North Carolina Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
North Carolina rules on privacy, guests & animals for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No landlord-specific camera statute. Secretly peeping into a room occupied by another person (including a bedroom, bathroom, or shower) is a Class 1 misdemeanor; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202
The rules in North Carolina
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific camera statute. Secretly peeping into a room occupied by another person (including a bedroom, bathroom, or shower) is a Class 1 misdemeanor; doing so while possessing an image-capturing device with intent to make an image is a Class A1 misdemeanor; and secretly using a device to photograph a person in such a room for sexual gratification is a Class I felony. § 14-202 was amended by S.L. 2025-70 effective December 1, 2025. North Carolina's landlord-tenant chapter has no general landlord-entry section; entry is governed by the lease. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202 |
|---|---|
| Guests & occupants | No statute — lease governs guests and occupants. The tenant may not knowingly permit any person to damage the premises. No statewide occupancy limit or roommate statute; local codes and fair-housing law limit unreasonable occupancy restrictions. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-43(a)(4) |
| Service & support animals (state law) | A person with a disability may keep a service animal trained to assist with the person's specific disability on any premises the person leases or rents, upon showing a state service-animal registration tag or that the animal is being or has been trained as a service animal. No extra compensation may be charged for the animal, but the person is liable for damage it causes. Disguising an animal as a service animal, or charging a fee for a service animal, is a Class 3 misdemeanor. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules. Emotional support animals are handled as reasonable-accommodation requests under the federal Fair Housing Act and the North Carolina State Fair Housing Act. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | No landlord-specific camera statute. Secretly peeping into a room occupied by another person (including a bedroom, bathroom, or shower) is a Class 1 misdemeanor; doing so while possessing an image-capturing device with intent to make an image is a Class A1 misdemeanor; and secretly using a device to photograph a person in such a room for sexual gratification is a Class I felony. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202 | No statute — lease governs guests and occupants. The tenant may not knowingly permit any person to damage the premises. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-43(a)(4) | A person with a disability may keep a service animal trained to assist with the person's specific disability on any premises the person leases or rents, upon showing a state service-animal registration tag or that the animal is being or has been trained as a service animal. No extra compensation may be charged for the animal, but the person is liable for damage it causes. Disguising an animal as a service animal, or charging a fee for a service animal, is a Class 3 misdemeanor. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 168-4.2(a), 168-4.4, 168-4.5, 168-9 |
| Georgia | No landlord-specific statute. Georgia's criminal surveillance law makes it unlawful to use a device to observe, photograph, or record activities in a private place and out of public view without the consent of all persons observed, to secretly record private conversations originating in a private place, or to go onto another's premises to eavesdrop or secretly observe. An owner or occupier may use security devices on the property or its approaches only in areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62(1)–(3) | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy, and roommates. Whether a person is a tenant or only a guest depends on the agreement and the parties' conduct (e.g., paying rent, primary residence, belongings, length of stay). Leases commonly include house rules on guests. Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA, rev. 8-29-24), pp. 3, 9 | Georgia has no state statute specific to emotional support animals in housing (no state ESA documentation rule or ESA misrepresentation penalty identified). By statute, blind, visually or physically disabled, and deaf persons with a trained guide or service dog are entitled to full and equal access to housing and may not be charged extra for the dog, but are liable for damage it causes. Requests for ESAs and other assistance animals are handled under federal and state fair-housing reasonable-accommodation rules. O.C.G.A. § 30-4-3; Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA, rev. 8-29-24), p. 4 |
| South Carolina | No landlord-specific statute. Being an eavesdropper or 'peeping tom' on another's premises — including using video or audio equipment to spy on or invade the privacy of others — is a misdemeanor (up to $500 and/or 3 years). Knowingly viewing, photographing or recording another person without knowledge and consent, for sexual purposes, where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy is voyeurism (felony for repeat offenses). Intercepting wire, oral or electronic communications is lawful only if the person is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). S.C. Code §§ 16-17-470, 17-30-30(C) | No statute on guests vs. tenants or roommate rights — the lease governs. Owners and managers may adopt reasonable occupancy standards based on the number and size of bedrooms and overall unit size, as long as they do not violate local, state or federal limits. Tenants must not let persons on the premises with their permission damage the premises or disturb other tenants. S.C. Code §§ 31-21-70(L), 27-40-510(6)-(7) | To decide whether an animal that is not a service animal (e.g., an emotional support animal) is a reasonable accommodation, a landlord may ask whether the person has a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities and whether the person has a disability-related need for the animal, and may request documentation; documentation is sufficient if it shows a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support. Persons with disabilities who have an assistance dog are entitled to full and equal access to rental housing and may not be charged extra for the dog, but are liable for damage it causes. Intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service animal to obtain a right or privilege of a disabled person is a civil violation (fines up to $250 / $500 / $1,000). S.C. Code §§ 31-21-70(G)(2), (N); 43-33-70(d); 47-3-980 |
