Landlord Cameras, Guest Limits and Assistance Animal Laws by State (2026)
Whether a landlord can use cameras, limit guests or roommates, and how each state handles service and emotional support animals.
Federal law first
The federal Fair Housing Act requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, including allowing assistance animals in housing with a no-pets rule. Many states add their own rules on documentation and penalties for misrepresenting a pet as an assistance animal. See the federal law page.
Privacy, Guests & Animals: all 50 states and DC
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No landlord-specific statute. General criminal laws apply: using a device to overhear or record private communications without the consent of at least one party is criminal eavesdropping (Class A misdemeanor); installing an eavesdropping device in a private place without permission of the owner and any tenant is a Class C felony; secret surveillance while trespassing in a private place is a crime; and photographing or filming a person's intimate areas without consent where they expect privacy is voyeurism. Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-30 to 13A-11-33, 13A-11-41, 13A-11-42; § 35-9A-303 | No statute — lease governs. Alabama law sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, state occupancy limit, or roommate right. The tenant must make guests on the premises behave so they do not disturb the neighbors, and the tenant is responsible for damage guests cause. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-301(6)-(7), 35-9A-204(f) | Alabama's Assistance and Service Animal Integrity in Housing Act lets a landlord with a no-animals policy ask for reliable documentation, from the person's medical provider, of a disability and the disability-related need for an assistance animal, but only when these are not readily apparent or known. Documentation must be kept confidential. Misrepresenting a disability or need, making false statements to obtain documentation, creating or providing false documents, or putting a vest or sign on a pet to pass it off as an assistance or service animal is punishable by a $500 civil penalty or a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense, and a Class B misdemeanor after that. A tenant may not be charged extra for a service animal but is liable for damage it causes; the landlord may ask for proof of vaccinations. Ala. Code §§ 24-8A-1 to 24-8A-5; § 21-7-9(c) |
| Alaska | No landlord-specific statute. General laws apply: using a device to hear or record an oral conversation without the consent of a party to it is illegal eavesdropping, and knowingly viewing or photographing a person's private exposure of intimate parts where they reasonably expect not to be seen is a crime (a security-surveillance defense requires posted notice and use only for crime prevention). AS 42.20.310; AS 11.61.123; AS 34.03.140 | No guest-versus-tenant statute. The tenant may not allow more people to occupy the unit than allowed by applicable law, a covenant limiting the landlord's use of the property, or the rental agreement. The tenant is responsible for guests' conduct that disturbs neighbors. Where the lease requires the landlord's consent to sublet or assign, the tenant may propose a replacement occupant and the landlord may refuse only on listed reasonable grounds within 14 days. AS 34.03.120(a)(6), (10); AS 34.03.060 | A landlord may charge an extra pet deposit (up to one month's rent, usable only for pet damage) but not for a service animal, defined as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability, including a psychiatric disability. Alaska has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or penalties for misrepresenting an animal in housing; the federal Fair Housing Act and the Alaska Human Rights Act's ban on disability discrimination in rentals apply. AS 34.03.070(h), (i)(2); AS 18.80.240 |
| Arizona | No landlord-specific statute. It is a felony to knowingly photograph, film, record or secretly view a person without consent in a bathroom, bedroom or other place where they expect privacy while they are undressed or in similar situations; security cameras are exempt only if notice is clearly posted. Intercepting a conversation you are not part of without a party's consent is also a felony. A.R.S. §§ 13-3019, 13-3005; § 33-1343 | No statute — lease governs. Arizona's landlord-tenant act sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, occupancy limit or roommate right. Tenants are responsible for damage and conduct of people on the premises with their consent. A.R.S. § 33-1341 | Arizona's service-animal statute covers public places, not housing: it defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability and imposes a civil penalty of up to $250 for fraudulently misrepresenting an animal as a service animal to a public place. Arizona has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or pet-fee limits in rental housing; reasonable-accommodation requests are governed by the federal Fair Housing Act and the Arizona Fair Housing Act. A.R.S. § 11-1024 |
