Homeowner camera

We are in central California. A few homeowners have cameras inside a window in their home that can be seen from the outside claiming that the camera is there to protect their property and that it is not recording anything that breaches any privacy laws. Can an HOA prohibit homeowners’ from installing a surveillance camera inside a window of their home?

It may depend on where the camera is pointed. If it's pointed toward an area where there is no expectation of privacy, such as in front of their door, walkways, etc. but if it was pointed for example at a neighbor's kitchen window or front door, that could be a problem.

This is a really interesting topic. Security cameras have a wide angle of capturing allot of space-even the less expensive ones. Where I live many homeowners have put up security cameras and many also have the doorbell cameras which they install outside their fence gate or on their actually front door to entrance of home.

The reply of TerriS6 is what I also understand. I wish in our society I could go back to the days where my doors could be unlocked 24 hours a day/365 a year. Where I live, it is no longer wise to do that anymore. Sad, really.

Depending on the type of camera you buy, there is a setting on some, that you can put a privacy mask on the shot. What that means is you can position the camera, look at the view it is capturing, and block out pieces of the view.

I know if you use surveillance from a company, they provide yard signs. Some people also put decals on their windows that there is surveillance on property.

I do not know laws in California. But if someone had a complaint of what was physically inside the window of my home, I think I would do the following for fun:

Open the window nice and high and blast the song by Jean Knight called "Mr. Big Stuff", and specifically loop the line,

"Mr. Big Stuff, tell me
Just who do you think you are"

Personally, I would doubt such a HOA prohibition would ever be enforceable, if they tried to do that.

All that being said, it is absolutely on the horizon on how HOAs are going to start addressing surveillance cameras.

Anything that happens outside your door is considered public. So can't expect any privacy in my opinion. Plus the owner of the camera owns the footage not the HOA. The HOA may have authority if it was hanging on the exterior of the home. Inside not so much.

"Ms. Big Stuff" ...how about a director wearing for Halloween a beauty contestant outfit with a sash saying "Ms. Xxx HOA"!

An alternative opinion: I have a very visible camera behind glass above my front door. Honestly, it’s not a great camera. But when strangers come to my door, I want them to be aware of the camera. For sure, if they want in, they’ll get in. But I’m certain they can find other places that are a lot less hassle. I mean, if you think about it, your average criminal is averse to work. If they liked work, they could get a job, and probably make more money than they do burglaring.

Bill