Can I put up a surveillance camera at home in Sweden?
Yes — you may film your own home and fenced plot without a permit. Since April 2025 the permit requirement has been removed for others too. For a private individual the household exemption applies: the filming must be for purely private use, limited to your home and plot with a clear boundary, and the footage must not be shared. If you film a neighbour's house or a place the public can access, full GDPR applies, and it is then rarely allowed. A doorbell camera is fine if the view covers only your own entrance. The Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) can impose sanctions.
📋 The rules
- Filming your own home and fenced plot: no permit needed
- The household exemption requires purely private use and a clear boundary
- The footage must not be shared (e.g. posted online)
- Filming a neighbour or public place: GDPR applies, rarely allowed
- Doorbell camera fine if it covers only your own entrance
🔓 Exceptions
- If the camera reaches public space or a neighbour's land you become data controller
- A doorbell camera may cover only your own door, not the street or neighbour's door
- Even within the exemption, sharing the footage breaks it
⚠️ Penalties & fines
GDPR breaches are handled by IMY with administrative fines and possible damages. Secret, intrusive filming can be offensive photography (Penal Code ch. 4) with fines or up to 2 years prison.
📎 Official sources
- IMY · Filming within the household exemption →
- IMY · Neighbours' camera surveillance →
- Camera Surveillance Act (2018:1200) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a permit for a camera at home?
No. Filming your own home and plot needs no permit, and the permit requirement was removed for others in 2025.
Can I film my neighbour's plot?
No. Filming a neighbour's house or land against their will is, per IMY, generally not allowed under GDPR.
Can I have a doorbell camera?
Yes, if the view covers only your own entrance and not the street or the neighbour's door.
Can I post the footage online?
No. Sharing the footage breaks the household exemption, and then full GDPR applies.
What happens if I film a public place?
You become data controller under GDPR, and it is rarely allowed for a private individual.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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