Most people fit CCTV to see who’s at the door or to keep an eye on the car. That’s perfectly lawful. Things only get more involved when a camera records beyond the edge of your property. This guide explains what that means, based on guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator. It applies across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
This is general information, not legal advice.
If your cameras only cover your own property
If your cameras record only inside your property boundary, data protection law doesn’t apply to that footage. You should still think about where cameras point, and avoid filming private areas such as a neighbour’s windows or garden.
If your cameras record beyond your boundary
If a camera captures images of people outside your property, such as the pavement, the road, or a neighbour’s garden or driveway, you are processing their personal data. That means UK data protection law applies to you. In practice, you should:
- Have a clear reason for recording outside your boundary, such as protecting your car or front door.
- Tell people they’re being recorded, usually with a sign.
- Keep footage only as long as you need it and delete it routinely.
- Keep the footage secure and only share it when there’s a good reason, for example with the police.
- Respond to requests: people you’ve recorded can ask for a copy of footage of them, and can ask you to delete it in some cases.
- Think about audio: recording sound is more intrusive than video, and is rarely justified for home CCTV.
How we help
When we design a system we aim to keep cameras focused on your own property. Where a camera has to see beyond your boundary, we can use privacy masking to black out areas such as a neighbour’s windows, and we’ll talk you through the responsibilities that come with it.
Further reading
Have a question about your own situation? Book a free survey and we’ll talk it through.