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Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras, Surveillance, and Privacy (2026)

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. · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras, Surveillance, and Privacy (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my landlord in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin's one-party consent law under Wis. Stat. 968.31 allows you to record any conversation you participate in with your landlord without telling them. This includes in-person meetings, phone calls, and interactions during property inspections.

Can my landlord put cameras inside my apartment in Wisconsin?

No. Landlords cannot install surveillance cameras inside rental units. This violates Wis. Stat. 942.08 (invasion of privacy), which is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 9 months in jail and a $10,000 fine. If intimate images are captured, the offense can be elevated to a felony.

Can my landlord have cameras in the hallway in Wisconsin?

Yes. Landlords can install security cameras in common areas of multi-unit buildings, including hallways, lobbies, stairwells, parking lots, and building entrances. These areas do not carry the same expectation of privacy as individual rental units.

Can I install a doorbell camera in my apartment in Wisconsin?

Generally yes, but check your lease. You have the right to install security cameras inside your unit. For doorbell cameras that require mounting hardware on the exterior, your lease may require landlord approval for modifications. Adhesive-mount cameras can be an alternative that avoids lease issues.

What should I do if I find a hidden camera in my rental unit?

Do not touch the camera. Photograph it in place, then call the police immediately. Hidden cameras in rental units are a criminal offense under Wis. Stat. 942.08. Also contact an attorney about civil remedies and report the landlord to DATCP. You may be entitled to damages for invasion of privacy.

Updates

Corrected a link that was both dead and mislabeled: it pointed to Wis. Stat. 106.50 as the 'Wisconsin Fair Employment Law,' but that section is actually Wisconsin's Open Housing Law; the link text and URL are now both accurate.

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

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Corrected two mis-cited legal sources: the 21-day security deposit return rule is Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 (not Wis. Stat. 134.06, which is an unrelated chauffeur-kickback statute), and the 12-hour landlord entry notice figure comes from Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(2)(a), not Wis. Stat. 704.05(2) (which requires advance notice but sets no specific hour count).

Corrected the Sources box entry that misidentified the security-deposit authority as the chauffeur-kickback statute Wis. Stat. 134.06; the correct authority (already fixed in the body text) is Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06.

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Reviewed and approved by an editor

Sources and References

  1. Wis. Stat. 968.31 - Wiretapping(docs.legis.wisconsin.gov).gov
  2. Wis. Stat. 942.08 - Invasion of Privacy(docs.legis.wisconsin.gov).gov
  3. Wis. Stat. 704.05 - Landlord Entry(docs.legis.wisconsin.gov).gov
  4. Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06 - Security Deposits(docs.legis.wisconsin.gov).gov
  5. Wisconsin DATCP(datcp.wi.gov).gov
  6. Wisconsin DWD - Equal Rights Division(dwd.wisconsin.gov).gov
  7. HUD Fair Housing(hud.gov).gov
  8. Wis. Stat. 942.09 - Representations Depicting Nudity(docs.legis.wisconsin.gov).gov
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