Maine
Maine Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 15, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 7, 2026. · 4 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
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. 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, voyeurism 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 state of undress without consent
- Install hidden cameras in rental properties without tenant knowledge
- Use audio recording on cameras to capture conversations you are not a party to
Maine Voyeurism Law and Security Cameras
17-A M.R.S.A. Section 511
Maine's voyeurism statute (17-A M.R.S.A. section 511) is the primary law governing hidden cameras and privacy violations. Under this statute, it is a crime to:
- Knowingly place a camera in a location where a person may reasonably expect privacy for the purpose of observing them
- Record someone in a state of undress or engaged in sexual activity without consent
Penalties for Voyeuristic Recording
| Offense | Classification | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Voyeuristic recording (including a minor victim) | Class D crime | Up to 1 year jail, $2,000 fine |
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, targeted recording of a neighbor could support a harassment claim under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-A
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 (some privacy expectation)
- Private offices (without notice)
Maine does not have a specific workplace surveillance statute, but the Maine Human Rights Act and common law privacy protections 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
More Maine Recording Topics
See Also
- Maine Surveillance Camera Laws covers home, HOA, neighbor, workplace, and landlord camera rules in Maine.
More Maine 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 does not have a specific workplace surveillance statute, but common law privacy protections 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.
Updates
Removed a claim about a Maine Online Data Privacy Act (LD 1822) that did not pass into law; Maine currently has no comprehensive consumer data-privacy statute, only narrower sector-specific privacy laws.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Corrected the voyeurism penalty table: 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511 sets a single Class D classification for the whole offense, with no minor-victim enhancement to Class C and no separate dissemination offense under this section.
Removed a bullet attributing a dissemination offense to Maine's voyeurism statute, 17-A M.R.S.A. section 511, which contains no dissemination provision (that offense is addressed under a separate, unlinked statute).
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Cross-spoke accuracy check: security camera use under 17-A M.R.S. section 511 (private-place prohibition) and 15 M.R.S. section 711 (civil remedy) confirmed current. FTC v. Ring LLC (May 2023, $5.8M redress) remains relevant for connected-camera vendor practices. No substantive law changes required.
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE, Part 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES, Chapter 21: OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER
§ 511Violation of privacyIn forcecited in 15 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) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):In State of Maine v. Mark W. Strong Sr. (2013) the Maine Supreme Judicial Court read section 511(1)(B) to require an objectively reasonable expectation of being safe from surveillance, and held that people who entered a place solely to engage a prostitute were not persons entitled to privacy there.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Maine v. Mark W. Strong Sr. (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 2013, 60 A.3d 1286)✓A man faced 45 counts of violation of privacy for recording the clients of a Kennebunk prostitute; the Law Court held that people present solely to engage a prostitute were not 'persons entitled to privacy' there, so the indictment failed to charge the offense.
- Friedman v. Public Utilities Commission (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 2012, 48 A.3d 794)“…statutes: 17-A M.R.S. § 402(1) (2011) (criminal trespass), 17-A M.R.S. § 511 (2011) (criminal violation of privacy),…”
- Cuso Mortgage Corp. v. Gauthier (Superior Court of Maine 2012)“…e counts of criminal invasion of privacy, presumably under 17-A M.R.S. § 511(1)(B), for allegedly filming sexual act…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Maine Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent, § 710 and § 511, Maine Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Rules and Penalties (2026), 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 17 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) · last checked 2026-08-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov
Cited in 5 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Williams v. Poulos (1993) affirmed section 710(1) liability for intercepting employee calls and held section 710(3)(A) and (B) require only knowledge the information came through interception. Glenn A. Griffin v. Cristie J. Griffin (2014) allowed a parent's vicarious consent for a young child only on a good faith best-interest belief.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Glenn A. Griffin v. Cristie J. Griffin (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 2014, 92 A.3d 1144)✓A father recorded his six-year-old daughter's nightly calls with her mother after overhearing abusive remarks; the court held a parent with a good faith, objectively reasonable best-interest belief may vicariously consent under section 709(4)(C), so section 710 was not violated.
- Archer v. Androscoggin County (Superior Court of Maine 2022)✓An attorney sought recordings of another inmate's jail calls under Maine's public records law; the court applied the wiretap chapter that makes interception a crime under section 710 and held a court-appointed defense lawyer is not within the section 712(4) disclosure exception.
- Williams v. Poulos (Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 1993)✓Company owners secretly recorded employee phone calls using alligator clips wired to a VCR, and their lawyers then used the tapes; the First Circuit affirmed liability under section 710, holding subsection 3 requires only knowledge that the material came from an interception.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Maine Dashcam Laws: Mounting Rules, Audio Recording, and Evidence (2026), Maine Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras, Audio, and Privacy Rights (2026), Maine Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Cell, Landline, and VoIP (2026)
§ 711Civil remedyIn forcecited in 8 of our articles
Any party to a conversation intercepted, disclosed or used in violation of this chapter shall have a civil cause of action against any person who intercepts, discloses or uses such communications and shall be entitled to recover from any such persons: [PL 1973, c. 561 (NEW).] 1. Damages. Actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages, computed at the rate of $100 per day for each day of violation; and 2. Attorney's fee. A reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation disbursements reasonably incurred.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2009
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Simpson v. Cumberland County (Superior Court of Maine 2009)“…additional claims, including: (1) an alleged violation of 15 M.R.S. § 711 - which provides a civil damages remedy…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Maine Voyeurism Laws: Hidden Cameras, Penalties, and Defenses (2026), Maine Smart Glasses Recording Laws: What You Need to Know, Maine Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SERVICES, Part 12: HUMAN RIGHTS, Chapter 337: HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
§ 4571Right to freedom from discrimination in employmentIn force
The opportunity for an individual to secure employment without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. [PL 2021, c. 366, §4 (AMD).]
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov
Cited in 35 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Wells v. Franklin Broadcasting Corp. (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 1979, 403 A.2d 771)“…e fair employment provisions of the Maine Human Rights Act, 5 M.R.S.A. §§ 4571-72 (1979). 2 A Franklin…”
- Cookson v. Brewer School Department (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 2009, 974 A.2d 276)“…ehire her as a high school softball coach, see 5 M.R.S. §§ 4571-4572 (2008), and (2) slander per se reg…”
- King v. Bangor Federal Credit Union (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine 1989, 568 A.2d 507)“…n Rights Act is designed primarily to protect civil rights. 5 M.R.S.A. § 4571 declares that the right to be free of u…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
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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
- 15 M.R.S.A. section 711 - Civil Remedies (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov
- Maine Human Rights Act (Maine Legislature)(legislature.maine.gov).gov