Can I put up a home security camera?
It depends on where it points — a camera that captures only your own private lot is exempt, but the moment it reaches beyond it, full data-protection rules apply. The myth: that a camera on your own house is never a data-protection matter. Wrong — under the Data Protection Act no. 90/2018 home monitoring falls under the household exemption (Art. 4(2)) only while it captures your own private area alone. As soon as the camera's field of view reaches the pavement, the street, a shared driveway or a neighbour's lot, the exemption falls away and you then need a legitimate purpose, signage and to delete recordings within a time limit. The monitoring is governed by Data Protection Authority rules no. 50/2023 (which repealed the older rules no. 837/2006). The big change many do not know about: the retention period was extended from 30 days to 90 days by rules no. 1329/2025 (in force from December 2025). You must mark the area clearly before people enter it, with information on who is responsible for the monitoring.
📋 The rules
- A camera that captures only your own private area falls under the household exemption (Art. 4(2) of Act no. 90/2018) and is outside the data-protection law.
- If the camera's field of view reaches the street, pavement, a shared driveway or a neighbour's lot, the exemption falls away and full duties apply: legitimate purpose, signage and deletion.
- Electronic monitoring is governed by Data Protection Authority rules no. 50/2023, which repealed the older rules no. 837/2006.
- The retention period was extended from 30 days to 90 days by rules no. 1329/2025 (in force from December 2025); recordings may not be kept longer unless a special exception applies.
- A monitored area must be marked clearly with a sign or in another conspicuous way before it is entered, with information on the controller (Art. 8 of rules no. 50/2023).
🔓 Exceptions
- Within the household exemption — a camera that captures only your own private area — neither the signage nor the retention rules apply.
- A recording tied to a specific incident (e.g. a burglary under investigation) may be kept longer than 90 days while the case is being dealt with.
- Monitoring of the common area of a multi-owner building is not one resident's private matter but a decision of the housing association, and follows the Authority's rules on shared monitoring.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A camera that reaches beyond your private area without a legitimate purpose, signage or within the retention limit breaches Act no. 90/2018 and rules no. 50/2023. The Data Protection Authority can, on a complaint or on its own initiative, order the camera to be turned away, recordings to be deleted and signage to be put up, and impose administrative fines under the data-protection law. The hidden cost is twofold. First, a neighbour who feels their rights are breached can complain to the Authority and demand a remedy, and such cases have ended with a camera pointing at a neighbour's lot being ruled unlawful. Second, footage taken unlawfully cannot be used as evidence in the same way as lawful footage, and whoever shows or shares recordings of a neighbour can incur criminal liability for breach of privacy. Signage and a correctly aimed field of view are therefore not a formality but the precondition for the monitoring to hold up.
📎 Official sources
- Data Protection Authority (Persónuvernd) · rules no. 50/2023 on electronic monitoring →
- Althingi · Data Protection Act no. 90/2018 →
- Stjornartidindi (Official Gazette) · rules no. 1329/2025 (90-day retention) →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I have to notify the Data Protection Authority about a home camera?
If the camera captures only your own private area it falls under the household exemption and is outside the data-protection law, so neither notification nor signage is needed. As soon as its field of view reaches the street, the pavement or a neighbour's lot the full rules apply, and then you need a legitimate purpose, signage and to delete recordings within a time limit.
Can my camera reach onto the pavement or my neighbour's lot?
It is not banned outright, but the moment the camera reaches beyond your private area the household exemption falls away and full duties apply. The Data Protection Authority has ruled a camera pointing at a neighbour's lot unlawful, so it is best to aim the field of view only at your own area unless a strong and legitimate purpose justifies otherwise.
How long can I keep security-camera footage?
The retention period was extended from 30 days to 90 days by rules no. 1329/2025 that took effect in December 2025, so as of 2026 you may generally keep footage for up to 90 days. It may not be kept longer unless a special exception applies, for example where a recording is tied to an incident under investigation.
Do I have to put up a sign that a camera is in use?
Yes, when the monitoring does not fall under the household exemption you must mark the area clearly with a sign or in another conspicuous way before people enter it. The sign should show who is responsible for the monitoring and where further information can be obtained, under Art. 8 of the Data Protection Authority's rules no. 50/2023.
Are the old rules no. 837/2006 still in force?
No, rules no. 837/2006 on electronic monitoring were repealed and are replaced by the Data Protection Authority's rules no. 50/2023. This matters because both the signage and retention requirements changed, and the retention period is now 90 days after the 2025 amendment rather than the 30 days it was for a time.
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