In most Ontario condos you can install a camera inside your unit, but a doorbell, peephole or hallway camera usually affects the common elements and needs board approval under the Condominium Act, 1998. Recording neighbours is the most common reason boards refuse.
inside your unit, usually yes. On your door, in the hallway, or anywhere that records the common elements, you usually need your condo board’s approval first, and many boards say no to cameras that capture the corridor. Here’s how it works in practice, from the installer’s side.
Inside your unit: generally your call
A camera that only records the inside of your own unit is generally up to you. A few things to check:
- Don’t point it through a window at a neighbour’s unit or balcony.
- If you rent, check your lease and talk to your landlord first.
- If a cleaner, nanny or caregiver works in your unit, tell them there’s a camera.
Your front door and the hallway: usually the board’s call
In most Ontario condos, the corridor, and often the outside face of your unit door, is part of the common elements. Under Ontario’s Condominium Act, 1998, changes an owner wants to make to the common elements generally need the corporation’s approval, and many buildings have rules or a video surveillance policy that covers cameras specifically.
Privacy is the other half. Ontario courts have recognised that residents can have some expectation of privacy in condo common areas, depending on the circumstances. A camera that records neighbours coming and going is exactly what boards worry about, which is why a wide-angle doorbell pointed down the hallway is the request most likely to be refused.
Balconies, lockers and parking spots
Balconies and parking spaces are often “exclusive use” common elements: only you can use them, but they still belong to the corporation. Mounting anything there usually needs approval too. Check your declaration, which spells out what each space is.
Options that usually work
- An indoor camera facing your entry. It only sees inside your unit, including the moment the door opens.
- A smart lock with an activity log. You see who came in and when, with no camera at all. Many lock models fit a standard condo door without changing the outside hardware, which helps when the board controls how doors look.
- A board-approved doorbell or peephole camera with a narrow view and privacy masking over the rest of the hallway.
- Ask the building to review its own coverage if the problem is in the lobby, parcel room or garage. That’s the board’s system to fix, not yours.
How to ask your board
- Put the request in writing and name the exact model, with a link to its specifications.
- Explain the reason, for example package theft or a specific incident.
- Offer privacy measures: a narrow angle, privacy masking, no audio recording.
- Explain how it will be mounted and whether anything will be drilled.
- Ask whether the building has a video surveillance policy and whether you’ll need to sign an agreement.
If your request is approved, we can install it so it matches what the board signed off on, and give you the product details to attach to your request beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a Ring or other doorbell camera on my condo door in Ontario?
Usually only with board approval, because the door exterior and the hallway are typically common elements. Check your declaration, rules and any video surveillance policy first.
Can I install a camera inside my condo unit?
Generally yes, as long as it only records inside your unit and doesn’t look into neighbours’ units.
Can my condo board make me remove a camera?
If it was installed on the common elements without approval, the board can generally ask for it to be removed under the building’s rules. If you’re in a dispute, get advice from a condo lawyer.
Are cameras that record audio allowed?
Be careful. Recording conversations raises separate legal issues, and many installers turn audio off on anything facing common areas. Get legal advice before recording audio.
Can you install a smart lock on a condo door?
In most cases, yes. Interior-side smart locks keep the outside of the door looking standard. Some buildings still want to be told, so check your rules first.
This article is general information from an installer’s point of view, not legal advice. Every condo’s declaration and rules are different. For a specific dispute, speak with a condominium lawyer or the Condominium Authority of Ontario.
Planning a camera or smart lock for your condo? Call (647) 588-9688 or send us your building’s rules and we’ll suggest options your board is likely to accept. See also: smart locks and access control · security camera installation.