement can result in criminal charges. Under RSA 570-A:2, willfully intercepting an oral communication without consent from all parties is a class B felony. A person who knowingly records a communication they are a party to without the other participants' consent faces an unclassified misdemeanor charge under RSA 570-A:2, I-a, which defaults to a class B misdemeanor.

Workplace Surveillance Camera Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire does not have a specific statute governing workplace video surveillance. Employers in the state must follow the general privacy principles established by RSA 644:9 and the audio recording restrictions in RSA 570-A.

What Employers Can Do

Employers may install video-only surveillance cameras in the following areas:

• Lobbies, hallways, and reception areas for security purposes
• Parking lots to protect employees and company property
• Warehouses and production floors to monitor operations
• Cash register areas to prevent theft
• Loading docks and entry points for security

These areas are generally considered public or semi-public spaces where employees do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

What Employers Cannot Do

Even without a specific workplace surveillance statute, employers face restrictions under existing New Hampshire law:

• Restrooms and changing areas are always off-limits for surveillance under RSA 644:9
• Break rooms may raise privacy concerns depending on the circumstances
• Union meeting areas are protected under the National Labor Relations Act
• Private offices where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy may require notice before camera installation

Audio Surveillance at Work

Employers who use cameras with audio recording capabilities face serious legal risk in New Hampshire. Because of the all-party consent requirement under RSA 570-A:2, an employer cannot record conversations between employees unless every participant has consented.

This prohibition applies to:

• Recording meetings without consent from all attendees
• Using cameras with active microphones in common work areas
• Monitoring phone calls without notifying all parties
• Using hidden audio recording devices anywhere in the workplace

The best practice for employers is to disable audio on all security cameras and provide written notice to all employees that video surveillance is in use. Employers should adopt a written video surveillance policy and obtain signed acknowledgments from employees.

Employee Notification

While New Hampshire does not require employers to notify employees of video-only surveillance, providing notice is strongly recommended. A clear workplace surveillance policy should outline where cameras are located, whether audio is recorded (it should not be, in most cases), how footage is stored, who has access to recordings, and how long recordings are retained.

Hidden Cameras and Voyeurism Laws

New Hampshire takes hidden camera crimes seriously. RSA 644:9 is the primary statute addressing voyeurism and unauthorized surveillance in private places.

RSA 644:9: Violation of Privacy

Under RSA 644:9, a person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if they unlawfully and without consent install or use any device for the purpose of:

• Observing, photographing, recording, or transmitting images or sounds of a person's private body parts, including genitalia, buttocks, or female breasts
• Recording images or sounds in any private place
• Using a device outside a private place to capture images, sounds, location, or movement originating inside that place that would not ordinarily be audible, visible, or comprehensible from outside

The statute also makes it a misdemeanor for a person to knowingly view another person without their knowledge or consent for the purpose of sexual gratification, whether using the unaided eye or any visual enhancement device (RSA 644:9 III-a). This offense is not statutorily classified as Class A or Class B; under RSA 625:9 IV(c), an unclassified misdemeanor defaults to a Class B misdemeanor unless it involves an act or threat of violence, the state gives pre-arraignment notice seeking Class A treatment, or the charge is filed directly in superior court.

Enhanced Penalties

RSA 644:9 provides for enhanced penalties in certain situations:

• Repeat offenders: A second or subsequent conviction under the privacy violation provisions is elevated to a class B felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a $4,000 fine
• Child victims: If the victim is under 18 years old, the violation becomes a class B felony for a first offense and a class A felony (up to 15 years in prison) for subsequent offenses

RSA 644:9-a: Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Images

New Hampshire also has a separate statute, RSA 644:9-a, that addresses the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images. Under this law, it is a class B felony to purposely disseminate private sexual images of an identifiable person with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the depicted person, when the person sharing the image knows or should have known that consent was not given.

This statute also covers synthetic or digitally altered images that manipulate a recognizable person's likeness to create false depictions of intimate content.

Law Enforcement Exception

RSA 644:9, Section V provides an exception for lawful law enforcement activities. The privacy restrictions do not apply to authorized investigations conducted by government or private entities supported by articulable suspicion.

Audio Recording Laws in New Hampshire (All-Party Consent)

New Hampshire's all-party consent requirement for audio recording is one of the strictest in the country. RSA 570-A:2 governs the interception and disclosure of telecommunications and oral communications.

