Berwyn, IL Privacy & Surveillance: Security Camera Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered devices
- Video cameras, electronic recorders, mirrors, glass and peep holes
- Banned locations
- Restrooms, fitting rooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, showers
- License risk
- Suspension or revocation of a city business or liquor license
- Hearing route
- Administrative hearing under Chapter 292 on request
- Liquor bar cameras
- Interior and entrance cameras, recordings kept 24 hours minimum
Summary
In the City of Berwyn, Illinois, § 660.08 makes it a violation to install, maintain or permit a video or visual surveillance device in any private space, such as restrooms, fitting rooms, locker rooms, changing rooms and showers. Licensed businesses risk suspension or revocation of a business or liquor license on a guilty finding.
PRIVATE SPACE. Any location wherein an individual would reasonably expect his or her person and activities to remain private and unobserved, including, but not limited to, washrooms, restrooms, toilets, rooms which have been designated for breastfeeding, fitting rooms, tanning salon booths, changing rooms, locker rooms and showers. ... VIDEO SURVEILLANCE DEVICE. Any video camera or any other electronic surveillance device capable of transmitting images and/or sounds, whether hidden or in plain view, excluding personal camera phones when such devices are not used to record or transmit images or sounds of individuals other than the owner. ... (B) Any person who installs, maintains or permits any video surveillance device or visual surveillance device in any private space shall be guilty of invading the privacy of another.
Full Breakdown
Berwyn regulates cameras by location, not by owner. Section 660.08, Invasion of Privacy, defines a "video surveillance device" as any video camera or other electronic surveillance device capable of transmitting images or sounds, hidden or in plain view. A personal camera phone is excluded only when it is not used to record or transmit images or sounds of people other than the owner. A separate "visual surveillance device" covers any means of observing a space, including one-way and two-way mirrors, clear or semi-transparent glass and peep holes.
A "private space" is any location where a person would reasonably expect to remain private and unobserved, including washrooms, restrooms, toilets, rooms designated for breastfeeding, fitting rooms, tanning salon booths, changing rooms, locker rooms and showers. The definition carves out areas of any bank, financial establishment, restaurant, retail establishment, or medical or dental office where employees assist customers or patients in the routine course of business, apart from the listed private spaces. Under division (B), anyone who installs, maintains or permits such a device in a private space is guilty of invading the privacy of another.
Division (C) exempts local public and private penal, correctional, custodial and medical institutions, public or private treatment facilities, buildings operated by local, state or federal law enforcement, and offices or classrooms of public or private educational institutions.
On the licensing side, division (D) makes any holder of a city license, including a business or liquor license, who is found guilty subject to suspension or revocation. Chapter 804 adds a camera mandate for certain retail liquor licensees: § 804.18 requires cameras recording the licensed interior, excluding restrooms and private areas, plus exterior cameras on all building entrances, with recordings kept a minimum of 24 hours and footage supplied to the Berwyn Police Department on request tied to a documented report.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 660.08 can be charged as a violation of the code. Division (E) lets anyone issued a notice of violation request an administrative hearing under Chapter 292, and division (F) says that route does not stop the city from enforcing by other methods. A guilty licensee, including a business or liquor licensee, faces suspension or revocation of the license under division (D). Section 804.18(D) repeats the private-space ban for liquor premises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Berwyn business put a camera in a restroom?
Do retail stores count as private space in Berwyn?
Does a phone camera count as a video surveillance device?
What must Berwyn bars record on camera?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berwyn
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