Washington Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)

Washington allows video-only surveillance cameras on private property for home and business use, but requires all-party consent before recording any audio under RCW 9.73.030. Recording a private conversation without consent is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Washington has some of the strictest audio recording laws in the United States. The state requires consent from all parties before any private conversation can be recorded. However, the rules for video-only surveillance cameras are more flexible. Understanding the difference between audio and video recording is critical for anyone using security cameras, workplace monitoring systems, or home recording devices in Washington.

This guide covers every major area of Washington surveillance camera law, from residential security cameras to workplace monitoring, hidden cameras, nanny cams, neighbor disputes, and the penalties for violations.

Washington's All-Party Consent Law (RCW 9.73.030)

The foundation of Washington surveillance law is RCW 9.73.030, the state's wiretapping and eavesdropping statute. This law makes it illegal to intercept or record any private communication without first obtaining the consent of all participants.

The statute covers private communications transmitted by telephone, radio, or any electronic device, as well as any private conversation recorded or transmitted by any means. This all-party consent requirement is sometimes called "two-party consent," but the actual standard requires every person involved in the conversation to agree to the recording.

How Consent Works

Under RCW 9.73.030, consent is considered obtained when one party announces to all other parties, in any reasonably effective manner, that the communication is about to be recorded. The announcement itself must also be recorded. Simply having a sign posted may not satisfy this requirement for private conversations.

For example, if you call a business and hear "this call may be recorded for quality assurance," that announcement satisfies the consent requirement as long as you stay on the line. If you object and continue speaking, the recording may still be considered consensual because you were informed and chose to continue.

Exceptions to the All-Party Rule

Washington law provides specific exceptions where only one party needs to consent to a recording:

• Emergency communications involving reports of fires, medical emergencies, crimes, or disasters
• Threatening communications that convey threats of extortion, blackmail, or bodily harm
• Nuisance calls that are anonymous, repeated, or made at extremely inconvenient hours
• Hostage situations involving communications with a hostage holder or barricaded person

These exceptions are narrowly defined. Outside of these situations, recording a private conversation without all-party consent is a crime in Washington.

The Journalism Exception

Employees of newspapers, magazines, wire services, radio stations, or television stations who are performing news gathering duties are considered to have consent if the other party expressly agrees to be recorded, or if the recording device is readily apparent and obvious to the speakers.

Home Security Cameras in Washington

Washington residents can legally install security cameras on their own property. The key legal distinction is between video recording and audio recording.

Video-Only Cameras Are Generally Legal

Video surveillance that does not capture audio is broadly permitted on your own property. You can place cameras on your home's exterior walls, in your driveway, on your porch, in your garage, and in common areas inside your home without needing consent from anyone who might be recorded.

The legal basis is straightforward: Washington's privacy statute (RCW 9.73.030) specifically addresses the interception or recording of private communications and conversations. Silent video recording does not capture communications or conversations, so it falls outside the scope of this law.

Audio Recording Requires Consent

If your security camera system records audio, Washington's all-party consent law applies. This means you need consent from every person whose private conversation the camera captures. Many modern security cameras, including popular doorbell cameras, have built-in microphones that record audio by default.

If you use cameras with audio capabilities at home, you have two practical options:

• Disable the audio recording feature on your cameras entirely
• Post clear notices informing visitors that audio and video recording is in progress, and ensure the notice is visible before they enter the area

Posting a visible sign may help establish implied consent for casual visitors, but it may not satisfy the statutory requirement for recording truly private conversations. The safest approach for residential use is to turn off audio recording.

The Building Owner Exception (RCW 9.73.110)

Under RCW 9.73.110, building owners have a special exception. It is not unlawful for the owner of a building to intercept, record, or disclose communications that occur within the building if the persons being recorded are committing a criminal act through unlawful entry or by remaining unlawfully in the building.

This exception is narrow. It only applies when someone is actively trespassing or has broken into your property. It does not allow general audio recording of guests, workers, or family members in your home.

Workplace Surveillance Cameras in Washington

Employers in Washington can use video surveillance cameras in the workplace, but they must follow specific rules to stay within the law.