What the Law Says

Under RSA 570-A:2, a person is guilty of a class B felony if, without the consent of all parties to the communication, they willfully intercept, endeavor to intercept, or procure any other person to intercept any telecommunication or oral communication.

The statute also prohibits willfully using or disclosing the contents of any communication obtained through illegal interception.

What All-Party Consent Means in Practice

Every participant in a conversation must agree to the recording before it begins. This applies to:

• In-person conversations recorded by any device
• Telephone calls recorded by either party
• Video calls where audio is captured
• Any electronic communication where audio content is intercepted

Unlike one-party consent states, you cannot legally record a conversation in New Hampshire simply because you are a participant. All other parties must also consent.

Misdemeanor vs. Felony Distinction

RSA 570-A:2, I-a creates an important distinction. When a person knowingly intercepts a communication that they are a party to without the consent of all other parties, the offense is a misdemeanor rather than a felony. The statute says only "misdemeanor" and assigns no class, so RSA 625:9, IV(c) presumes a class B misdemeanor, which under RSA 651:2 carries no incarceration and a maximum $1,200 fine. Class A treatment, up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine, is available only where the offense involves an act or threat of violence, the state files notice seeking class A penalties on or before arraignment, or the charge is filed directly in superior court. This means:

• Misdemeanor (unclassified, defaults to class B): Recording a conversation you are participating in, without the other parties' consent (no incarceration and up to a $1,200 fine, unless one of the class A exceptions applies)
• Class B Felony: Recording or intercepting a conversation you are not a party to, or using surveillance devices to capture others' communications without consent (up to 7 years in prison and $4,000 fine)

Exceptions to the All-Party Consent Rule

RSA 570-A:2, II provides several exceptions where interception is permitted:

• Telephone operators and carriers acting in the normal course of business
• Law enforcement officers conducting investigations of organized crime with authorization from the attorney general
• Emergency services responding to 911 calls
• School bus operators recording audio and video with school board authorization and proper parental notice
• Police officers using body-worn cameras under RSA 105-D
• Officers conducting routine traffic stops with notification to the driver

Evidence Suppression

Under RSA 570-A:6, no communication intercepted in violation of the chapter may be received as evidence in any legal proceeding. This means that even if an illegally recorded conversation contains relevant information, it will be excluded from court proceedings.

Civil Remedies for Victims

RSA 570-A:11 provides a private right of action for anyone whose communication is intercepted, disclosed, or used in violation of the wiretapping law. Victims can recover:

• Actual damages, with a minimum of $100 per day for each day of the violation or $1,000, whichever is greater
• Punitive damages for willful or egregious conduct
• Reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs

Neighbor Disputes Over Security Cameras

Disagreements between neighbors about security cameras are common in New Hampshire. The state's privacy laws provide guidance on when a neighbor's camera is legal and when it crosses the line.

When a Neighbor's Camera Is Legal

A neighbor's security camera is generally legal if it:

• Is pointed at the neighbor's own property
• Captures public areas such as sidewalks and streets
• Records only video (without audio) of areas in public view
• Does not peer into your windows or private enclosed spaces

When a Neighbor's Camera May Be Illegal

A neighbor's camera may violate New Hampshire law if it:

• Is deliberately aimed to look inside your home through windows
• Records your fully fenced backyard from an elevated position, capturing areas that are hidden from street-level view
• Records audio of your private conversations without your consent, violating RSA 570-A:2
• Is a hidden camera placed on your property without your knowledge
• Is used to observe you for the purpose of sexual gratification, violating RSA 644:9, III-a

Steps to Resolve a Camera Dispute

1. Talk to your neighbor. Many disputes arise from cameras that were not intentionally aimed at your property. A polite conversation can often resolve the issue.

2. Document the situation. If the camera clearly invades your privacy, take photos or video showing the camera's position and what it captures.

3. Send a written request. Ask your neighbor in writing to adjust the camera angle or position. Keep a copy for your records.

4. Contact local police. If you believe a neighbor is using a camera to conduct surveillance of your private spaces or to record your conversations without consent, file a police report. Violations of RSA 644:9 are criminal offenses.

5. Consult an attorney. You may have grounds for a civil invasion of privacy lawsuit, or you may be able to pursue civil damages under RSA 570-A:11 if audio recording is involved.

