New York is a one-party consent state. You may legally record a conversation if you are a party to it or have consent from at least one participant. Recording private conversations without any party's consent is a crime under NY Penal Law 250.05.
Under New York State law (Penal Law 250.00 and CPLR 4506), New York is a one-party consent state for audio recording. This means you can legally record a conversation if you are a participant or have obtained consent from at least one party. It is a criminal violation to record, obtain, share, or use wire, oral, or electronic communications without the consent of at least one person involved. This applies to phone calls, in-person conversations, and electronic communications. For security cameras that also capture audio, the one-party consent rule applies to any recorded conversations. Video-only surveillance in public areas does not require consent. Importantly, two bills introduced in the 2025 NYS Senate legislative session proposed changing New York to an all-party consent state, though these have not yet been enacted. Federal wiretapping laws also apply, providing a floor of one-party consent nationwide.
Recording a private conversation without consent is a Class E felony under NY Penal Law 250.05, punishable by up to 4 years in prison. Illegally obtained recordings are inadmissible in court under CPLR 4506. Victims may also pursue civil damages for invasion of privacy.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
New York County, NY
Manhattan enforces NYC Admin Code 24-235, which prohibits a dog from barking more than 10 minutes continuously during the day or 5 minutes at night in any re...
New York County, NY
Manhattan enforces NYC Administrative Code Title 24 Chapter 2, limiting interior residential noise to 45 dBA between 10 PM and 7 AM, with NYPD and DEP respon...
New York County, NY
Outdoor music events in Manhattan require an NYPD Sound Device Permit and a Mayor Office Street Activity Permit, and must comply with NYC Admin Code 24-244 t...
New York County, NY
NYC Admin Code Title 24 Chapter 2 sets tiered dBA limits in Manhattan: 45 dBA interior night residential, 50 dBA day, 7 to 10 dBA above ambient commercial, w...
New York County, NY
Private outdoor pools are rare in Manhattan, but any residential pool over 24 inches deep must have a 4-foot barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates u...
New York County, NY
Barbed and razor wire are prohibited on residential property in NYC. In landmarked or historic districts of Manhattan, the LPC controls fence materials and t...
See how New York County's recording & consent laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.