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Idaho Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 16, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 16, 2026. · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Idaho Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are home security cameras legal in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho homeowners can legally install security cameras on their own property. Cameras may record outdoor areas such as driveways, porches, and yards, as well as common indoor areas like living rooms and kitchens. However, cameras cannot be placed in areas where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms, guest bedrooms, or aimed directly into a neighbor's home. Under Idaho Code 18-6605, secretly recording someone in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the sexual or degrading intent the statute requires, is a felony. Because 18-6605 sets no penalty of its own, the general felony default in Idaho Code 18-112 applies: up to 5 years in state prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both.

Can my neighbor legally point a security camera at my house in Idaho?

It depends on what the camera captures. A neighbor's camera may legally record their own property and public areas like sidewalks or 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 the video voyeurism statute, Idaho Code 18-6605, provided the recording was done with the intent that statute requires. Idaho Code 18-7006, trespass of privacy, reaches a person who is on your property and looks, peers, or peeks into a door or window, though no Idaho appellate decision extending it to a mounted camera was located for this guide. You can ask the neighbor to adjust the camera angle, file a police report if you believe the recording is illegal, or consult an attorney about a civil invasion of privacy claim.

Is it legal to use a nanny cam in Idaho?

Yes, you can use a nanny cam in common areas of your home such as living rooms, kitchens, and playrooms. However, cameras cannot be placed in bathrooms or private bedrooms used by the caregiver. If the nanny cam records audio, you must comply with the one-party consent rule under Idaho Code 18-6702. Since you are not present during the recorded conversations, the safest approach is to inform the caregiver about both audio and video recording and obtain written consent.

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

Idaho does not have a specific law addressing workplace video surveillance. Employers may generally install video cameras in common work areas such as lobbies, hallways, production floors, and parking lots. Cameras are prohibited in restrooms, changing areas, and other spaces where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy. If cameras record audio, employers must comply with Idaho Code 18-6702, which requires at least one party to a conversation to consent to the recording.

What are the penalties for illegal surveillance in Idaho?

Penalties depend on the specific violation. Video voyeurism under Idaho Code 18-6605 is a felony. The section prescribes no punishment of its own, so the general felony default in Idaho Code 18-112 governs: up to 5 years in state prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both. Sex offender registration is required when the victim is a minor or upon a second or subsequent conviction. Illegal wiretapping or recording under Idaho Code 18-6702 is also a felony with up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Victims of illegal recording can also file civil lawsuits and recover at least $1,000 in damages under Idaho Code 18-6709. Trespass of privacy under Idaho Code 18-7006 is a misdemeanor, carrying up to 6 months in county jail and a fine up to $1,000 under the Idaho Code 18-113 default.

Updates

Corrected the video voyeurism section: added the 5 year and $50,000 felony penalty that Idaho Code 18-112 supplies for 18-6605, restored the full three-part definition of a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy, separated the recording and dissemination offenses and their different intent elements, added the $300 infraction tier for a first criminal trespass, and hedged the trespass-of-privacy statute’s application to mounted cameras.

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

Re-anchored the video-voyeurism narrative (KeyTakeaways, heading, overview, penalties tables, FAQs, and more) from unverified Idaho Code 18-6609 to 18-6605, whose text the article was actually quoting, and removed the unconfirmed 5-year/$50,000 penalty figures (the statute itself only says a violation is a felony). Also fixed the sex-offender-registration section, which mislabeled the section and omitted that a first offense with a minor victim also triggers registration.

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Reviewed and approved by an editor

Sources and References

  1. Idaho Code 18-6605: Video Voyeurism(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  2. Idaho Code 18-6702: Interception and Disclosure of Communications Prohibited(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  3. Idaho Code 18-6709: Recovery of Civil Damages Authorized(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  4. Idaho Code 18-7006: Trespass of Privacy(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  5. Idaho Code 18-7008: Criminal Trespass Penalties(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  6. Idaho Code 18-8304: Sex Offender Registration Requirements(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  7. Idaho Code Chapter 67: Communications Security(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  8. Idaho Code Chapter 66: Sex Crimes(legislature.idaho.gov).gov
  9. Idaho Code 18-112: Punishment for Felony(legislature.idaho.gov)
  10. Idaho Code 18-113: Punishment for Misdemeanor(legislature.idaho.gov)
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