Physical Solutions

You can also take steps to block a camera's view of your property:

• Install privacy fencing along your property line
• Plant tall hedges or trees to create natural barriers
• Use window film or curtains to block interior views
• Install your own cameras to document any intrusive behavior

Nanny Cam Laws in New Hampshire

Nanny cameras, or hidden cameras used to monitor caregivers in your home, are subject to specific rules in New Hampshire based on the state's privacy and wiretapping statutes.

Where You Can Place a Nanny Cam

• Living rooms and family rooms where childcare takes place
• Kitchens and dining areas
• Playrooms and nurseries (in common areas)
• Hallways and entryways

Where You Cannot Place a Nanny Cam

• Bathrooms used by the caregiver
• Bedrooms designated for the caregiver's private use (for live-in nannies)
• Any room where the caregiver may change clothes or has a reasonable expectation of privacy

Under RSA 644:9, installing a recording device in a private place without consent is a class A misdemeanor. A caregiver's designated bedroom and any bathroom they use are considered private places.

Audio on Nanny Cams

If your nanny cam records audio, New Hampshire's all-party consent law under RSA 570-A:2 applies. Since you are not present during the conversations being recorded, and the caregiver has not consented to the recording, capturing audio could violate the wiretapping statute.

The safest approach for nanny cam audio in New Hampshire is to:

• Disable audio recording on the nanny cam entirely, or
• Inform the caregiver in writing that both audio and video recording take place in the home, and obtain their signed consent before they begin work
• Keep a copy of the signed consent in your records

Disclosure Requirements

While New Hampshire does not have a specific nanny cam statute, the combination of RSA 644:9 and RSA 570-A effectively requires disclosure. The safest practice is to include information about camera use in the caregiver's employment agreement and to post signage in areas where cameras are present.

Drone Surveillance Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's dedicated drone statute is RSA 644:23, Unlawful Operation or Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft System, effective January 1, 2026. It is not a general surveillance-consent law. It targets unsafe and unlawful drone operation rather than setting a blanket consent requirement for drone-based surveillance.

What RSA 644:23 Covers

• Operating a drone in violation of FAA rules (14 C.F.R. Part 107) is a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for a second or later offense.
• Operating a drone that interferes with law enforcement, firefighting, or other emergency response operations, or that violates any provision of RSA 644:9, is a misdemeanor. Licensed news media may operate with FAA authorization while following the responding agency's directives.
• Negligently operating a drone in a way that interferes with or disrupts a human-occupied aircraft is a class A misdemeanor. If the interference damages the aircraft, it is a class B felony. If it causes a crash that results in death or serious bodily injury, it is a class A felony.
• Flying over a correctional facility is a misdemeanor, escalating to a class B felony if the purpose is delivering contraband.
• Equipping or knowingly possessing a drone with a device capable of causing serious bodily injury, death, or property damage is a class B felony, with exceptions for bomb squads and authorized law enforcement distraction devices.
• Law enforcement officers acting within their lawful authority are exempt.

Drone Surveillance of Private Spaces

RSA 644:23 does not create its own consent standard for drones used to watch people. It borrows one: RSA 644:23, III makes it a misdemeanor to operate a small unmanned aircraft system that interferes with law enforcement, firefighting, or other emergency response operations, or that "violates any provisions of RSA 644:9." The substantive privacy rule therefore comes from New Hampshire's general privacy statute, RSA 644:9, the same law that governs hidden cameras, and a drone operator who breaks that rule can be charged under both statutes. It is a class A misdemeanor to use any device, including a drone, to observe or record inside a private place, or to capture from outside a private place images or sounds that would not ordinarily be perceptible from there.

Penalties for Drone Violations

Landlord and Tenant Surveillance Camera Rules

New Hampshire landlords and tenants must follow the same privacy laws that apply to all residents. There is no separate landlord-specific surveillance camera statute.

What Landlords Can Do

Landlords may install video-only surveillance cameras in:

• Building lobbies and hallways as common areas
• Parking lots for security purposes
• Building exteriors including entrances and exits
• Laundry rooms and other shared spaces

What Landlords Cannot Do

• Install cameras that record inside tenants' individual units
• Place cameras in areas where tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as inside building restrooms or changing areas
• Record audio without consent from all parties under RSA 570-A:2
• Use cameras to monitor individual tenant behavior or harass tenants

Tenant Camera Installation

Tenants generally have the right to install security cameras inside their own rental units. However, tenants should:

• Review their lease agreement for any restrictions on camera installation
• Avoid placing cameras that record common areas or other tenants' units
• Not drill holes or make permanent modifications without landlord approval
• Comply with all audio recording consent requirements

If you believe your landlord is conducting unlawful surveillance, you can contact the New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection Bureau or file a complaint in District Division court.

