Security cameras · 6 min read · updated oct 2026

By the Pixl Canada install team

Setting up a rental? A battery video doorbell is $99, wired is $149, and WiFi camera installation starts at $200 for 1 or 2 cameras. See smart home prices

What Airbnb allows and bans

Airbnb’s current policy covers where cameras and recording devices can go. The company announced its ban on indoor cameras in 2024, with an April 30 deadline for hosts to remove them. Always check the latest wording in the Airbnb Help Centre, because the rules can change. The key page is restrictions on security cameras and other devices in homes, and Airbnb explained the change in an update on our policy on security cameras.

Airbnb says reported violations are investigated and can lead to removal of the listing or account.

Canadian law on top of Airbnb’s rules

Airbnb’s policy is a platform rule. Canadian law applies separately, and it can be stricter.

• Hidden cameras in private spaces. Secretly recording someone in a place where they expect privacy, such as a bedroom or bathroom, can be voyeurism under the Criminal Code.
• Audio. A camera or monitor that records private conversations can break the Criminal Code interception rules. See our guide to security camera audio recording in Canada.
• Privacy law for businesses. Hosts who run a rental business are generally treated as organizations under private-sector privacy law. That means notice, a clear purpose, limited collection and secure storage. The OPC guidelines for overt video surveillance are a good model.
• Provincial rules and bylaws. Short-term rentals may also face local registration and licensing rules that are separate from camera law.

Where outdoor cameras make sense

1. Front door. A video doorbell shows who arrives and when guests check in.
2. Driveway or parking. Helps with damage disputes and unauthorized vehicles.
3. Entrances to shared yards. Keep the view on access points, not on seating or sleeping areas.
4. Not over: hot tubs, saunas, outdoor showers or windows.

Whatever you choose, aim the camera at the access point and use the privacy and motion zones in the app to avoid neighbours’ property. See doorbell camera privacy settings.

How to disclose cameras in your listing

Airbnb says hosts must disclose outdoor cameras and their general location before guests book. Be specific so there are no surprises. Example wording: “A video doorbell records the front entrance. There are no cameras inside the home.” Use the listing’s house rules or description, and repeat it in your check-in message.

If you list a condo or a unit in a managed building, building cameras are separate from yours. Mention shared-area cameras if you know about them, and check that your building allows short-term rentals.

Alternatives to indoor cameras

Hosts want to protect their property without watching guests. These options are allowed under Airbnb’s current rules, and several do not involve video at all.

A host checklist

1. Remove any indoor camera, including turned-off and unplugged ones.
2. List outdoor cameras and their locations in the listing.
3. Turn off audio on every outdoor device.
4. Use privacy zones so the view does not reach a neighbour.
5. Delete footage you do not need, and protect the account with two-factor authentication.
6. Re-read Airbnb’s policy once a quarter.

Setting up a rental and want a doorbell or outdoor camera installed neatly? At Pixl Canada, a battery video doorbell is $99 and a wired video doorbell is $149, before tax, and WiFi camera installation starts at $200 for one or two cameras. You pay after the job. See smart home installation and security camera installation.

Sample listing wording

Only claim what is true. If you add a device later, update the listing before the next booking.

Guests: how to check for hidden cameras

Hosts who follow the rules make this unnecessary, but guests who feel uneasy can take a few quick steps. None of these is a guarantee.

• Look at smoke alarms, clocks, USB chargers and anything pointing at the bed or shower that seems out of place.
• Turn off the lights and use a phone flashlight to look for small lens reflections.
• Check the WiFi network with a network-scanning app for unfamiliar camera devices.
• Report concerns to the platform and keep photos. If you believe a crime has occurred, contact police.

If a guest complains about a camera

1. Reply quickly and politely, and confirm what is installed and where.
2. Show the disclosure in the listing.
3. If the camera is not disclosed or covers a private area, remove or reposition it and update the listing.
4. Do not argue about the platform rules; follow them.