Arizona Laws on Recording in Public: What You Can and Cannot Film
Arizona broadly protects your right to record in public. There is no state statute that prohibits photographing, filming, or audio recording in locations where people have no reasonable expectation of privacy. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides the foundation for this right, and Arizona law reinforces it through the Open Meeting Law and the one-party consent framework in ARS 13-3005.
This guide covers everything you need to know about recording in public places in Arizona in 2026, including what types of recording are protected, where the limits are, rules for private businesses open to the public, and how public recordings can be used.
Your Constitutional Right to Record in Public
First Amendment Protections
The First Amendment protects the right to gather information in public spaces. Courts have consistently held that this includes:
- Photography of anything visible from a public location
- Video recording of events, people, and places in public
- Audio recording of sounds and conversations in public settings
- Livestreaming to social media or other platforms
This right applies to everyone, not just journalists or media professionals. A person with a smartphone has the same right to record in public as a news crew with professional cameras.
No Permit Required
Arizona does not require a permit for recording in public places for personal, journalistic, or educational purposes. You can:
- Film on public streets and sidewalks without permission
- Photograph public buildings, monuments, and landmarks
- Record street performers, public art, and outdoor events
- Document conditions in public parks and recreational areas
Note: Some commercial filming (for movies, advertisements, or paid productions) may require permits from local municipalities. Check with your city or county for commercial filming permit requirements.
Where You Can Record in Public in Arizona
Streets, Sidewalks, and Parks
All public rights-of-way in Arizona are open for recording. This includes:
- City sidewalks and crosswalks
- Public streets and intersections
- Public parks, playgrounds, and trail systems
- Public plazas and town squares
- Public parking lots and garages
You can record people, vehicles, buildings, and activities visible from these locations. People in public places have a reduced expectation of privacy, and their presence in a public area generally means they can be recorded.
Government Buildings and Public Meetings
The Arizona Open Meeting Law (ARS 38-431.01) explicitly guarantees your right to record public meetings of governmental bodies. This includes:
- City and town council meetings
- County board of supervisors meetings
- School board meetings
- Public university governing board meetings
- State agency public hearings
- Planning and zoning commission meetings
The statute states that persons in attendance may record any portion of a public meeting, as long as the recording does not actively interfere with the meeting. Public bodies cannot adopt rules that prohibit recording.
You can also record in public areas of government buildings, including lobbies, hallways, and service counters. However, specific areas within government buildings may have additional restrictions (courtrooms are subject to the judge's rules, and secure areas of law enforcement facilities are restricted).
Public Transportation
Recording on Arizona public transit systems is generally permitted. The Valley Metro system in the Phoenix metropolitan area does not prohibit passengers from recording on buses or light rail vehicles. The same principle applies to public sidewalks and areas around transit stops.
Outdoor Events and Gatherings
Public events in Arizona, including parades, festivals, protests, demonstrations, and rallies, are all open for recording. The First Amendment provides particularly strong protection for recording public protests and political events, as these involve matters of clear public interest.
Recording in Private Businesses Open to the Public
The Store Owner's Right
While you have broad recording rights in truly public spaces, private businesses that are open to the public operate under different rules. The property owner or business operator can:
- Prohibit recording on their premises through posted signs or verbal notice
- Ask you to stop recording and require you to comply or leave
- Have you removed for trespassing under ARS 13-1502 if you refuse to stop recording after being asked to leave
Common businesses that may restrict recording include:
- Retail stores and shopping malls
- Restaurants and bars
- Movie theaters and entertainment venues
- Private gyms and fitness centers
- Medical offices and hospitals
- Banks and financial institutions
Your Rights in Private Businesses
Even in private businesses, there are boundaries the business cannot cross:
- A business cannot physically assault you for recording
- A business cannot confiscate or damage your recording equipment
- A business cannot call police to arrest you for recording unless you refuse to leave after being asked (at which point you may face a trespassing charge, not a recording charge)
- Employees of a business are generally subject to one-party consent rules; if you are interacting with an employee, you can record that conversation
Gray Areas
Some locations blur the line between public and private:
- Shopping center parking lots: Generally treated as quasi-public spaces where recording is permitted
- Restaurant patios on public sidewalks: Typically treated as public space
- Hotel lobbies: Private property, but with a reduced expectation of privacy
- Hospital waiting rooms: Private property with additional HIPAA considerations for recording other patients
When Public Recording Becomes Illegal
Recording Under or Through Clothing
Even in public, ARS 13-3019 prohibits recording "under or through the clothing being worn by another person" without consent. This covers:
- Upskirt photography or video
- Using cameras positioned to look down blouses or shirts
- Any recording that captures views beneath outer clothing
This is a Class 6 felony in Arizona, punishable by up to 2 years in prison.
