Condo Association Management Blog

Hello:  
In Florida, any changes made to a unit or common area requires Board approval. You can think of The Board as the governing body of the common space. If you have not yet been asked to remove the cameras I would suggest that you seek Board approval as they may have the authority to remove your personal camera equipment. If you are concerned about security you may want to petition the Board and other owners to have common area cameras installed. Additionally, you may volunteer to donate your camera equipment to the Association. 
 
We are a property management company specializing in Condo's and HOA's in South Florida... I hope this may help you. Good luck!

Approval of the Board of Directors or the Chair of your covenants committee-if you have one- is required for yout to install the security cameras. There is no law that would override the boards decision.

I put security cameras in my windows recording outside. Is this legal?

It's not that it's illegal to install security cameras, it's just that an assn member has no authority to make any changes to common areas. You must obtain permission from the BOD. I doubt that it would be denied as it is a security measure. Any board that would deny a security measure is treading on thin ice, IMO.

Although it is a security measure and it is something that the Board would need to approve, one question begs to be asked. Where is the feed to the security cameras going? Who is "watching" or "recording" the comings and goings of the association? 
The board should also open discussions to the rest of the homeowners. Many may question their right to privacy. If it is a security concern, a guard - although I'm sure more costly - would be more effective. The security cameras are worthless - until AFTER the fact - unless you have someone watching the screen 24/7. Bottom line ... the homeowner had no right to install the cameras out of his own volition.

It seems like people are loosing the rest of their freedom and rights when they become members of Condo/HOA.  
 
Even little security cameras on their "own" door is a matter of someone else decision/approval, despite it is not prohibited, and you can find it everywhere in the stores etc...  
 
Isn't it getting ridiculous?

I see nothing wrong with security cameras as long as they only viewing within the boundries of the unit. With this recession & crime, some people have valuables they want to protect. 
 
The HOA installed cameras at our Clubhouse. This is fine for protection of a crime or property damage. Unfortunately someone other than the POLICE is viewing the Video 'daily'. They are also using it to send letters out of owners violating the rules of the clubhouse. I beleive their is a law which stipulates this action illegal according to condo laws. Previously the Pres. of the HOA was viewing the cameras from the comfort of his home. 
 
We are a community of (3) associations & converened by the HOA. 
 
Clearwater, Florida

Never buy a condo, the BOD controls everything and gives you no help. The landscaping stinks but they tell you what to do. THANKS

Mounting security cameras on the exterior of your unit or where visible from a window may violate the rules of the association. Be sure to check with the board before doing anything to alter the outward appearance of your unit. I must respond to Albert's comment about cameras. We had many late night vandalism occurrences at our cabana. Out of desperation, the board approved a security camera system to be installed. The board president is the only one who has the time available to monitor the recordings. She must stand on tip toes to view the monitor that is kept behind locked doors in a small janitor closet. If there was an inexpensive way to get that monitor in her unit we would do so. Watching it in more comfortable surroundings might save her a neck ache or two. Since the cameras were installed, vandalism has dropped significantly. It was a wise investment.

If the BOD balks and makes you remove the cameras, you could probably install them so the lens in against inside windows. Not perfect, but better than nothing. The BOD would have no control over what is inside your unit, even a security camera. However, discuss with them first. They might be willing to cooperate or put in cameras of their own. Raffaella Caputi asked who is monitoriing them. The cameras record what they see, often on a tape that can be watched on the camera or on a television or monitor. Nobody has to monitor them all the time. The idea is that if something happens there is a record. Of course, it would be "after the fact", all video camera recordings are "after the fact," unless you have a security staff monitoring them 24 hours a day. After the fact recordings can be used in a court should they find someone doing something illegal. Of course the perpetrator might not be identified or caught, but it's still better than nothing if you're worried and measures can be taken, perhaps beef-up entry security. 
 
 
 
 
 

It's fine to be angry at the world and take it out on your BOD. But when you do that you need to understand what's involved. 
 
I am assuming your HOA uses language in its CC&Rs that prohibit any modifications to common area by individual owners. Installing security cameras (or anything else) is a modification. This has nothing to do with privacy or who is watching. It has all to do with CC&Rs enforcement. 
 
Lets say someone else installs cameras but they are big and ugly, what if they install them too low and people hit them with their head, what happens to these cameras if there is a construction project and they get in a way, who is responsible for repairing the wall after cameras are removed. Before you get all angry at the BOD not allowing it you need to answer these questions and many others. 
 
Board of Directors are there to enforce rules as they are recorded. You have the power to change those rules. But please don't get mad for people doing their jobs. 
 
P.S. To the person that was complaining about recordings in the clubhouse: as long as those cameras are in plain view and some type of notice was given there is nothing wrong with recording. Remember this is in common (public for association use) area.

Actually, I understand that Florida law allows any retired law enforcement officer to have security cameras outside of his or her unit. However, the view of such cameras should be restricted as much as possible to the area immediately outside of the unit.

When you install cameras in clubhouse, pool,entrance gates and common areas it normally for seeing if anyone damages the property. Each owner should be sent a letter certified that in no way are these cameras "safety protection ".People tend to feel totally secure with cameras and at a later date could sue if they are not protected by these cameras. In our property mgmt we only look at the camera if something is missing or the entrance gate is broken. After so many hours it records over each day.The cameras should not be meant as a form of security which could be open for law suits later. Peep holes, good locks and alarms with in each unit is what an owner can do for his/her own protection. HOA's should not be in the business of providing security other then keeping walks clean, trees/bushes trimmed,lighted hall ways/yards and driveways/garages. No holes in the common yards to fall in , stairwells kept free of debris. If someone feels unsafe form a watch group.Check with your police dept to see if they have www.crimeweb.net site to alert you or someone in the association of what crime is going on in the neighborhood. Here in Charleston we have this from our police dept. Good luck

My cameras are in my home. My kitchen window looks at my front door. My diningroom at my back door. I would love to see bod take my rights away inside of my condo. I live with a bunch of nuts. I would sell if I could afford to lose the money. Had known they were nuts I would not have bought my cond. But then again I have heard to many horror stories. To many bod's get on a high and think they are GOD.

My next door neighbors went ballistic over our cameras (and I have BOD approval). It’s a really nice community with lots of great people – we just had the misfortune to be sandwiched in between a couple of nuts. Protect yourself and your family…don’t worry about what the idiots are thinking. It’s ironically funny that both neighbors are among the biggest violators of community rules.

Tim DeHoff wrote: "It's ironically funny that both neighbors are among the biggest violative od community rules.". Nothing ironic in that. They don't want to be caught! All the more reason to keep the cameras going. I hope the cameras are not vulnerable to vandalism. It could get expensive, and the tape would be gone so you wouldn't be able to prove who did it.

"I" said some BODs think they're God. I guess we should call them God BODs. 
 

I have just a simple question can I or can I not have a survelliance camera be placed inside my window facing my door entrance and another one inside my front window facing my parking spot of my car. It does not say anything of on the rules of the association where I live I have been having alot of problems starting with the president of the association, from snooping in windows to manually lowing the water pressure for the unit to throwing away my flower pots that are right outside my door. This is the only option that I have to put cameras from the inside to catch himm on the spot. And someone already tried getting into my car.