Where Employers Can Place Cameras

Video cameras are permitted in areas where employees and visitors do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Common legal locations include:

• Building entrances and exits
• Hallways and corridors
• Parking lots and garages
• Loading docks and shipping areas
• Retail sales floors
• Lobbies and reception areas
• Warehouse and production floors

Where Cameras Are Prohibited

Employers cannot place cameras in locations where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. These restricted areas include:

• Restrooms and bathrooms
• Locker rooms and changing areas
• Break rooms (depending on the circumstances and whether conversations occur)
• Private offices with closed doors (without notice)
• Any area designated for personal activities

Audio Recording in the Workplace

Because Washington is an all-party consent state, employers cannot record workplace conversations without the consent of all participants. This applies to both in-person conversations and phone calls. An employer who installs security cameras with active microphones in a workplace could face criminal charges under RCW 9.73.030.

If an employer wants to record audio in the workplace, every employee must be informed and must consent. This is typically handled through written policies that employees sign as a condition of employment. Even then, recording in areas like break rooms where personal conversations occur may raise legal issues.

Employee Notification

While Washington does not have a specific statute requiring employers to notify employees about video-only surveillance, best practices and potential liability concerns make notification advisable. Employers should:

• Include surveillance policies in employee handbooks
• Post visible signs where cameras are installed
• Inform new employees about camera locations during onboarding
• Consult with employees or union representatives before installing new cameras

Union Workplaces

If a workplace is unionized, the employer is generally required to bargain with the union before installing surveillance cameras. The National Labor Relations Act protects workers' rights to organize, and surveillance cameras in work areas could be seen as an attempt to monitor union activity.

Hidden Cameras and Voyeurism Laws

Washington has strict laws against using hidden cameras to invade someone's privacy. The state's voyeurism statute, RCW 9A.44.115, creates serious criminal penalties for using cameras to secretly observe or photograph people in private situations.

Voyeurism in the First Degree (Class C Felony)

A person commits voyeurism in the first degree by knowingly viewing, photographing, or filming another person without that person's knowledge and consent for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification when:

• The person being recorded is in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or
• The recording captures the intimate areas of a person without that person's knowledge and consent, under circumstances where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether in a public or private place

"Intimate areas" means any portion of a person's body or undergarments that is covered by clothing and intended to be protected from public view.

A "place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy" includes any location where a reasonable person would believe they could disrobe in privacy, or where they could reasonably expect to be safe from surveillance.

Penalties for first-degree voyeurism:

Voyeurism in the Second Degree (Gross Misdemeanor)

A person commits voyeurism in the second degree by intentionally photographing or filming intimate areas of another person without consent, with the intent to distribute or disseminate the images, under circumstances where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Penalties for second-degree voyeurism:

Court-Ordered Destruction of Images

Washington courts have the authority to order the destruction of any photographs, films, or other recordings that were made in violation of the voyeurism statute. This means that illegal recordings can be seized and permanently destroyed as part of the criminal case.

Nanny Cams in Washington

Using a nanny cam in your home is legal in Washington, but the rules depend on whether the camera records audio.

Video-Only Nanny Cams

A video-only nanny cam is legal to use in Washington without informing your nanny or caregiver. There is no state law that requires homeowners to disclose the presence of a hidden video camera in their own home, as long as the camera does not record in a private area like a bathroom or a bedroom used by a live-in employee.

Legal locations for video-only nanny cams include living rooms, kitchens, playrooms, nurseries, and any common area of the home.

Audio-Recording Nanny Cams

If your nanny cam records audio, Washington's all-party consent law (RCW 9.73.030) applies. You must inform your nanny that audio recording is taking place and obtain their consent before recording begins. The best practice is to:

• Provide written notice that audio recording occurs in the home
• Have the nanny sign an acknowledgment of the notice
• Keep the signed document in your records

Failure to obtain consent for audio recording is a gross misdemeanor, even if the recording takes place in your own home. The privacy statute does not contain a homeowner exemption for audio recording of conversations.

Cameras in Private Spaces

Regardless of whether the camera records audio, you should never place a nanny cam in a bathroom, a bedroom used by the nanny (if they live in your home), or any other area where the caregiver would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Doing so could result in voyeurism charges under RCW 9A.44.115.

Neighbor Disputes Over Security Cameras

Disputes between neighbors about security cameras are common in Washington. The law provides a framework for resolving these conflicts.

