Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 10 min read — Where Ontario landlords can and cannot put security cameras, the audio trap, privacy rules, and what tenants can do about a camera.

This guide is for Ontario tenants who have spotted a camera and want to know if it is allowed, and for landlords who want security without crossing a legal line. You will get what the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), federal privacy guidance and the Criminal Code actually say, a placement table, and what to do if you have a problem. It is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice.

Can a landlord put security cameras on a rental property in Ontario?

Often yes, outside and in shared areas, if the cameras are for a real security reason, are placed sensibly, and do not look into a tenant’s private space. Inside a tenant’s own unit is a different story, and I explain why below.

The RTA has no section that names cameras. Instead, three general duties do the work:

• Section 22: a landlord must not substantially interfere with a tenant’s reasonable enjoyment of the unit or the building.
• Section 23: a landlord must not harass, obstruct, coerce, threaten or interfere with a tenant.
• Section 25: a landlord may enter a rental unit only as sections 26 and 27 allow.

Then federal privacy law and the Criminal Code add outer limits, especially for audio and for private spaces. Put together, the question is less “is there a camera” and more “where is it pointed, what does it record, and why”.

Can a landlord put cameras outside the house?

Generally yes, when they cover the landlord’s own building and common entry points for security: the front door of a multi-unit building, a shared driveway, a parking area or the garbage area. These are the kinds of spots where cameras are commonly used to deter break-ins and vandalism.

The limits come from placement. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), in its guidelines for overt video surveillance by private-sector organizations, says cameras should not be aimed at places where people have a higher expectation of privacy, and gives windows as an example. It also says cameras should be positioned to avoid capturing people who are not the target.

So a camera on the porch of a house with a basement unit that covers the shared walkway is very different from one angled into the basement tenant’s bedroom window or that records the tenant’s private entrance and nothing else.

Can a landlord put cameras in common areas of an apartment or condo?

Usually yes, in true common areas like lobbies, hallways, elevators, parking garages and laundry rooms, as long as they are not in places like washrooms or change areas. The OPC guidelines specifically mention apartment buildings using cameras to detect vandalism and improve tenant security.

The OPC also sets a clear limit on use. Its example: footage from cameras put in an apartment parking garage for safety cannot be used to track tenants’ movements, though footage of a car break-in can be given to police. A landlord who reviews hallway footage to see when a tenant comes and goes, or how many guests they have, is moving from security toward monitoring.

In a condo, the building’s cameras usually belong to the condominium corporation, not the unit owner who rents to you. Check the condo’s rules and speak to management if you have a concern. My guide to Ontario condo rules explains how those rules work.

Can a landlord put cameras inside a rental unit?

In my view, no landlord should put a camera inside an occupied unit they rent to someone else. Here is why the risk is so high:

• The unit is the tenant’s home. A recording device inside it is very hard to square with the tenant’s right to reasonable enjoyment under section 22, and the LTB treats harassment and interference as fact-specific questions that look at the cumulative effect of the landlord’s conduct.
• Getting a camera in place requires entry, which must follow sections 26 and 27. Installing surveillance is not one of the listed reasons for entry with notice.
• Section 162 of the Criminal Code makes it a crime to secretly observe or record a person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy and are in a place where people can be expected to be nude, such as a bathroom or bedroom, or to do so for a sexual purpose. The maximum on indictment is 10 years in prison.

If you find a hidden camera in your bedroom or bathroom, do not handle it more than you need to. Photograph it where it is and call the police.

Can a landlord’s camera record audio?

Audio is where many landlords get into trouble without knowing it. The OPC guidelines say sound should not be recorded unless there is a specific need, and that an organization using cameras that capture sound must consider the Criminal Code rules on private communications.

Section 184 of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to knowingly intercept a private communication using a device, unless one of the people in the conversation consents. The maximum on indictment is five years in prison. Many doorbell and indoor cameras record sound by default. If you are a landlord, turn audio off in shared spaces unless a lawyer has told you otherwise.

Where can a landlord put a camera? A quick placement guide

Source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 22, 23, 25; Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Guidelines for Overt Video Surveillance in the Private Sector; Criminal Code ss. 162 and 184. Placement ratings are my general guidance, not legal rulings.

Does privacy law apply to a landlord’s cameras?

Sometimes. The federal privacy law, PIPEDA, applies to organizations that collect personal information in the course of commercial activities, under section 4(1). Section 4(2) says it does not apply to an individual collecting information only for personal or domestic purposes. Whether a particular landlord’s cameras fall under PIPEDA depends on the facts, such as whether the landlord is running a rental business.

Even where PIPEDA may not strictly apply, the OPC’s ten practices are a sensible standard for any landlord:

• Consider less invasive options first, like better lighting or locks.
• Have a clear security reason and use footage only for that reason.
• Limit the field of view, and never aim into windows or private areas.
• Post clear signs so people know cameras are in use.
• Store recordings securely, limit who can see them, and delete them when no longer needed.
• Be ready to explain the system and give people access to footage of themselves.

What can a tenant do about a landlord’s camera?

Start with a written message asking what the camera covers, whether it records audio, who can see the footage and how long it is kept. Many issues are solved by moving or masking the view.

If that fails and you believe the camera substantially interferes with your reasonable enjoyment, or is part of a pattern of harassment, you can file a T2 Application about Tenant Rights at the LTB. Section 29 sets a one-year limit from the conduct. Section 31 lets the LTB order the conduct to stop, a rent abatement, out-of-pocket costs and an administrative fine. My guide to the T2 application explains the process. For a hidden camera in a private space, call the police.

Before acting, check whether the RTA covers you at all. Under section 5(i), it does not apply if you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or the owner’s close family who live there. Criminal law still applies in every case. If you have a dispute, contact the LTB, a community legal clinic or a licensed paralegal for advice on your facts.

Can a tenant install a doorbell camera?

The RTA does not address tenant cameras directly, so start with your lease and, in a condo, the building’s rules. A doorbell camera that only covers your own door is usually less of an issue than one that sweeps a shared hallway and records neighbours. Ask your landlord in writing first, especially if it needs drilling or wiring, and turn off audio in shared areas for the same Criminal Code reasons that apply to landlords. If neighbours are the real concern, my guide on noise complaints in Toronto homes covers other options.

What to do next

1. Landlords: list each camera, what it covers, whether audio is on, who sees footage and how long it is kept.
2. Landlords: post signs, turn off audio in shared spaces, and re-aim anything that looks into windows or a tenant’s private area.
3. Tenants: ask your landlord in writing about any camera that concerns you, and keep the reply.
4. If the issue is not resolved, contact the LTB, a community legal clinic or a licensed paralegal within one year, and call police about any hidden camera in a private space.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17 (Ontario e-Laws)
• Guidelines for Overt Video Surveillance in the Private Sector (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
• Criminal Code, s. 162 Voyeurism (Justice Laws)
• Criminal Code, s. 184 Interception of private communications (Justice Laws)
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, s. 4 (Justice Laws)
• LTB Interpretation Guideline 6: Tenant Rights
• LTB Interpretation Guideline 19: The Landlord’s Right of Entry into a Rental Unit

Related reading

• Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
• Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
• Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
• Can My Landlord Keep My Deposit or Charge for Cleaning in Ontario?