Security Cameras at Vacation Rentals: What Guests and Hosts Need to Know
Security cameras at vacation rentals have become a pretty popular feature at vacation rentals, helping property owners protect their homes during vacancy and in some cases owners are using them to monitor wildlife or snow conditions. However, cameras at short-term rentals also raise important questions about privacy, disclosure, and legal compliance.
Popular booking platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com have some strict policies where these cameras may be installed and how hosts must disclose them. Understanding these rules can help travelers choose accommodations while helping hosts avoid OTA platforms policy violations.
As a guest or short term vacation rental owner you may be asking yourself, Are Security Cameras Allowed at Vacation Rentals? The short answer is yes — but only under very specific conditions.
Security cameras can help deter theft, vandalism, parties, and over occupancy of guests and vehicles. Most vacation rental owners install these cameras at entrances, driveways, garages, or parking areas to help in protecting their property and depending on city or county regulations, help in over occupancy or a guest have too many vehicles.
What is never acceptable is placing cameras where guest have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Examples include:
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Sleeping areas
- Saunas
- Indoor showers
- Changing rooms
Many booking platforms have strengthened their policies in recent years to better protect guest privacy.
Airbnb’s Security Camera Policy
Airbnb has one of the most strictest camera policies in the vacation rental industry as a listing OTA
Under Airbnb’s current policy:
- Indoor security cameras are prohibited, even if they are turned off and unplugged.
- Hidden cameras are prohibited everywhere.
- Outdoor cameras are permitted in certain locations.
- Hosts or property managers must disclose all outdoor cameras before a reservation is even made.
- Camera locations and what they monitor must be clearly and accurately described in the listing.
- Cameras may not monitor indoor living spaces through windows or doors.
Airbnb may remove listings or even suspend hosts who violate these rules.
Vrbo Security Camera Policy
Vrbo does allow security cameras under specific guidelines. Hosts may install cameras:
- At front entrances
- In driveways
- At garages
- In parking areas
However:
- Cameras inside the property are generally prohibited in areas intended for guest use.
- Hidden camera’s are never allowed
- Hosts must disclose the presence and location of all camera devices in the property listing.
- Devices cannot monitor private outdoor spaces where guests reasonable expect privacy, such as enclosed hot tubs or outdoor showers.
Booking.com Security Camera Rules
Booking.com also requires transparency regarding cameras. Property owners must disclose:
- Exterior cameras and location
- Audio recording devices (see more below)
- Any monitoring equipment on the property
Properties must describe camera locations to a T so guests understand what areas are monitored before booking. Of course, all hidden cameras are prohibited.
Where are Outdoor Cameras Typically Installed?
Most short-term rental owner will install cameras in locations such as:
- Front door – This is usually some type of Ring camera.
- Driveway – Usually within the flood light.
- Parking Areas – Usually within the flood light.
- Garage entrance – Usually within the flood light.
- Front Gate.
- Side yard-access.
- Exterior storage areas.
These locations help verify guest arrivals, deter theft, and monitor property access without invading guest privacy.
What About Doorbell Cameras?
Video doorbells have become a popular and common security device at vacation rentals. Popular security camera brands include:
- Ring
- Google Nest
- Arlo
- Blink
Doorbell cameras are generally allowed by all major booking platforms when:
- They are disclosed in the listing itself.
- They monitor only the exterior entrance.
- They do not record inside the home.
Guest should always be informed before booking that a doorbell camera is present on the property.
In addition to camera questions, we also receive this popular question: Can Vacation Rentals Record Audio?
Audio recording laws are often stricter than video recording laws. Several U.S. states require all-party consent, meaning everyone being recorded at the property must agree to the recording. It is highly unlikely that a guest will consent to audio, so it’s always best to not record audio – you should even turn the audio feature off!
Tips for Vacation Rental Hosts:
To maintain trust and compliance with booking platform policies, hosts should:
- Clearly disclose every camera.
- Explain exactly where each camera is located.
- Describe what each camera monitors.
- Avoid installing cameras near private outdoor amenities.
- Regularly review OTA policies, as they do change frequently.
- Follow all applicable laws of your city, state, and national privacy laws.
Security cameras can improve safety for both guests and hosts when used responsibly. The key principles are transparency, disclosure, and respect for privacy.
Before booking a vacation rental, guests should review the listing details for camera disclosures. If a guest does find a undisclosed camera on the proerty, they should document it and report it to the OTA they used to make the booking.
What are your thoughts on having security cameras at a vacation rental?
This is a regulation that every property manager or homeowner should already know but it’s always a good idea to send out a refresher! One thing to think about that I feel is a great feature is one of my owners has three cameras. One at the front door, one pointing in the driveway catching the driveway and entrance, and one pointing on the side of the home by the garbage area. This property has no real fencing around out. The owner leaves these cameras on, no audio, and has a small monitor in the kitchen with instructions for so the guests can use it when staying. Guests seem to really like it. I’ll find out what type becuase the guest scans a code and the code is only available during their stay.
We only use our ring doorbell and have sound and motion off. I do think they are a nice feature but I totally understand guests are not major fans of these…Had one guest place a bag over the ring once, thankfully our neighbor is good friends of ours. Nothing happend so I assume it was just their thing not being on the ring!
I disclose our Kuna Camera at front door that is connected to the porch light but it’s really never in use. We mostly depend on our neighbor friends to keep an eye on things. But, if you’re not lucky like us with great neighbor friends, I do not see any problem with having one because it’s hard to trust people these days.
As a VHR owner and guest! Totally disclose both of ours and when I stay at places, I don’t really mind them being outside. I like what @pottermanagement said…allowing guests access to them. I may give that a try to see what guests think. I do have a lot of guests that order Amazon items for their trip that usually arrives around their checkin times so it might be a nice feature. Just have to figure out how to make a guest user name to view only. If anyone knows how to do this with Ring, please let me know.