A well-placed camera sees faces, hands and approach routes. A poorly placed one records the sky. This guide covers the key positions and the privacy rules that apply to them.
Walk the property and note every way in: the front door, back door, garage door and any side or basement doors. Entry doors are the most common places to put cameras because people have to pass through them. A camera that sees the door and the approach to it gives you a good record of who arrived.
Ground-floor windows, sliders and any unlit side of the building are the next candidates. Upper windows are less accessible, but a deck, tree or low roof can change that.
Think like someone choosing a route. People tend to approach the door that looks least visible, so a back or side entrance with no light and no camera is the likeliest choice. Your plan should leave no obvious blind route to a door or window. If the budget allows only a few cameras, use them to cover the entries that are easiest to reach out of sight.
Mount cameras high enough to be out of easy reach but low enough to see faces. Many installers choose a spot above head height, angled slightly downward. Too high and you see hats and shoulders, too low and the camera can be knocked, covered or turned.
Aim along the path people walk, not across it. A person walking toward the lens is easier to identify than one moving past at an angle. Keep the sun out of the frame where you can, since a lens facing sunrise or sunset washes out detail.
Tamper resistance is part of placement. Mount cameras securely, route cables so they cannot be pulled loose and choose housings that resist weather and impact where vandalism is a concern. After mounting, walk through the scene at different times and check what the footage shows. Look for glare, shadows and gaps, and adjust the tilt.
Plan to revisit the view in each season. Trees leaf out, snow piles up and sun angles change, any of which can alter what a camera sees.
Cameras need light to produce good images. Porch lights, motion-activated lighting and well-placed fixtures improve night footage. Avoid pointing at a bright bulb, which can leave the rest of the scene dark.
Branches, flags and holiday decorations move in the wind and may trigger motion alerts. Trim vegetation near a lens and check the view in daylight and in the dark. Keep cameras clear of spider webs and keep eaves from dripping onto the lens.
The front door is the first choice for most homes, and a doorbell camera or a fixed camera under the porch roof both work. The back door and any patio slider come next, since rear entrances are less visible from the street. Garage doors deserve coverage because a garage often holds tools, bikes and a door into the house.
Driveways and side yards matter when vehicles, boats or equipment are parked outside. A camera at the corner of the house can often watch two sides at once. In the back yard, think about gates, fences and sheds. For businesses, loading docks, registers and parking areas are typical priorities, and a camera that shows the entrance from inside gives a clear view of everyone who enters.
Indoors, the common spots are main entry areas, stair landings and rooms with valuables. Think about who lives in the home. Bedrooms, bathrooms and other private areas are poor choices for always-on cameras. Many people use indoor cameras only when away, and a privacy shutter or schedule makes that easier.
If you employ a nanny, caregiver or cleaner, talk to them about cameras and be aware of notice rules. Rules differ by location, so ask an attorney.
Interior cameras also raise questions about guests. Visitors generally do not expect to be recorded in a bathroom or bedroom, and it is considerate to tell them about any camera that is running. A simple practice is to turn indoor cameras off or point the lens away when the household is home, then turn them back on when you leave.
In general, you can record areas of your own property that are visible from public view, but you should not point cameras into places where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a neighbor's bedroom window. Utah's criminal code covers surveillance of private places, and secretly recording a person in a place where they expect privacy can be a crime. Check the current statutes or speak with a lawyer about your specific layout.
Audio is a separate question. Federal and state law restrict intercepting oral communications, and the rules differ across the country. Utah's wiretap statute is generally described as a one-party consent law, meaning a person who is part of a conversation, or has the consent of one party, can record it. That does not mean you may record conversations between others, such as two visitors talking at your door, and the statute has exceptions for recording with a criminal or tortious purpose. Other states require everyone's consent. Many cameras can disable audio, and doing so is often the simplest option.
Renters should ask the landlord before mounting anything, and landlords should avoid cameras that look into units. Homeowner associations and condominium rules may limit camera placement, so read your covenants. Notice signs are common in business settings and may help deter trouble, though signs do not replace legal compliance.
For more on gear selection, read how to choose security cameras, and for the front door specifically, see video doorbell basics.
Mount cameras securely and route cables so they cannot be easily pulled loose. Choose housings that resist weather and impact where vandalism is a concern. After mounting, walk through the scene at different times of day and check what the footage actually shows. Look for glare, shadows and gaps in coverage, and make small adjustments to the tilt.
Plan to revisit the view in each season. Trees leaf out, snow piles up and sun angles change, any of which can alter what a camera sees. A quick check a few times a year keeps the system doing its job.
Generally yes if it records your own property and areas openly visible from public view. Avoid aiming at windows or private areas of neighboring homes.
Utah's wiretap law is commonly described as one-party consent, so a participant in a conversation may generally record it. Recording conversations you are not part of is risky, and laws differ elsewhere, so confirm with current law or an attorney.
Signs are not necessarily required for a private home, though they can deter trouble. Businesses should check local rules and consider notifying employees.
High enough to be difficult to tamper with, but low enough to capture faces. Test the view after mounting and adjust.
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