St. Catharines Security Camera Laws

St. Catharines Security Camera Laws & Permit Guide (2025)

You can’t just mount cameras and hit record.
St. Catharines enforces Ontario privacy laws — and ignorance won’t save you.

Here’s the legal blueprint for homeowners, landlords, clinics, and businesses in this city.

Are Security Cameras Legal in St. Catharines?

Yes — with conditions.

✅ Legal When:

  • Cameras are installed on property you own or lease
  • No footage captures sidewalks or neighbors’ property
  • Audio is either disabled or clearly disclosed
  • Tenants are informed in writing
  • Condos are board-approved
  • Businesses post signage

❌ Illegal When:

  • You film public roads, driveways, or neighboring lots
  • You record tenants inside their private space
  • You capture audio without signs
  • You install on shared condo walls without permission
  • You run systems without any legal signage

Homeowners — What You Can & Can’t Do

Allowed:

  • Driveways, garages, backyards, entry points
  • Inside your own private home
  • Doorbell cameras

Not Allowed:

  • Filming beyond your lot line
  • Audio without notice
  • Zooming or angling into others’ windows or yards

Landlords & Multi-Unit Owners

If you own duplexes, triplexes, or multi-family buildings:

  • 🎯 You can film shared areas (entries, parking, laundry)
  • 📄 You must notify tenants in writing
  • 🪧 You must use visible signage
  • 🎤 Audio must be off or disclosed

Never install inside tenant space. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

We include landlord disclosure templates and signage with every install.

Condos in St. Catharines

You need board approval if:

  • Installing exterior cameras
  • Mounting on shared walls or ceilings
  • Viewing shared hallways, elevators, or parking

You don’t need approval for:

  • Interior-only cameras inside your personal unit
  • Non-recording smart doorbells (in some cases)

We prep all paperwork for board submission if needed.

Clinics, Retail, and Commercial Spaces

Required by law in St. Catharines:

  • 🪧 Visible signage at every monitored entry
  • 🔇 Audio off (or signage posted)
  • 🚫 No cameras in bathrooms or private staff areas
  • 🔐 Footage access limited to owners or authorized staff
  • 🧾 Secure storage — cloud or encrypted NVR

Violations can lead to Privacy Commissioner audits, insurance denials, or lawsuits.

Audio Recording Rules

Ontario = One-Party Consent. But you still need to:

  • 🚫 Never record private conversations unknowingly
  • 🪧 Post signage for business, rental, or shared use
  • 🎤 Keep audio off in sensitive or shared spaces
  • 📄 Always disclose to tenants and guests

We configure all audio legally — off by default unless legally disclosed.

Penalties If You Violate

  • 💰 Civil lawsuits from tenants or neighbors
  • 🛑 Condo board removal orders
  • 📉 Footage becomes inadmissible
  • 📣 Privacy Commissioner complaints
  • 🧾 Insurance claims denied

Our Compliance Guarantee

Every St. Catharines install includes:

  • 🪧 Legal Signage (Business + Residential)
  • 📄 Tenant / Guest Disclosure Templates
  • 🔇 Audio Configured to Law
  • 🛠️ Proper Camera Angle Placement
  • 🔐 NVR + Cloud Storage Setup
  • 📥 Condo Board Submission Support

👉 Book a Legal Install in St. Catharines

Final Word

You’re not just buying security — you’re protecting yourself from liability.

We don’t just “mount cameras.”
We install legal, court-usable systems that keep you covered.

📞 Call Now. Let’s do it right the first time.