HOA and Local Regulations

In addition to state law, homeowners in New Hampshire may be subject to additional surveillance camera rules imposed by their homeowners association or local municipality.

HOA Camera Rules

New Hampshire does not have a statewide law governing HOA security camera policies. However, your HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) may include rules about camera placement, visibility, and positioning. Common HOA restrictions include requirements that cameras be aesthetically discreet, prohibitions on cameras aimed at common areas managed by the HOA, and rules about notification to the association before installation.

Before installing cameras in an HOA community, review your governing documents or contact your HOA board for guidance.

Local Ordinances

Some New Hampshire cities and towns may have additional regulations regarding security cameras, particularly for commercial properties. Check with your local city hall or town clerk's office for any applicable ordinances.

Penalties Summary for Surveillance Violations in New Hampshire

Related New Hampshire Camera and Privacy Laws

• New Hampshire Recording Laws covers the consent rule that governs camera audio in New Hampshire.
• New Hampshire Security Camera Recording Rules explains the recording-law side of camera use.
• New Hampshire Biometric Privacy Laws addresses facial recognition and biometric data.
• New Hampshire Ring Doorbell Laws covers video doorbell rules in New Hampshire.

Common Camera Questions

These national guides answer the most common surveillance camera questions:

• HOA Security Camera Rules
• Neighbor Security Camera Laws
• Nanny Cam Laws
• Workplace Surveillance Camera Laws
• Landlord Security Camera Laws

More New Hampshire Laws

• New Hampshire Data Privacy Laws
• New Hampshire Workplace Recording Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

Are home security cameras legal in New Hampshire?

Yes. New Hampshire homeowners can legally install video-only security cameras on their own property, including front porches, driveways, garages, backyards, and common living areas. However, cameras cannot be placed in areas where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms or guest bedrooms. Under RSA 644:9, installing a recording device in a private place without consent is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine. If your cameras record audio, you must obtain consent from all parties under New Hampshire's all-party consent law (RSA 570-A:2).

Can my neighbor legally point a security camera at my property in New Hampshire?

It depends on what the camera captures. A neighbor's camera may legally record their own property and public areas such as sidewalks and streets, even if your home appears in the background. However, if the camera is deliberately aimed to look inside your windows or into a fully fenced backyard where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, it could violate RSA 644:9. If the camera records audio of your conversations without your consent, it would also violate the all-party consent requirement under RSA 570-A:2. You can ask the neighbor to adjust the camera, file a police report, or consult an attorney about civil remedies.

Is it legal to use a nanny cam in New Hampshire?

You can use a video-only nanny cam in common areas of your home such as living rooms, kitchens, and playrooms. Cameras cannot be placed in bathrooms or private bedrooms used by the caregiver, as these are considered private places under RSA 644:9. If the nanny cam records audio, you must obtain consent from the caregiver under RSA 570-A:2, because New Hampshire requires all-party consent for audio recording. The safest approach is to either disable audio recording entirely or inform the caregiver in writing and obtain signed consent.

Can my employer record me at work with security cameras in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not have a specific workplace surveillance statute. Employers may generally install video-only cameras in common work areas such as lobbies, hallways, warehouses, and parking lots. Cameras are prohibited in restrooms, changing areas, and other spaces where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy under RSA 644:9. Employers cannot use cameras with active microphones to record employee conversations without the consent of every participant, as this would violate the all-party consent requirement under RSA 570-A:2.

What are the penalties for illegal surveillance in New Hampshire?

Penalties depend on the specific violation. Willfully intercepting communications without all-party consent under RSA 570-A:2 is a class B felony punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a $4,000 fine. A participant who records without the other parties' consent faces an unclassified misdemeanor under RSA 570-A:2, I-a, which RSA 625:9, IV(c) presumes to be a class B misdemeanor carrying no jail time and a maximum $1,200 fine, unless the state gives notice seeking class A penalties. Installing hidden cameras in private places under RSA 644:9 is a class A misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Repeat offenses and offenses involving minors are elevated to felonies. Victims can also pursue civil damages of at least $1,000 under RSA 570-A:11.