Every Board Members And Homeowner Should Know About HOA Security Camera Policies

Posted by diamondcommunity on May 12th, 2021

Security is one of the most common concerns among the homeowners of HOA communities. A community association management company may come up with a few options to address this matter, but the most preferred recourse is to install security CCTV and surveillance cameras around the neighborhood. However, this particular idea comes with a price. The mere presence of security cameras can put an association at risk of liability. That’s why you need to enforce a few rules that the members of the HOA can follow and use to protect themselves. While creating the rules for an HOA regarding security cameras, you must consider the following points.

Aesthetic alignments

It goes without saying that it won’t look beautiful when you install small chunks of metal on all vertical surfaces in your neighborhood. Security cameras never look well with a community’s aesthetics. The ultimate objective of availing property management services is to maintain curb appeal and the values of the property. Understandably, homeowners may argue that the idea of installing surveillance cameras will only be detrimental to the community’s appearance. If you choose to install them nonetheless, you should plan things carefully. You must see to it that they don’t affect the appeal of your neighborhood negatively. Since security cameras are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, you should keep your eyes open for the sleekest designs.

Placement regulation

The most common problem encountered by HOAs is about choosing the best places t install security cameras. It’s precisely where matters concerning privacy come into play. Homeowners want privacy, which is perfectly reasonable. Therefore, you must never point the cameras directly into their houses or areas they deem private. None of the cameras should cover the backyards or windows. It's also worth mentioning here that you must refrain from setting cameras in private locations, such as the changing room or the shower room.

Monitoring and reviewing footage

The HOA surveillance camera strategy has to define what will happen with the footage after creation. The HOA can assign someone to monitor the footage or hire someone from outside to do the same. Someone may also consider reviewing them afterward, but it’s important to ascertain the time when they should do it. During specific circumstances, it won’t be worthwhile to allow someone from outside to monitor the cameras. When that happens, you need to post a sign informing people that a set of cameras are recording footage but no one is monitoring them. It does sound counterintuitive because it encourages criminals. Then again, reviewing the footage is more of a liability issue than anything else.

Footage access

Just like the previous point, the HOA security camera policy has to outline footage accessibility-related matters. You must give access to a select group of individuals and allow law enforcement to view the footage privately. You also have to store the saved footage in protected folders instead of personal computers. In doing so, nobody will be able to open and play them as they please.