With an increase in home security systems, you may find that your neighbor has installed a camera that points in the direction of your house. You may be wondering if this is legal and what your rights are. So, can your neighbor have a camera pointed at your backyard or house?
Your neighbor has the legal right to install a security camera facing your property so long as the recordings do not violate your privacy and the footage is in lawful use. The camera cannot be pointed at your bedroom or bathroom and must only focus on areas that do not expect privacy. The video footage must not be used to spy on you in private places or to be posted on social media.
While you may be uncomfortable with the idea of your neighbor’s camera pointed at your house, it is illegal for you to modify that camera physically. You can get yourself into a lot of trouble if you try to do anything independently. Keep reading as we cover your options to block your neighbor’s camera legally (and more).
My Neighbour is recording us | My Rights for Privacy vs. My Neighbor’s Right to Security
Your neighbor has the right to install a security camera in a public-facing location. This means that he can install his camera to record a specific area in the perimeter of his property that may encompass part of your property. So long as what the camera is recording can normally be seen in public view, he is doing nothing illegal.
It is also deemed legal recording so long as the footage is in lawful use, such as being used for security or to monitor for theft or property damage. If the recordings do not violate your privacy and are being used lawfully, your neighbor can point his camera directly at your property in plain view.
Privacy laws, and where they apply to video surveillance, protect citizens from being recorded in private places, meaning that your neighbor cannot set up their cameras to record you in your bedroom, bathroom, change room, locker room, or similar places where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
It is also illegal if the recordings made by your neighbors are misused. For instance, if they use the footage to spy on you in private places or if they post the footage on social media without consent, they are breaking the law.
Regarding your right to privacy:
- When you are standing in your front yard, you are not in an area with an expectation of privacy.
- On the other hand, if you are in your bedroom, there is an expectation of privacy, and you should expect not to be recorded by your neighbor’s cameras.
However, there are exceptions to this…
If you do not have curtains on your windows, anyone walking by your house can look in and see you. Therefore, you technically do not have an expectation of privacy. If your neighbor’s camera picks up this room’s windows, this is not a violation of your privacy. You are responsible for putting up the curtains.
Does your neighbor have a security camera pointed at your house? Have you noticed the camera sometimes has a red light? Read more about CCTV camera lights and what they mean here.
Is it Illegal to Tamper with Security Cameras?
It is illegal to tamper with your neighbor’s security camera or any security camera for that matter.
While there are several ways in which you can tamper with your neighbor’s camera system, none of them are legal or smart, and all of them will get you into trouble and make your situation worse.
How to Blind a Security Camera? (6 Ways)
If you think your neighbour is recording you, there are a few common ways that may be used to blind their security camera.
We do not recommend attempting to tamper or blind security cameras, even if you feel or believe they may be violating your privacy. Attempting to do so by any method may be illegal and will get you into trouble.
1. Using Laser
An infrared laser or a laser pointer can be used to blind the camera by pointing the laser beam directly at the camera lens. This method requires a steady hand to ensure the beam is correctly guided to the camera.
The main problem with this method?
As you raise the laser, the camera can capture your face.
2. Using a Flashlight or LED Hat
A flashlight or LED hat can be used to blind the view of the camera. This method is very time-consuming as the light beam will have to be pointed at the camera lens for a significantly long time.
As with the laser method, if the light beam moves off the camera lens, the view is exposed again, and you could be caught on camera!
A more viable method would be to install floodlights pointed directly at the cameras.
3. Using a Jammer
A security camera can be jammed.
However, that is easier said than done. To successfully use a jammer, you would have to know the exact broadcast frequency of the camera. The stronger signal of the jammer would then override that of the camera, effectively disabling it.
Note that the use of jammers is illegal, and you will get into a lot of trouble for using one.
4. Hack into Camera
Hacking into your neighbor’s camera system can also be done if you hire a professional. However, it is you who will be in trouble and this crime ranks on the felony level.
5. Cut Camera Wires
Cutting wires and cables is considered malicious destruction of private property.
This is dangerous and almost impossible to pull off.
6. Physically Blinding the Camera
Another option is physically blinding the camera by applying a material to the camera lens.
To make the image fuzzy, you would have to apply a sticky opaque material such as Vaseline or petroleum jelly to the surface of the camera lens. If you don’t have these on hand, you can also use food products like peanut butter or jam.
The whole lens needs to be covered.
Duct tape, masking tape, and spray paint are also options. However, using spray paint may permanently damage the camera.
What Can I Do About My Neighbor’s Security Cameras?