Harassment Through Recording
If recording is directed at a specific person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to feel seriously alarmed, annoyed, or harassed, it may constitute harassment under ARS 13-2921. Examples:
- Following someone with a camera after they have asked you to stop
- Repeatedly recording a specific person at their home or workplace
- Using recording as a tool of intimidation
Recording Where Privacy Expectations Exist
Some areas within or adjacent to public spaces may carry a reasonable expectation of privacy:
- Public restrooms (always protected under ARS 13-3019)
- Changing areas at public pools or beaches
- Shower facilities at public gyms or recreation centers
- Medical examination areas, even in public hospitals
Street Photography and Arizona Law
Your Rights as a Street Photographer
Street photography is fully protected in Arizona. You can:
- Photograph people on public streets without their consent
- Publish street photography for artistic, journalistic, or personal purposes
- Sell prints or license images of public scenes
- Share street photography on social media
Arizona does not have a separate "right of publicity" statute that restricts photographing people in public. However, using someone's image for commercial advertising purposes without their consent may give rise to a common-law right of publicity claim.
Photographing Children in Public
There is no Arizona law that specifically prohibits photographing children in public places. If a child is visible in a public setting, they can be photographed the same as anyone else. However:
- Schools and school grounds may have their own photography policies
- Photographing children in a manner that could be considered voyeuristic or exploitative may trigger criminal charges
- Parents may ask you to stop photographing their children; while you are not legally required to comply in a public space, using good judgment is advisable
Recording on Federal Property in Arizona
National Parks and Monuments
Arizona is home to several national parks and monuments, including the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro National Park. The National Park Service generally allows photography and video recording for personal use without a permit. Commercial filming and photography in national parks requires a permit from the National Park Service.
Military Installations
Recording near or on military installations in Arizona (such as Luke Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca, or Davis-Monthan Air Force Base) is subject to federal restrictions. From public roads outside the installation, you can generally photograph and record. Inside the installation, military rules apply.
Post Offices and Federal Buildings
Federal regulations allow photography in public areas of federal buildings, including post office lobbies, unless prohibited by agency-specific rules. The General Services Administration has clarified that photography is permitted in public spaces of federal buildings for news purposes and personal use.
Using Public Recordings
Social Media and Online Publishing
Recordings made in public places in Arizona can be shared on social media, uploaded to YouTube, or published on websites. Because the recordings were made in locations where there was no reasonable expectation of privacy, no consent is needed to share them.
Journalism and News Reporting
Arizona law provides strong protections for journalistic activity in public spaces. Reporters, photojournalists, and citizen journalists have the right to gather news in public, including recording interviews, documenting events, and capturing footage of newsworthy incidents.
Evidence in Legal Proceedings
Public recordings are admissible as evidence in Arizona courts, subject to standard authentication and relevance requirements under the Arizona Rules of Evidence. Dashcam footage, security camera recordings, and bystander videos are commonly used in both criminal and civil cases.
Arizona Recording Laws by Topic
Phone Call Recording | Audio Recording | Video Recording | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras
Back to Arizona Recording Laws
More Arizona Laws
Sources and References
- Arizona Open Meeting Law - ARS 38-431.01(azleg.gov).gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3005 - Interception of Communications(azleg.gov).gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3019 - Surreptitious Photographing and Recording(azleg.gov).gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2921 - Harassment(azleg.gov).gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes 13-1502 - Criminal Trespass(azleg.gov).gov
- National Park Service - Commercial Filming and Photography(nps.gov).gov
- General Services Administration(gsa.gov).gov