Security Cameras for an Apartment Complex: Where to Place Them in Garages, Alleys and Mailrooms

Planning

Start with what the footage has to show

Axis adds that a higher pixel density "can be beneficial and provide a safety margin for worst-case conditions, such as sub-optimal lighting and individuals not directly facing the camera." It also says that complying with the model offers "no guarantee" a camera will meet the operational requirement, because it is a simplified rule of thumb.

At a glance

Manufacturer placement figures by area

These figures come from published guides for specific models. They do not transfer to other models.

Doors

Entrances and mailrooms: inside the door, facing the person

Verkada's tailgate detection guide reads: "Mount the camera on the inside of the door (opposite of the reader) such that people will walk towards the camera after badging in." It also says, "Place the camera higher than the top of the door frame," and "Position the camera angle between 10° and 55° relative to the perpendicular axis."

The Verkada guide describes its own feature, which pairs a Verkada camera with an access-controlled door.

Axis advises: "Don’t direct the IR beam towards nearby walls or ceilings, windows, and other objects with high reflectivity."

Garages

Garages: entrances and wide dynamic range

Axis advises: "If possible, try to position and aim your device to avoid extreme variations in brightness."

Axis lists 2-7 m (7-23 ft) for the AXIS P3285-LVE Kit; its rule of thumb is capture distance of approximately twice mounting height.

If the plate area is far from the camera and dim, Verkada "strongly" recommends an external infrared illuminator.

Alleys

Alleys and exterior walls: sun and reflections decide the spot

Axis tells installers to consider "the way the sun travels throughout the day" for outdoor devices. Its published fix: "By understanding the way sunlight moves across the building, the device location can be selected to minimize the effects of the sun."

The Axis example shows one camera hit by direct sun into the sensor in the evening, while a second camera on the same building avoids direct sun throughout the day.

Privacy

Where a camera must not look: California privacy sections

As published on California.Public.Law, Penal Code 647(j)(1) covers a person who "looks through a hole or opening, into, or otherwise views, by means of any instrumentality, including, but not limited to, a periscope, telescope, binoculars, camera, motion picture camera, camcorder, mobile phone, electronic device, or unmanned aircraft system, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, fitting room, dressing room, or tanning booth, or the interior of any other area in which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy, with the intent to invade the privacy of a person or persons inside."

Paragraph (j)(3)(B)(i) of the same section says it is not a defense that "The defendant was a cohabitant, landlord, tenant, cotenant, employer, employee, or business partner or associate of the victim, or an agent of any of these."

As published on California.Public.Law, Civil Code 1708.8(b) makes a person liable for constructive invasion of privacy "when the person attempts to capture, in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person, any type of visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of the plaintiff engaging in a private, personal, or familial activity, through the use of any device"; the subdivision goes on to set further conditions.

Audio is covered separately. Audio is covered separately. As published on California.Public.Law, Penal Code 632(a) reaches a person who, intentionally and without the consent of all parties to a confidential communication, uses an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication.

A California attorney decides how these sections apply to a specific property, and the local authority having jurisdiction decides any requirement tied to the building.

Axis documents privacy masks in its AXIS P3245-LVE manual. It defines one as "a user-defined area that prevents users from viewing a part of the monitored area."

Questions about apartment camera placement