The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 13 : Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Chapter 081 : Trespass and Malicious Injuries to Property

Subchapter 006 : MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

• § 3835. Surveillance devices; placement on private property without consent of owner; civil penalty

  (a) A person shall not place a camera or other surveillance device on any privately owned real property with the intent to conduct surveillance on a person or the property unless the person has obtained prior written consent from the property owner.

  (b) A person who violates this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than:

  (1) $50.00 for a first violation; or

  (2) $250.00 for a second or subsequent violation.

  (c) This section shall not apply to the use of a camera or other surveillance device by a law enforcement officer for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

  (d) As used in this section:

  (1) “Property owner” means a person who owns, leases, licenses, or otherwise controls ownership or use of land, or an employee or agent of that person.

  (2) “Surveillance” means:

  (A) with respect to an owner or occupant of privately owned real property, the observation of the person with sufficient visual clarity to be able to obtain information about the person’s identity, habits, conduct, movements, or whereabouts; or

  (B) with respect to privately owned real property, the observation of the property’s physical improvements with sufficient visual clarity to be able to determine unique identifying features about the property or information about its owners or occupants.

  (3) “Surveillance device” means a device hidden or obscured from plain view that permits the observation of privately owned real property or the activities of a person on the property in a manner that invades a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy. (Added 2023, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 47, eff. June 6, 2024.)