Security cameras are legal on private residential property in unincorporated Cook County. Illinois is a two-party consent state for audio recording under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act (720 ILCS 5/14-2). Cameras must not be positioned to record in areas where others have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Homeowners in unincorporated Cook County may install security cameras on their own property, including doorbell cameras, Ring cameras, and CCTV systems. Video-only surveillance of your own property and areas visible from your property is legal. However, Illinois has strict eavesdropping laws. The Illinois Eavesdropping Act (720 ILCS 5/14-2) requires all-party consent for recording private conversations. Security cameras with audio recording capability must comply with this law — recording audio of neighbors' conversations without their consent is illegal. Cameras must not be positioned to view into private spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms) of neighboring properties. Posting visible signage indicating video surveillance is recommended to eliminate any expectation of privacy in the monitored area. The 2014 amendments to the Illinois Eavesdropping Act narrowed its scope but maintained the all-party consent requirement for private conversations.
Illegal eavesdropping is a Class 4 felony in Illinois, punishable by 1-3 years imprisonment and fines up to $25,000. Video recording in private areas may also trigger civil liability.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how Evanston's security camera rules rules stack up against other locations.
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