Do You Need Planning Permission for CCTV?

Good news first: for most homes, you don't need planning permission to install CCTV. But there are rules about what you can film, and getting it wrong can cause serious problems with neighbours—or worse, put you on the wrong side of data protection law.

Here's what you actually need to know.

Planning Permission: Usually Not Required

For a standard residential property, CCTV cameras are considered "permitted development." That means you can install them without applying for planning permission, as long as:

• They're not unusually large or prominent
• You're not in a conservation area or listed building
• They don't project significantly from the building

In practice, normal domestic CCTV cameras—the kind we install—never require planning permission. We've installed thousands without a single planning issue.

Exception: If you live in a listed building or conservation area, you might need consent. It's worth checking with your local council before installation.

The Real Issue: What You Can Film

Planning permission isn't usually the problem. Privacy law is where people get caught out.

Filming Your Own Property

You can film your own property—your driveway, garden, front door—without any issues. That's straightforward.

Filming Beyond Your Boundary

This is where it gets complicated. If your cameras capture areas beyond your property—the pavement, the road, a neighbour's garden—you may be subject to data protection laws (UK GDPR).

Technically, if you film public areas, you become a "data controller" and have obligations around:

• Putting up signs saying CCTV is in operation
• Responding to requests from people who want to see footage of themselves
• Not keeping footage longer than necessary

In practice, for residential CCTV that incidentally captures a bit of pavement, the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) takes a pragmatic approach. Put up a small sign, don't point cameras directly at neighbours' properties, and you'll be fine.

Filming Neighbours' Property

Don't do this. Pointing a camera at a neighbour's garden, windows, or private space is likely to breach their privacy rights and could result in legal action. Even if you're "just trying to catch whoever's damaging your fence"—find another angle.

If you genuinely can't cover your property without catching a sliver of next door, angle the camera to minimise it, and consider using privacy masking (most modern systems let you black out areas of the image).

Audio Recording: Be Careful

Many modern CCTV cameras have built-in microphones. Recording audio of people without their knowledge can be more legally problematic than video, especially if it captures conversations on public land or neighbouring properties.

Our recommendation: either disable audio recording, or only enable it on cameras that won't capture conversations from beyond your property (like an internal camera in your hallway).

Practical Tips

• Put up a sign. Even a small "CCTV in operation" sign protects you legally and deters intruders. We provide these with every installation.
• Talk to neighbours. A quick "we're installing cameras for security, they won't point at your property" prevents 90% of disputes.
• Position cameras thoughtfully. We always consider sightlines during surveys. There's usually a way to cover what you need without causing issues.
• Use privacy masking. Modern NVRs can block out areas of the image. If your camera unavoidably catches a corner of next door's garden, mask it out.

What About Flats and Shared Buildings?

If you're in a flat or a property with shared areas, you'll likely need permission from the freeholder, management company, or residents' association before installing external cameras. Internal cameras in your own flat are your business, but anything visible from communal areas needs approval.

Summary

Planning permission: Almost never needed for residential CCTV.
Privacy law: Don't point cameras at neighbours. Minimise filming of public areas. Put up signs.
Audio: Consider disabling it on external cameras.
Common sense: Talk to neighbours before installing, not after they complain.