Things to Consider When Choosing Security Camera Locations

They say that location is everything in real estate. Guess what? It is everything in security camera placement as well. A home security camera is only as good as the view it provides. And views are heavily dependent on physical placement. Although it all sounds so obvious, a lot of people install their cameras without considering location carefully.

Vivint Home Security is a nationwide provider of home security and automation equipment. If you’re interested, they have a great guide on exterior camera placement. Their website is a treasure trove of insights on all things smart home and home security related. Check it out.

In the meantime, here are some things to consider when choosing security camera locations:

1. The Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

There is a legal doctrine known as the ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’. The doctrine applies to video surveillance. Whenever you are talking interior cameras, you have to remember that there are certain locations inside a home where occupants have this reasonable expectation. Bathrooms are a prime example.

If you never had any guests in your house, installing video cameras in the bathrooms would not be a problem. But any guests who do visit have a reasonable expectation of privacy when using the bathroom. So you would not want a camera installed in any bathroom a guest might use. Ditto for bedrooms.

Rental Properties

Rental properties are an entirely different ballgame. Most states bar landlords from installing video surveillance cameras inside rental properties except in public spaces – like the living room and kitchen. All bedrooms and bathrooms are off limits. Some states don’t allow interior cameras at all.

2. Exterior Privacy

The doctrine of reasonable expectation of privacy also applies to exterior views. For example, a neighbor’s back yard is not street facing. Therefore, he has a reasonable expectation of privacy in that particular area. A camera showing a view of his backyard would be a violation of his privacy rights.

3. View Obstructions

Whether indoors or out, anything that might obstruct a camera’s view is obviously problematic. Obstructions aren’t a problem for interior cameras. But exterior cameras are different. Consider things like tree branches that sway in the wind and cars that might be parked in the driveway.

You might not see any obstructions when you first install a camera. But then the wind blows, and your spouse comes home from work. Now you suddenly have an obstruction where none was present before.

4. Deterring Burglary

The general consensus about video surveillance is that it deters burglary. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you need tight views of hard-to-see places. Most burglars enter through easily accessible vocations. They happen to like the front door and the garage. That is where you need the video surveillance. If you only have one or two exterior cameras, don’t bother getting a view of the side of the house. Focus on the front door and garage.

5. Interior Windows

Inside your home, consider camera placement in relation to windows. A straight-on view of a window could be problematic due to glare. Significant glare could reduce the camera’s ability to produce a viable image. As a side note, interior cameras don’t do well showing views of the outdoors. Don’t place a camera in front of a window hoping that it will provide a consistent view of the backyard.

If you don’t know the best locations for video cameras, check out the Vivint guide. There is a ton of additional information available across the internet. Do a little research and you will have the answers you need.