Vermont Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

Vermont permits security cameras on your own property but prohibits recording anyone in a space where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The state's voyeurism statute, 13 V.S.A. 2605, is the primary limit on camera placement. Vermont has no wiretapping law, so federal one-party consent under 18 U.S.C. 2511 governs audio.

Overview of Vermont Surveillance Camera Laws

Vermont does not have a single comprehensive surveillance camera statute. Instead, the state relies on a combination of its voyeurism law (13 V.S.A. 2605), a device-placement statute that took effect in June 2024 (13 V.S.A. 3835), federal wiretapping rules (18 U.S.C. 2511), drone-specific privacy statutes (20 V.S.A. 4622 and 20 V.S.A. 4626), and common-law privacy principles to regulate surveillance cameras.

Vermont is unique among all 50 states because it never enacted its own wiretapping or electronic eavesdropping statute. As a result, audio recording in Vermont defaults to the federal one-party consent standard. Video recording, on the other hand, is regulated primarily through the voyeurism statute, which centers on the concept of a "reasonable expectation of privacy."

Understanding how these laws interact is essential for homeowners installing security systems, employers setting up workplace monitoring, landlords managing rental properties, and anyone who wants to protect their own privacy rights.

Home Security Camera Laws in Vermont

Vermont law permits homeowners to install security cameras on their own property. There is no state law requiring homeowners to register security cameras or obtain a permit before installation.

The key legal boundary is the concept of "reasonable expectation of privacy." You can record areas that are visible to the public or that fall within your own property boundaries. Problems arise when cameras capture areas where others reasonably expect to be free from observation.

Where You Can Place Home Security Cameras

You can legally place cameras in the following areas of your property:

• Front door and porch areas for monitoring visitors and package deliveries
• Driveways and garages to record vehicle activity
• Backyards visible from neighboring properties or public areas
• Common living areas inside your home, such as living rooms and kitchens
• Exterior walls aimed at your own property boundaries

Where You Cannot Place Home Security Cameras

Cameras become illegal when they are positioned to record areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Under 13 V.S.A. 2605, the following placements are prohibited:

• Bathrooms and restrooms in your home where guests or residents expect privacy
• Guest bedrooms where visitors are staying and may undress
• Cameras aimed directly into a neighbor's windows or interior living spaces
• Any area where someone is undressing or engaged in private activities

The statute's definition of a "place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy" has two prongs, and the second one is the broader of the two. Under 13 V.S.A. 2605(a)(5), the phrase means either (A) a place in which a reasonable person would believe that he or she could disrobe in privacy, without his or her undressing being viewed by another, or (B) a place in which a reasonable person would expect to be safe from unwanted intrusion or surveillance.

Prong (B) is why subsection (d) is not limited to rooms where someone undresses. A camera trained on a living room, a nursery, or a hallway inside a home can fall within the statute even though nobody in the frame is changing clothes, because the question is whether a reasonable person would expect to be free from surveillance there.

Ring Doorbells and Smart Cameras

Video doorbells and smart security cameras like Ring, Nest, and Arlo are legal in Vermont. These devices typically record your own porch and the public sidewalk or street in front of your home. Since these areas are in public view, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and recording is permitted.

However, if a doorbell camera captures a wide angle that includes a neighbor's interior spaces through their windows, this could raise privacy concerns under Vermont law. Position your smart cameras to focus primarily on your own property and public areas.

Audio Recording on Home Security Cameras

Many modern security cameras include built-in microphones. Because Vermont has no state wiretapping law, audio recording on security cameras falls under the federal one-party consent rule established by 18 U.S.C. 2511.

Under federal law, you can legally record a conversation if you are a party to it or if at least one party has given prior consent. For outdoor security cameras that passively pick up ambient sounds and conversations of people passing by, the legal situation is less clear.

The safest approach is to either disable audio recording on exterior cameras or post visible signage indicating that audio and video recording is in progress. This way, anyone who continues a conversation within range of the camera has arguably given implied consent.

Workplace Surveillance Camera Laws in Vermont

Vermont does not have a specific statute governing workplace video surveillance. Employers in the state generally follow federal law, common-law privacy principles, and the restrictions in 13 V.S.A. 2605 when installing cameras at work.

