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Nashville, TN Privacy & Surveillance: Doorbell Camera Disclosures (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

MNPD front-door access
Barred from residential doorbell cameras
Participation
Voluntary donor-camera program, not required
Viewing location
Only from MNPD's Community Safety Center
Violation reporting
Reported to mayor, council within 7 days

Summary

Metro Nashville's voluntary 'donor camera' program lets residents share security footage with MNPD, but the ordinance bars police from accessing any residential camera feed that views a home's front door or entryway.

MNPD shall not have access to a donor camera which: ... iv. Is installed upon the property of a residential use and views an area which includes the front door of a residence or the entryway thereto ... e. MNPD shall not have access to live video from a donor camera if located upon the property of a solely residential use.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).

Full Breakdown

Under Metropolitan Code § 13.08.080(K), MNPD can build a 'community safety camera network' partly from privately owned 'donor cameras' whose owners voluntarily give police access to common-area footage. The ordinance draws a hard line at the front door: MNPD is barred from accessing any donor camera installed on residential property that views the front door or entryway of a home, and has no access to live video from any camera on a solely residential property. Approved feeds can only be viewed from MNPD's Community Safety Center, and only to respond to a public-safety emergency or audit the network.

Violations & Fines

There is no penalty for residents: participation is opt-in. MNPD staff must intervene if a colleague misuses the network, and any violation of this section or its access policies must be reported to the mayor and metro council within seven days of discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Metro police access my doorbell camera footage?
Only if you voluntarily register it as a 'donor camera', and even then, MNPD cannot access footage from any residential camera that views your front door or entryway.
Is doorbell camera registration mandatory in Nashville?
No. Metro's community safety camera network is opt-in only; residents voluntarily donate common-area footage access, and no ordinance requires registering a residential camera with MNPD.

Sources & Official References

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