CCTV for Airbnb Hosts: What You Can and Can’t Legally Record

Since April 2024, Airbnb has banned indoor security cameras in every listing worldwide, no exceptions, even if guests know about them.

That single rule change surprised many Melbourne hosts, especially those who had installed cameras in hallways or living rooms for their own reassurance. But Airbnb’s policy is only part of the story. Victorian law adds a second, stricter layer: under the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic), recording someone without consent during a “private activity” can be a criminal offence, and short-term guests are given the same privacy protections as tenants.

This guide breaks down exactly where you can and can’t point a camera at your Airbnb, what Victorian law says about audio versus video, and how to build a security setup that protects your property without breaching Airbnb’s rules or the law.

Key Takeaways

• Airbnb has banned all indoor security cameras in listings globally since April 30, 2024, regardless of disclosure or camera location.
• Outdoor cameras are still allowed on Airbnb but must be disclosed before booking and can’t monitor indoor spaces or high-privacy outdoor areas.
• Under Victoria’s Surveillance Devices Act 1999, recording a guest during a “private activity” without consent can be a criminal offence, even in your own home.
• Airbnb guests have a heightened expectation of privacy under Victorian law.  even filming a common area without consent can be legally risky.
• Audio recording is treated more strictly than video in Victoria, so any camera with a microphone should have audio disabled.

Can Airbnb Hosts Legally Use CCTV Cameras?

Yes, Airbnb hosts in Melbourne can use CCTV cameras, but two separate sets of rules apply at once. The first is Airbnb’s own global platform policy, which bans indoor cameras entirely. The second is Victorian law, which restricts recording anyone during a “private activity” without their consent.

Both rules apply regardless of whether you disclose the camera in your listing. Meeting Airbnb’s policy does not automatically mean you’re complying with Victorian law, and vice versa. Understanding how these two frameworks overlap and differ is essential for setting up CCTV correctly at your property.

What Does Airbnb’s Camera Policy Actually Allow?

Airbnb prohibits all indoor security cameras in listings, a global policy that took effect on April 30, 2024. This applies no matter where the camera is placed, whether it’s visible or hidden, and even if guests were told about it before booking.

Why Are Indoor Cameras Banned on Airbnb?

Airbnb introduced the ban to simplify its rules and strengthen guest privacy, following consultation with hosts, guests, and privacy experts. Before 2024, indoor cameras were allowed in common areas like hallways and living rooms, as long as they were disclosed and visible. Airbnb removed this exception entirely, so even a disclosed, visible camera in a living room is now a policy breach.

What Outdoor Cameras Are Still Permitted?

Outdoor cameras, such as doorbell cameras monitoring a driveway or entryway, are still allowed on Airbnb. Hosts must disclose the presence and general location of any outdoor camera before a guest books. These cameras cannot be angled to capture indoor spaces, and they’re banned from certain outdoor areas where guests would expect more privacy, such as an enclosed outdoor shower.

Noise decibel monitors are also permitted. These devices measure sound levels only, without recording or transmitting audio or conversations. They must be disclosed and can only be used in common spaces.

What Does Victorian Law Say About Recording Guests?

Under section 7 of the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic), it’s an offence to knowingly install, use, or maintain a camera to record a “private activity” without the consent of the people involved. A private activity is one where the people involved would reasonably expect to be observed only by themselves.

This distinction matters for camera placement. A camera pointed at a front door or driveway is on safer legal ground, because someone entering that space would reasonably expect to be seen. A camera in a bedroom or bathroom is different, because those are spaces where a much higher expectation of privacy applies.

Airbnb guests are treated with the same privacy protections as tenants under Victorian law, according to Melbourne law firm Maurice Blackburn. This means even filming a guest in a shared common area, without their knowledge and consent, could count as unlawfully recording a private activity. The fact that a guest is paying to stay at the property doesn’t reduce this protection.

Where Can You Legally Place a Security Camera at Your Airbnb?

The safest camera locations are outdoor, public-facing areas where a reasonable person would expect to be observed. The riskiest locations are anywhere guests sleep, bathe, or change.

Use this table as a starting checklist, then confirm with Airbnb’s current safety device guide before installing anything, since policy details can be updated.

Getting camera placement right often comes down to professional judgement, particularly on double-storey properties or homes with shared driveways. If you’re arranging CCTV installation at a Brighton or similar coastal property with multiple sightlines to the street, a professional can help angle the cameras to capture only public-facing areas, avoiding accidental overlap into a neighbour’s yard or a guest’s private outdoor space.

Is Audio Recording Treated Differently to Video?

Yes, audio recording is treated more strictly than video recording under Victorian law. Most modern cameras record sound by default, which adds legal risk that many hosts don’t consider.

Recording a private conversation you’re not part of is prohibited in Victoria, separately from any rules about video. Because most outdoor cameras and doorbell cameras also pick up audio, the safest approach is to disable the microphone function entirely, even on cameras placed in permitted outdoor locations.

Do You Have to Tell Guests About Your Security Cameras?

Yes, you must disclose any outdoor camera in your listing before a guest books, and telling guests directly reduces your legal exposure. Airbnb requires disclosure of the device’s presence and general location in the listing itself, not just in a house manual guests see after arrival.

From a legal perspective, disclosure and consent work together. If a guest knows a camera is there and still chooses to stay, it’s much harder to argue they had no reasonable expectation of being observed. A simple, explicit statement in your ad description, such as “Camera above garage monitoring driveway” would meet the platform requirement and bolster your legal case.

This is also a good time to review your camera setup as a whole. Hosts arranging CCTV installation in Cheltenham, or anywhere across the inner and southeastern suburbs, often find it easier to get disclosure wording right when the system is professionally installed and documented from the start, rather than adding devices over time.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

Breaching Airbnb’s camera policy can result in listing removal or account deactivation, and breaching Victorian surveillance law can carry criminal penalties. Airbnb investigates reported violations and can take action ranging from a warning to permanent removal from the platform.

Separately, and more seriously, an unlawful recording under the Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (Vic) is a criminal matter, not just a platform issue. Removing your Airbnb listing doesn’t undo a legal breach that’s already occurred.

Getting expert security system installation in Melbourne from the start, rather than retrofitting compliance after installing consumer-grade cameras, is the most dependable method to avoid platform penalties and legal danger.

How Can You Keep Your Airbnb Secure and Compliant?

Getting CCTV right at your Airbnb isn’t just about avoiding a platform violation, it’s about staying on the right side of Victorian law while still protecting your property. The safest approach is simple: keep cameras outdoors, pointed only at public-facing areas like driveways and entryways, disclose them clearly in your listing, and disable audio recording wherever possible. Indoor cameras, regardless of intent or disclosure, are not worth the risk to your listing or your legal exposure.

A well-placed exterior camera is only one part of a secure short-term rental. Pairing it with a monitored alarm system and a smart digital lock gives you visibility and control over your property without ever needing to point a lens at a guest. At Gorilla Security, we help Melbourne hosts design layered security setups exactly like this. Compliant CCTV placement, integrated with alarms and access control, so you’re covered without crossing a legal or platform line.

If you’re setting up a new Airbnb or reviewing an existing camera setup, get in touch with our team for a compliant security assessment tailored to your property.