What Employers Can Do

Employers may install video surveillance cameras in the following areas:

• Lobbies, hallways, and reception areas for security purposes
• Parking lots to protect employees and company property
• Warehouses and production floors to monitor operations
• Cash register areas to prevent theft
• Loading docks and entry points for security

What Employers Cannot Do

Even without a specific workplace surveillance statute, employers face restrictions based on privacy tort law and federal guidelines:

• Restrooms and changing areas are always off-limits for surveillance
• Break rooms may raise privacy concerns depending on the circumstances
• Union meeting areas are protected under the National Labor Relations Act
• Private offices where employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy may require notice

Subsection (f) of 13 V.S.A. 2605 makes clear that the voyeurism statute applies to anyone who "intentionally views, photographs, films, or records the intimate areas of a person as part of a security or theft prevention policy or program at a place of business." This means businesses cannot use security cameras in a way that captures intimate areas of employees or customers, even under the guise of loss prevention.

Audio Surveillance at Work

Employers who use cameras with audio recording capabilities must comply with the federal one-party consent rule under 18 U.S.C. 2511. An employer cannot record private conversations between employees unless at least one party to the conversation has consented.

The best practice for employers is to provide written notice to all employees that audio and video surveillance is in use and to obtain signed acknowledgments. This transparency helps employers avoid invasion of privacy claims.

Employee Notification

While Vermont does not require employers to notify employees of video-only surveillance, providing notice is strongly recommended. A clear workplace surveillance policy should outline where cameras are located, whether audio is recorded, how footage is stored, who has access to recordings, and how long recordings are retained.

Hidden Cameras and Voyeurism Laws

Vermont addresses hidden camera crimes primarily through 13 V.S.A. 2605, the state's voyeurism statute. This law contains several prohibitions that apply to hidden camera use.

13 V.S.A. 2605(b): Recording Intimate Areas

No person may intentionally view, photograph, film, or record the intimate areas of another person without that person's knowledge and consent while the person being recorded is in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The statute defines "intimate areas" as the naked or undergarment-clad genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast.

13 V.S.A. 2605(d): Surveillance in Homes and Residences

No person may intentionally conduct surveillance or intentionally photograph, film, or record another person without that person's knowledge and consent while the person being recorded is in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence.

This subsection is broader than subsection (b) because it is not limited to recording of intimate areas. Any unauthorized surveillance of a person inside a home or residence where they expect privacy is illegal.

13 V.S.A. 2605(e): Recording Sexual Conduct

No person may intentionally photograph, film, or record another person without that person's knowledge and consent while that person is in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy and is engaged in sexual conduct.

13 V.S.A. 2605(c): Disclosure of Recordings

No person may display or disclose to a third party any recording made in violation of the statute. This means that even if someone did not make the original illegal recording, sharing or distributing such a recording is itself a crime.

Exemptions

The statute provides the following exemptions:

• Law enforcement conducting official law enforcement activities
• Department of Corrections, law enforcement agencies, Agency of Human Services, and courts conducting security or misconduct investigations
• Bona fide private investigators and security guards engaged in otherwise lawful activities within the scope of their employment, who are exempt from subsection (d)

A license is not what creates that exemption. 13 V.S.A. 2605(a)(1) defines a "bona fide private investigator or bona fide security guard" as an individual lawfully providing services, whether licensed or unlicensed, under 26 V.S.A. 3151 and 3151a.

Subsection (i) is separate from that exemption and reaches further. It gives a bona fide private investigator or security guard conducting surveillance in the ordinary course of business an affirmative defense to a subsection (b) charge when the violation was unintentional and incidental to otherwise legal surveillance. That defense does not apply to a subsection (c) disclosure charge.

The First Amendment exception in subsection (h) preserves press freedom and does not restrict legitimate journalism.

Penalties for Hidden Camera Violations

Audio Recording Laws (One-Party Consent by Federal Default)

Vermont is the only state in the country without its own wiretapping or eavesdropping statute. Because of this, audio recording in Vermont is governed entirely by federal law under 18 U.S.C. 2511.

What the Federal Law Says

Under federal law, it is not unlawful for a person to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication when that person is a party to the communication or when one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception. The only exception is if the recording is made for the purpose of committing a criminal or tortious act.

What One-Party Consent Means in Practice

If you are part of a conversation, whether in person, on the phone, or through any electronic means, you can legally record it without telling the other participants. You do not need to inform anyone else that the recording is taking place.

However, you cannot place a hidden recording device to capture conversations between other people when you are not present and no party to the conversation has consented. Doing so would violate federal wiretapping law.

Vermont Court Rulings on Recording

While Vermont has no wiretapping statute, the Vermont Supreme Court has addressed recording issues through constitutional interpretation under Article 11 of the Vermont Constitution (the state equivalent of the Fourth Amendment).

In State v. Brooks (1991), the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that warrantless electronic participant monitoring of face-to-face conversations does not violate the Vermont Constitution when the person being recorded has no reasonable expectation of privacy.

