Dallas, TX Privacy & Surveillance: Recording & Consent Laws (2026)

Texas follows the one-party consent rule for audio recording under Texas Penal Code §16.02 (Unlawful Interception, Use, or Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications). You may legally record a conversation as long as you are a party to the conversation or have the consent of at least one participant. Recording conversations between other people that you are not part of is illegal. For security cameras with audio, recording in public-facing areas of your property is generally permissible because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Recording private conversations between others without any party's consent is illegal. Texas Penal Code §21.15 separately governs invasive visual recording. Phone call recording is legal if you are a party to the call. Texas law does not require you to inform the other party that you are recording. Businesses in Dallas may record workplace conversations in common areas but should notify employees of surveillance. Dallas has no city-specific recording ordinance beyond Texas state law.