Can I install a security camera at home?
Yes at home, but not the street or the neighbour. An individual can install a security camera to film the inside of their property: home interior, garden, private path and driveway. However, it's banned to film the public way (street, pavement), even to watch a car parked in front: that's reserved to the authorities (article L252-2 of the Internal Security Code). It's also banned to film neighbouring properties or a building entrance. If a camera films a home worker (cleaner, nanny), you must inform them. In case of a privacy breach, the CNIL can be contacted.
📋 The rules
- Filming inside your property: allowed
- Public way (street, pavement): banned (reserved to authorities)
- Filming the neighbour's property or a building entrance: banned
- A home worker filmed must be informed
- Recourse to the CNIL possible for a breach
🔓 Exceptions
- Co-ownership: CCTV of common parts is a framed collective decision
- A movable camera: must be set to capture only the allowed private area
- Stored images: limited duration and restricted access (GDPR)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Filming the public way or someone else's property without right, or capturing a person's image in a private place without consent, can be a privacy breach punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a €45,000 fine, and up to 5 years and €300,000 in the most serious cases. The CNIL, police, gendarmerie or prosecutor can be contacted. The filmed neighbour can also obtain the camera's removal and damages.
📎 Official sources
- CNIL · Home video surveillance →
- CNIL · My neighbour installed a camera filming my home →
- Légifrance · Article L252-2 of the Internal Security Code →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I film in front of my house?
You can film inside your property (garden, private path), but not the public way (street, pavement), even to watch your car. Filming the street is reserved to the public authorities.
Can I point my camera at the street?
No. An individual can't film the public way. If your camera captures the street, you must set or mask it to film only your private space. Filming the street exposes you to sanctions for a privacy breach.
Can my neighbour film my garden?
No. An individual can only film their own property. Filming the neighbour's property, garden or windows is banned. You can contact the CNIL, the police or the prosecutor, and seek the camera's removal and damages.
Do I have to declare a home camera?
For strictly private use filming only your property, no declaration is needed. But if you film a home worker, you must inform them. Images must be kept in a limited, secure way.
What's the risk of filming the public way?
A privacy breach, punishable by up to 1 year in prison and a €45,000 fine, even 5 years and €300,000 in serious cases. The CNIL can sanction, and those filmed can go to court to stop the nuisance.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “home security camera law”
- “filming public way banned individual”
- “neighbour camera films my home”
- “home camera cnil declaration”
- “camera film street penalty”
- “individual cctv rules”