What You Can Record

You can point your security cameras at areas visible from your property that are not considered private. Legal recording targets include:

• Your own property (front yard, driveway, backyard)
• Public streets and sidewalks
• Shared common areas in apartment complexes or condominiums
• Your neighbor's front yard or any area visible from the public right-of-way

People do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in areas that are openly visible to the public.

What You Cannot Record

Pointing your camera to deliberately capture activity in areas where your neighbor has a reasonable expectation of privacy could violate Washington law. Areas you should avoid recording include:

• A neighbor's windows, especially bedrooms and bathrooms
• Fenced backyards that are not visible from public areas
• Enclosed patios or screened porches
• Any area where a neighbor would reasonably expect to be unobserved

Audio Recording of Neighbors

Washington's all-party consent law applies to any private conversation your camera might capture from a neighbor's property. If your outdoor security camera records audio and picks up your neighbor's private conversations, you could be violating RCW 9.73.030. This is one of the strongest reasons to disable audio recording on outdoor cameras in Washington.

HOA and Local Restrictions

Beyond state law, your homeowners association (HOA) may have additional rules governing security cameras. Common HOA restrictions include:

• Requiring architectural approval before installing exterior cameras
• Limiting camera placement to certain areas
• Restricting the size, style, or visibility of cameras
• Prohibiting cameras that point toward common areas or neighboring units

Check your HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) before installing cameras. Some cities and counties in Washington may also have local ordinances that affect camera placement.

Resolving Disputes

If a neighbor's camera is causing you concern, consider these steps:

1. Talk to your neighbor and explain your privacy concerns
2. Review HOA rules to see if the camera placement violates any community guidelines
3. Document the camera's position and what it appears to record
4. Contact local law enforcement if you believe the camera is capturing private areas or recording audio without consent
5. Consult an attorney if informal resolution fails, especially if you believe your privacy rights are being violated

Adult Family Homes and Care Facilities

Washington has specific regulations for electronic monitoring in adult family homes under WAC 388-76-10720.

Audio Monitoring Is Prohibited

Adult family homes cannot use audio monitoring equipment or video monitoring equipment that includes an audio component, except in very limited circumstances defined by regulation.

Video-Only Monitoring Is Allowed in Specific Areas

Video cameras without audio capability are permitted in certain locations:

• Entrances and exits with cameras focused only on doorways, not gathering areas
• Outdoor public-access areas such as driveways or walkways, for theft and property damage prevention
• Designated smoking areas when residents have been assessed as needing smoking supervision, and staff must actively monitor the feed while residents use the area

Notification and Consent

Adult family homes must provide written notice to all residents identifying every person or organization with access to electronic monitoring. Residents must sign an acknowledgment confirming they received the notification.

The presence of cameras does not reduce the facility's obligation to provide appropriate in-person care and assistance based on each resident's individual needs.

Criminal Penalties for Illegal Surveillance

Washington imposes both criminal and civil penalties for illegal surveillance activity.

Criminal Charges Under RCW 9.73.080

Violating Washington's wiretapping and eavesdropping law is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9.73.080. A person convicted of this offense faces:

RCW 9.73.080(2) adds a separate gross misdemeanor for knowingly altering, erasing, or wrongfully disclosing a recording in violation of RCW 9.73.090(1)(c), which covers the sound recordings that correspond to video images from cameras mounted in law enforcement vehicles. That provision is narrow and does not reach private security camera footage.

Voyeurism Penalties

As detailed above, voyeurism in the first degree is a class C felony with up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, plus mandatory sex offender registration. Voyeurism in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor with up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Inadmissible Evidence

Under RCW 9.73.050, any information obtained through illegal interception or recording is inadmissible in any civil or criminal court proceeding. This means that illegally recorded audio cannot be used as evidence, regardless of what it captures.

Civil Remedies for Victims

Victims of illegal surveillance in Washington can pursue civil lawsuits under RCW 9.73.060.

Available Damages

A person injured by a privacy violation can recover:

• Actual damages, including compensation for mental pain and suffering caused by the violation
• Liquidated damages calculated at $100 per day for each day the violation continued, up to a maximum of $1,000
• Reasonable attorney fees and other costs of litigation

Who Can Be Held Liable

The civil liability provision applies to anyone who commits the violation directly or who hires a detective agency or other agent to carry out the surveillance. Both the person who ordered the surveillance and the person who conducted it can be held liable.

Key Washington Surveillance Statutes at a Glance

Related Washington Camera and Privacy Laws

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

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