| Tennessee | No landlord-specific statute. Unlawful photography: it is an offense to knowingly photograph (including by video) a person who has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without prior effective consent, if the image would offend or embarrass an ordinary person and was taken for sexual gratification, or includes the person's unclothed intimate areas or sexual activity. Tennessee is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Tenants may not unreasonably refuse landlord entry for inspection or repairs; entry without consent is allowed in an emergency. T.C.A. § 39-13-605; § 39-13-601(b)(5); § 66-28-403 | No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. The tenant must require other persons on the premises with the tenant's or other occupants' consent to act so as not to disturb neighbors, and may not let anyone damage the premises. In URLTA counties, an unauthorized occupant who refuses to leave is grounds for termination on 3 days' written notice. T.C.A. § 66-28-401(4)-(5); § 66-28-517(a) | A tenant or applicant with a disability may request an exception to a no-pet policy or pet fees for a service animal (trained dog or miniature horse) or support animal (prescribed or recommended by a health care provider, including for emotional support). If the disability is not apparent, the landlord may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need; if the disability is apparent but the need is not, only of the need. 'Reliable documentation' must come from a health care provider, licensed disability service provider, caregiver or other reliable third party with actual knowledge — not from a website whose main function is selling animal certificates or registrations. The landlord may verify documentation (but not obtain protected medical records) and may deny the request if accurate documentation is not provided. Misrepresenting a disability or need, or providing documentation falsely stating an animal is a service or support animal, is a material default allowing termination and recovery of damages and attorney's fees. Landlords are not liable for injuries caused by an animal permitted as a reasonable accommodation. T.C.A. § 66-7-111 |
| Virginia | No landlord camera statute. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor (Class 6 felony if the person is under 18) to knowingly create a video or still image of a nonconsenting person who is nude, in undergarments or undressed in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, bedroom or other location where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Virginia is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Tenants may install their own security systems (such as landlord-approved chain latches) subject to statutory conditions. Va. Code § 18.2-386.1; § 19.2-62(B)(2); § 55.1-1229(D) | Statutory definitions: an 'authorized occupant' lives in the unit with the landlord's consent but has not signed the lease and has no tenant financial obligations; a 'guest or invitee' has the tenant's permission to visit but not to occupy. No statewide occupancy limit; the lease governs. The tenant is responsible for the conduct of persons on the premises with the tenant's consent. A landlord may bar a guest or invitee from the property by written notice personally served for conduct that violates the lease or law (copy to the tenant), and may seek a trespass warrant; the tenant may challenge the bar by a tenant's assertion in general district court. Va. Code § 55.1-1200; § 55.1-1227(A)(12); § 55.1-1246 | A person with a disability who keeps an assistance animal must follow lease rules that apply to all residents (if they do not interfere with equal use), may not be charged a pet fee, pet deposit or additional rent for the animal, but is responsible for physical damage to the same extent pet owners are. If the disability and need are obvious or known, the housing provider may not ask for more verification; otherwise it may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need, including from anyone with a 'therapeutic relationship' with the person (licensed mental health providers, licensed disability service providers, certain peer support persons, caregivers or government entities with actual knowledge). Providing fraudulent supporting documentation is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Va. Code § 36-96.3:1 |
City rules that may add to state law
More North Carolina rental law
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- North Carolina Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
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- All North Carolina landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in North Carolina
Compare privacy, guests & animals in all 50 states and DC →
North Carolina Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules FAQ
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in North Carolina?
No landlord-specific camera statute. Secretly peeping into a room occupied by another person (including a bedroom, bathroom, or shower) is a Class 1 misdemeanor; doing so while possessing an image-capturing device with intent to make an image is a Class A1 misdemeanor; and secretly using a device to photograph a person in such a room for sexual gratification is a Class I felony. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in North Carolina?
No statute — lease governs guests and occupants. The tenant may not knowingly permit any person to damage the premises. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-43(a)(4))
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in North Carolina?
A person with a disability may keep a service animal trained to assist with the person's specific disability on any premises the person leases or rents, upon showing a state service-animal registration tag or that the animal is being or has been trained as a service animal. No extra compensation may be charged for the animal, but the person is liable for damage it causes. Disguising an animal as a service animal, or charging a fee for a service animal, is a Class 3 misdemeanor. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules. (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 168-4.2(a), 168-4.4, 168-4.5, 168-9)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.