Home surveillance and neighbor’s rights – where do your boundaries end?

MInstalling home security cameras in single-family homes is becoming increasingly popular, as owners want to protect their property and enhance their sense of safety. However, not everything is allowed, even on private property. According to civil law, particularly Article 24 of the Civil Code, everyone has the right to protect personal rights such as privacy, peace, and freedom from unjustified observation. This means that if your surveillance covers your neighbor’s property or records their daily activities, it may violate their rights.

From a data protection perspective, private monitoring that covers only your own property is not subject to GDPR. However, if cameras record third parties—such as neighbors or their guests—data protection regulations must be observed. The most common legal basis for processing this data is the legitimate interest of the controller, for example, ensuring the safety of property and household members. It is also important to position cameras so that they cover only your own property, use privacy masks where appropriate, and inform neighbors about the monitoring—both through pictograms and direct notification.

In case of a dispute, a neighbor may request, for example, that recording be stopped or that cameras be removed. Each situation is assessed individually, taking into account the purpose of the installation, the actual scope of intrusion, and the relationship with neighbors. Therefore, homeowners should follow not only the letter of the law but also common sense and principles of social coexistence.

The article is authored by Dominik Jóźwiak, legal trainee and member of our team. We encourage you to read the full article on biznesprawnik.pl to learn all the details about legally and safely using home surveillance. More: https://biznesprawnik.pl/2025/08/12/monitoring-domu-a-prawo-sasiada/.