In State v. Geraw (2002), the court ruled that the Vermont Constitution prohibits secret recording of police interviews conducted in the privacy of a person's home without a warrant. The court held that even though the person knew they were speaking with police officers, this fact alone did not eliminate their expectation of privacy in their own home.

Federal Penalties for Illegal Recording

Violating 18 U.S.C. 2511 can result in up to five years in federal prison and fines. Victims of illegal recording may also pursue civil remedies including actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees.

Neighbor Disputes Over Security Cameras

Disagreements between neighbors about security cameras are common. Vermont law provides some guidance on resolving these disputes.

When a Neighbor's Camera Is Legal

A neighbor's security camera is generally legal if it:

• Is pointed at the neighbor's own property
• Captures public areas like sidewalks and streets
• Records only video (without audio) of areas in public view
• Does not peer into your windows or private enclosed spaces

When a Neighbor's Camera May Be Illegal

A neighbor's camera may violate Vermont law if it:

• Is deliberately aimed to look inside your home through windows
• Records your private interior spaces from an elevated position
• Records audio of your private conversations without your consent
• Is a hidden camera placed on your property without your knowledge
• Is used for the purpose of "spying upon and invading the privacy" of another person, which falls within the statutory definition of "surveillance" under 13 V.S.A. 2605

Cameras Placed on Someone Else's Property

A separate statute covers the specific act of putting a camera on land that is not yours. Under 13 V.S.A. 3835, added in 2023 and effective June 6, 2024, a person may not place a camera or other surveillance device on any privately owned real property with the intent to conduct surveillance on a person or the property without the property owner's prior written consent.

Three details control how far this reaches:

• It applies to concealed devices. The statute defines a "surveillance device" as a device hidden or obscured from plain view that permits observation of the property or of a person's activities on it in a manner that invades a reasonable expectation of privacy. A camera mounted in the open on your own house is outside this section.
• The penalty is civil, not criminal. A violation draws a civil penalty of not more than $50 for a first violation and not more than $250 for a second or subsequent violation. There is no jail exposure under this section.
• "Property owner" is broader than the deed holder. The statute defines the term to include a person who owns, leases, licenses, or otherwise controls ownership or use of the land, along with that person's employee or agent, so a tenant's consent can matter.

Law enforcement officers using a camera or surveillance device for legitimate law enforcement purposes are excepted. Placing a hidden camera on a neighbor's property can also carry separate consequences under the voyeurism statute or the trespass statute, depending on what the camera captures and how the person got onto the land.

Steps to Resolve a Camera Dispute

1. Talk to your neighbor. Many disputes arise from cameras that were not intentionally aimed at your property. A polite conversation can often resolve the issue.

2. Document the situation. If the camera clearly invades your privacy, take photos or video showing the camera's position and what it captures.

3. Send a written request. Ask your neighbor in writing to adjust the camera angle or position.

4. Contact local authorities. If you believe a neighbor is conducting surveillance in violation of 13 V.S.A. 2605, file a police report. Violations are criminal offenses.

5. Consult an attorney. You may have grounds for a civil invasion of privacy lawsuit if a neighbor's camera is deliberately aimed to capture your private activities.

Physical Solutions

You can also take steps to block a camera's view of your property:

• Install privacy fencing along your property line
• Plant tall hedges or trees to create natural barriers
• Use window film or curtains to block interior views
• Install your own cameras to document any intrusive behavior

Nanny Cam Laws in Vermont

Nanny cameras, or hidden cameras used to monitor caregivers in your home, are subject to specific rules in Vermont.

Legal Requirements for Nanny Cams

Under 13 V.S.A. 2605(d), it is illegal to intentionally conduct surveillance or record a person without their knowledge and consent while they are in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence. This provision directly affects hidden nanny cams.

The statute does exempt bona fide private investigators and security guards engaged in lawful activities from liability under subsection (d). However, this exemption does not extend to homeowners using hidden cameras to monitor caregivers.

The safest approach is to inform the caregiver that cameras are present and obtain their consent.

Where You Can Place a Nanny Cam

With proper notice to the caregiver, you may place cameras in:

• Living rooms and family rooms where childcare takes place
• Kitchens and dining areas
• Playrooms and nurseries (in common areas)
• Hallways and entryways

Where You Cannot Place a Nanny Cam

Regardless of whether the caregiver has been notified, cameras are prohibited in:

• Bathrooms used by the caregiver
• Bedrooms designated for the caregiver's private use (for live-in nannies)
• Any room where the caregiver changes clothes or has a reasonable expectation of privacy

Audio on Nanny Cams

If your nanny cam records audio, federal one-party consent rules under 18 U.S.C. 2511 apply. Since you are not present during the conversations being recorded, and neither party to those conversations has consented, recording audio without the caregiver's knowledge could violate federal wiretapping law.

