Maine Laws on Security Cameras in Apartment Common Areas

With security a growing concern, many Maine landlords install surveillance cameras in halls, laundry rooms, or shared building entryways. But what does the law say about cameras in these common areas? Understanding your privacy rights and your landlord’s responsibilities can help you feel more secure in your rental home.

Understanding Surveillance in Common Areas

Maine law typically allows landlords to use security cameras in shared or common areas of rental properties, like hallways, entrances, laundry rooms, and parking lots. However, there are important restrictions designed to protect renter privacy.

Where Cameras Are Allowed — and Not Allowed

• Permitted: Cameras in common areas not intended for private use, such as building entries, driveways, parking areas, laundry rooms, and exterior grounds.
• Not Permitted: Surveillance in any area where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. This includes inside apartments, bathrooms, locker rooms, or shared restrooms.

Maine Revised Statutes Title 15 §709 addresses privacy violations from secret and unauthorized recording, including video surveillance in private places¹.

Do Landlords Have to Notify Renters About Cameras?

Maine law does not currently require landlords to inform renters before installing security cameras in common areas. However, recording in areas intended for private use, or capturing audio of conversations without all parties’ consent, is generally illegal.

Your Privacy Rights as a Maine Renter

• You have the right to enjoyment and privacy of your rented space under Maine’s landlord-tenant laws (14 M.R.S. Chapter 710).
• Any hidden surveillance (such as secret cameras in areas like bedrooms or bathrooms) is strictly prohibited, with criminal penalties under Maine law.
• Audio recording without consent, even in common areas, may violate Maine’s two-party consent law (Title 15 §710).

What To Do if You Have Privacy Concerns

It’s natural to want clarity if you discover new cameras, or if you are uncomfortable with how surveillance is used in your building. Here’s how to approach the issue:

• Document where cameras are located and whether they appear to record private areas.
• Communicate with your landlord to ask why cameras have been installed and whether they record audio or only video.
• If you believe your privacy rights are violated, you can make a complaint to your landlord or—with unresolved issues—contact Maine’s state housing authority or file with the local District Court, which handles housing disputes.

Key Official Maine Forms for Renters

• Complaint Form (Maine District Court Landlord-Tenant Action)
  Use this if you want to formally address a rental concern, such as privacy or safety issues, with the court.
  Example: If your landlord refuses to remove illegal surveillance in a private area, you may file this complaint to seek a court remedy.
  View official forms at Maine Judicial Branch (see "Landlord-Tenant" section)
• Maine Human Rights Commission Complaint Form
  If you believe surveillance is used in a way that discriminates based on race, gender, or other protected class, submit this form.
  Example: If cameras are directed only at a particular group’s entryway, file a discrimination complaint.
  Access complaint information and forms here

Relevant Laws and Oversight

• Main Tenancy Act: Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, Chapter 710 covers residential rental agreements and tenant protections.
• Privacy Laws: Title 15 §§709–711 explains the limits of surveillance and secret recording.

For most disputes about rental privacy issues, the Maine District Court is the official tribunal handling residential tenancy cases.

FAQs: Maine Renters and Security Cameras

1. Can my landlord put cameras in the hallway, laundry room, or parking lot?
   Maine law permits landlords to install cameras in shared areas like hallways and parking lots, but never in private spaces like bathrooms or inside your rental unit.
2. Does my landlord have to notify me if they add new cameras?
   Currently, landlords are not legally required to provide notice when installing cameras in common areas, but any secret or private recording is prohibited.
3. Is audio recording allowed with surveillance cameras?
   No. Audio recording is not allowed without the consent of all recorded parties under Maine’s privacy law. Ask your landlord if audio is captured and express your concerns in writing.
4. Where can I file a complaint if I think my privacy rights were violated?
   Contact the Maine District Court for tenancy matters, or the Maine Human Rights Commission if you believe the action was discriminatory.
5. What official form do I use to report illegal surveillance?
   Use the Landlord-Tenant Action Complaint Form from the Maine Judicial Branch website. For discrimination cases, use the Maine Human Rights Commission complaint form.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Maine Department of Health and Human Services: Rental Housing Rights – Information on tenant rights, safety, and resources.
• Maine District Court - Landlord-Tenant Information – Tribunal for rental disputes, complaints, and forms.
• Maine Human Rights Commission – Assistance with discrimination and civil rights issues.
• Pine Tree Legal Assistance – Free legal aid on tenant privacy and security issues in Maine.

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1. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 15, Chapter 105: Interception of Wire and Oral Communications
2. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 710: Rental Property Protections

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