There are several ways in which you can legally block your neighbor’s security camera, without getting into trouble or breaking the law.
But before you consider blocking the camera views, try these methods first to resolve the situation.
1. Talk to Your Neighbor
Perhaps the easiest solution is to ask your neighbor to take down or relocate his camera. A reasonable, adult conversation may result in your neighbor seeing your side of things and agreeing to resolve the situation.
Your neighbor might even invite you in to review the video footage and verify that the cameras really cannot see that much of your property. If your neighbor does agree to move or take down the camera, be sure to thank him.
You may also want to verify that the camera is real and operational! A lot of consumers purchase dummy cameras to thwart would-be robbers.
2. Install Your Own Security System
You can install cameras of your own.
Doing so may make your neighbor reconsider his camera’s positioning. You are legally allowed to install cameras, and this will allow your neighbor to understand how you feel under the circumstances.
3. Get Local Mediation
If you and your neighbor just cannot get along and have a real conversation, you can enlist the assistance of a third-party mediator.
Mediators can be found in your local community service centers. They will set up a meeting with both parties and mediate the entire thing so that both sides can speak freely.
4. Get Legal Assistance
If your neighbors cross the line and point their cameras at your private spaces, you should report them to the authorities and consult your attorney. You can request that they verify the camera angles. If they confirm that your bedroom is on camera, then your neighbor will be in a lot of trouble.
How to Block a Neighbor’s Security Camera?
If you’ve tried all these approaches to resolve the situation but have not been successful, it may be time to consider other options to block your neighbor’s camera view of your property.
1. Install a Privacy Fence or Raise the Height of an Existing Fence
An easy method to add privacy to your property and backyard is by installing a privacy fence.
If you’re wondering if it is rude to put up a privacy fence, or if your neighbor may be offended by it, then read our take on that and learn more about the benefits of a privacy fence here.
If you already have a privacy fence installed, but it’s not blocking your neighbor’s camera view, then you may consider building fence extensions. Raising your fence about a foot could potentially take care of the camera seeing your property.
But before you start, be sure to review your local fencing regulations and height restrictions to ensure you do not exceed local allowed height limits, and your extended fence does not qualify as a spite fence.
2. Plant Trees and Fast-Growing Shrubs
You can also plant trees and fast-growing shrubs.
Planting trees in specific locations on your property can serve to provide a physical barrier to the camera’s line of sight. Trees will also add to the landscape in your backyard and provide some shade.
However, trees can take years to grow enough in height and density to provide the required blockage of the camera view. If that’s the case, you may consider planting larger or mature trees to speed up the process, but this will come at a higher cost.
3. Install Something You’ve Been Always Planning To
If you only want to block off a few feet of the line of sight of your neighbor’s camera, this may be your opportunity to get that shed you’ve always wanted or put up a basketball hoop.
This may not just work for everyone; so, don’t get too excited!
You would have to first make sure the location where you would have to install that shed or basketball hoop to block the camera, is suitable for that structure. For instance, make sure the basketball hoop would not be near a window, or that the area is big enough for that 10×10 feet shed you want to put up.
4. Use a Decorative Privacy Screen
Many types of decorative privacy screens can be used to block off a small or large view angle of your neighbor’s security camera. These are particularly useful to add privacy to your back porch or around one side of a pool or hot tub facing your neighbor’s camera.
5. Trick Your Neighbor’s Camera With Moving Objects
If your neighor’s camera has motion-detection recording, you can place something like a flag or wind spinner in your yard. The continuous movement of the flag or spinner will stimulate continuous recording by the security camera. Your neighbor will end up with hours of footage recorded of nothing happening instead of hours of your property.
6. Install Reflective Privacy Window Film
If your biggest concern is that your neighbor’s camera has a full view of your bedroom or bathroom window, then a good option is to put a reflective privacy film on the outside of your windows. This film will prevent the camera from being able to see through the glass.
Unfortunately, reflective privacy film only works during the day. At night when it’s dark outside and the light inside the bedroom or bathroom is turned on, the camera will be able to see right through the window.
Conclusion
Home security systems, including cameras, have become very popular. With the increase in their use has come a rise in problems between neighbors with privacy issues.
Your neighbor does have the right to install a camera that points toward your property as long as:
- The camera is installed in plain sight and not hidden.
- The camera does not point toward your bedroom or bathroom.
- The recorded footage is not used unlawfully (e.g., posted on social media).
If you are uncomfortable with the camera and its placement, do not take matters into your own hands. You can get into a lot of trouble by tampering with the camera. Take steps to block your home from the camera.
