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Kentucky Video Recording Laws: Surveillance, Privacy, and Legal Limits

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 15, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 15, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Kentucky Video Recording Laws: Surveillance, Privacy, and Legal Limits

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to record video in public in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky has no law prohibiting video recording in public spaces. You can film on public streets, parks, sidewalks, and any area where you have a legal right to be. If your video captures audio of private conversations you are not part of, the eavesdropping laws under KRS 526.020 may apply to the audio portion.

Can I install security cameras on my property in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky homeowners and business owners can install security cameras on their own property. Cameras should not be aimed to capture areas where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a neighbor's bathroom or bedroom windows.

What is the penalty for voyeurism in Kentucky?

Voyeurism under KRS 531.090 is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail. It applies to intentionally viewing, photographing, or recording someone's intimate areas without their consent when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Is revenge porn illegal in Kentucky?

Yes. KRS 531.120, enacted in 2018, makes nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit images illegal. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months in jail). A second or subsequent offense is a Class D felony (1 to 5 years in prison). Distribution for profit is a Class D felony on the first offense and a Class C felony (5 to 10 years in prison) for a second or subsequent for-profit offense.

Can my employer record me on video at work in Kentucky?

Employers can use video surveillance in common work areas like production floors, retail spaces, and parking lots. They cannot install cameras in restrooms, locker rooms, or changing areas. Adding audio to workplace cameras triggers one-party consent requirements under KRS 526.020.

Updates

Corrected the TAKE IT DOWN Act's signing date (it was signed May 19, 2025, not 2026) and fixed two dead or misrouted statute-citation links (KRS 511.060 and KRS 117.322) so each points to its actual statute text.

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes

Corrected the election-deepfake citation from KRS 42.731 (the unrelated state-agency AI governance committee statute) to KRS 117.322, SB 4's actual synthetic-media-in-elections provision.

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Corrected the elements of KRS 531.090 voyeurism (the statute does not require a sexual-arousal purpose, and its protected list is sexual conduct/genitals/undergarment/nipple, not pubic area/buttocks/breast area), and corrected the for-profit image-distribution penalty under KRS 531.120, which escalates to a Class C felony on a second or subsequent for-profit offense rather than remaining Class D.

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Reviewed and approved by an editor

Sources and References

  1. KRS 526.020 - Eavesdropping(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
  2. KRS Chapter 526 - Eavesdropping and Related Offenses(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
  3. KRS 531.090 - Voyeurism(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
  4. KRS 531.120 - Nonconsensual Distribution of Sexually Explicit Images(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
  5. KRS 511.060 - Criminal Trespass in the First Degree(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
  6. FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act(www2.ed.gov).gov
  7. HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act(hhs.gov).gov
  8. 18 U.S.C. 2511 - Federal Wiretap Act(law.cornell.edu)
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