The safest approach is to either disable audio recording or inform the caregiver in writing that both audio and video recording takes place in the home.

Drone Surveillance Laws in Vermont

Vermont has enacted specific legislation addressing drone surveillance through 20 V.S.A. Chapter 205. The state regulates drone use by both law enforcement and private individuals.

Law Enforcement Drone Restrictions (20 V.S.A. 4622)

Under 20 V.S.A. 4622, a law enforcement agency generally cannot use a drone or information acquired through a drone for the purpose of investigating, detecting, or prosecuting crime. The following rules apply:

• No surveillance of constitutional rights. Law enforcement cannot use drones to gather or retain data on private citizens peacefully exercising their rights of free speech and assembly.
• Warrant required. Drones may be used for criminal investigation only with a warrant obtained under Rule 41 of the Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure.
• Exigent circumstances. If law enforcement uses a drone in an emergency, they must obtain a search warrant within 48 hours after use began.
• Data minimization. When drones are used for permitted purposes, they must be operated to collect data only on the target of the surveillance and to avoid data collection on any other person, home, or area.
• No biometric matching. Facial recognition or any other biometric matching technology cannot be used on data that a drone collects on any person, home, or area other than the target.
• Exclusionary rule. Information or evidence gathered in violation of this section is inadmissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding.

Private Drone Surveillance (20 V.S.A. 4626)

Under 20 V.S.A. 4626, a person cannot use a drone to record an image of privately owned real property or of the owner or occupant of that property without the prior written consent of the property owner or occupant, if the intent is to conduct surveillance in violation of the person's reasonable expectation of privacy.

A person is presumed to have a reasonable expectation of privacy on privately owned real property if they are not observable from ground level in a place where another person has a legal right to be.

Violations of the private drone surveillance law may result in civil penalties, and affected property owners can pursue legal action for damages.

Disclosure of Sexually Explicit Images Without Consent

Vermont also criminalizes the non-consensual sharing of intimate images under 13 V.S.A. 2606. While not directly a surveillance camera law, this statute is relevant because it addresses images that may have been captured by surveillance cameras.

A person who knowingly discloses an image depicting an identifiable person who is nude or engaged in sexual conduct, without that person's consent and with the intent to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person depicted, can face criminal penalties.

Consent to being recorded or photographed does not automatically constitute consent for disclosure of those images. Victims also have a private right of civil action for damages.

Government Building Surveillance in Vermont

Vermont maintains a state policy on video monitoring in government facilities through BGS Policy 0022, administered by the Department of Buildings and General Services.

Key provisions include:

• The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services must approve all video monitoring at state facilities before installation and operation
• Video monitoring is generally limited to common and open spaces trafficked by government employees and those conducting government business
• Bathroom interiors are never subject to video monitoring
• Images taken at rest areas and welcome centers may not be stored for more than 168 hours (7 days)
• Images taken at other state facilities may not be stored for more than 96 hours (4 days)
• Stored images cannot be disclosed to unauthorized persons without written permission from the Commissioner

Landlord-Tenant Surveillance Rules

Vermont does not have a specific statute addressing landlord surveillance of rental properties. However, tenants have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their rental units, and several legal principles apply.

What Landlords Can Do

Landlords may install security cameras in the following common areas of multi-unit residential properties:

• Building entrances and exits for security
• Hallways and stairwells in common areas
• Parking lots and garages
• Laundry rooms and other shared utility spaces

What Landlords Cannot Do

Landlords face significant restrictions on surveillance:

• Cameras cannot be placed inside individual rental units without tenant knowledge and consent
• Audio recording in common areas may violate federal wiretapping law if it captures private conversations without consent
• Cameras cannot be aimed into tenant windows or private living spaces
• Under 13 V.S.A. 2605(d), surveillance of a person without their knowledge and consent in a home or residence where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy is a criminal offense

Penalties Summary for Surveillance Violations in Vermont

Related Vermont Camera and Privacy Laws

• Vermont Recording Laws covers the consent rule that governs camera audio in Vermont.
• Vermont Security Camera Recording Rules explains the recording-law side of camera use.
• Vermont Biometric Privacy Laws addresses facial recognition and biometric data.
• Vermont Ring Doorbell Laws covers video doorbell rules in Vermont.

Common Camera Questions

These national guides answer the most common surveillance camera questions:

• HOA Security Camera Rules
• Neighbor Security Camera Laws
• Nanny Cam Laws
• Workplace Surveillance Camera Laws
• Landlord Security Camera Laws

More Vermont Laws

• Vermont Voyeurism Laws
• Vermont Police Bodycam Laws
• Vermont Data Privacy Laws