May a home camera film the neighbour's yard?
It may not — and “my house, my camera” is no argument. The Data Protection Inspectorate is clear: where a camera's field of view takes in a neighbour's yard or the street, that is no longer filming for personal use, and there is no legal basis for filming beyond your own property. There is no basis for harming a neighbour's privacy — not even on security grounds. And if you do film outwards, you become a data controller with duties: people must be informed before entering the monitored area of who runs the surveillance, its purpose and legal basis, and where to find further information. The sign is not a suggestion but a requirement.
📋 The rules
- A camera may cover your own property
- The neighbour's yard and street — no basis
- Filming outwards makes you a data controller
- People must be informed beforehand
- Supervised by the Data Protection Inspectorate
🔓 Exceptions
- Personal use covers your own plot, not the neighbour's yard or the street
- In some cases covering a public area can be justified by protecting property
- The notice sign must show the controller, the purpose and contact details
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A camera pointed the wrong way is the commonest mistake. Where a camera looks into a neighbour's yard or onto the street, the personal-use exemption no longer shields you — you are a data controller and must meet data protection requirements: a notice sign, data protection terms, a retention period, and people have a right of access to footage of themselves. The practical fix: turn the camera so that only your own plot is in frame, and use masking where some outside area is unavoidable. In a block of flats a camera is not installed alone: it concerns common property and needs an association decision. Complaints go to the Data Protection Inspectorate, which can require the camera to be repositioned.
📎 Official sources
- Data Protection Inspectorate · Video surveillance →
- AKI · Cameras in residential areas →
- Riigi Teataja · Personal Data Protection Act →
❓ Frequently asked
May I film the neighbour's yard?
You may not. Where the camera's field of view includes the neighbour's yard or the street, it is no longer filming for personal use and there is no legal basis for filming beyond your property.
What changes if I film outwards?
You become a data controller and must meet data protection duties: informing people before they enter the area, drawing up data protection terms and limiting how long footage is kept.
What must the notice sign contain?
Who runs the surveillance and their contact details, the purpose and legal basis of the surveillance, and where more detailed information about the data processing can be found.
Can I install a camera in a block of flats?
Not on your own. A camera affects common property and requires a decision of the apartment association. One installed unilaterally can be ordered removed after a complaint.
Where do I complain about a neighbour's camera?
To the Data Protection Inspectorate, which supervises video surveillance. It can require the camera to be repositioned or the unlawful filming to stop altogether.
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