| Arkansas | No landlord-specific statute. Using a camera or other image-recording device to secretly observe or record a person in a private area of a residence where they expect privacy, without consent, is video voyeurism (a felony). Security monitoring run by or at the direction of the residence's occupant is exempt. Recording a conversation is legal only if the recorder is a party or one party consents. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-16-101, 5-60-120 | No statute — lease governs. Arkansas sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, state occupancy limit or roommate right. The tenant must make people on the premises with the tenant's permission behave so as not to disturb other tenants, and is responsible if they damage the premises. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-601(6)-(8) | Arkansas law guarantees people with visual, hearing or other physical disabilities full and equal access to rental housing, and makes interfering with that right a misdemeanor. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal to a public accommodation carries a civil penalty of up to $250 per violation. Arkansas has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or pet-fee limits in housing; the federal Fair Housing Act governs those requests. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-14-302, 20-14-305, 20-14-310 |
| California | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to view or record, by camera, phone or other device, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom or other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy with intent to invade privacy. Recording a confidential conversation requires the consent of all parties. A landlord may enter only for listed reasons and, except in emergencies, generally with 24 hours' written notice. Cal. Penal Code §§ 647(j)(1), 632(a); Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 | No statute — lease governs. California has no statewide guest-versus-tenant rule or roommate statute for private rentals. The tenant is responsible for damage caused by the tenant's guests or licensees. Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b)(2) | A landlord may not refuse to rent to, or refuse to let keep, a person with a disability who uses a guide, signal or service dog; lease terms may reasonably regulate the dog, and the tenant remains liable for proven damage. For emotional support dogs, a health care practitioner may provide documentation only if licensed, in a client-provider relationship for at least 30 days (waived for verified homeless individuals), after a clinical evaluation, and after warning about the penalty for fraud. Knowingly and fraudulently representing an emotional support dog as a service dog carries civil penalties of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 for first, second and later violations. These rules do not reduce reasonable-accommodation rights under state and federal fair housing law. Cal. Civ. Code § 54.1(b)(6); Health & Safety Code §§ 122317, 122318, 122319, 122319.5 |
| Colorado | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly observing or photographing (including video or live feed) another person's intimate parts without consent where they reasonably expect privacy is criminal invasion of privacy (class 2 misdemeanor). Overhearing or recording a conversation without the consent of at least one party is eavesdropping (class 2 misdemeanor). C.R.S. §§ 18-7-801, 18-9-304 | No statute — lease governs for most rentals. Colorado's landlord-tenant law sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, statewide occupancy limit or roommate right for ordinary rentals; tenants are responsible for damage caused by their guests and invitees. C.R.S. § 38-12-102(4) | Intentionally misrepresenting entitlement to an assistance animal to obtain a housing accommodation, after a prior written or verbal warning and knowing the animal is not an assistance animal or the person has no disability, is a civil infraction: $25 for a first offense, $50-$200 for a second, and $100-$500 for later offenses. If a landlord asks for documentation about a tenant's assistance animal, it must give the tenant the state Civil Rights Division form if the division has posted one, though the tenant need not use it. Pet deposits are capped at $300 (refundable) and pet rent at the greater of $35 or 1.5% of monthly rent. C.R.S. § 18-13-107.3; § 24-34-309(2); § 38-12-106 |
| Connecticut | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly recording another person's image without knowledge and consent while they are not in plain view and reasonably expect privacy, with malice or sexual intent, is voyeurism (felony). Mechanical overhearing or recording of a conversation without the consent of at least one party, by someone not present, is eavesdropping (class D felony). Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-189a, 53a-187, 53a-189 | No statute — lease governs. Connecticut sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, statewide occupancy limit or roommate right for private rentals. The tenant must require people on the premises with the tenant's consent to behave so as not to disturb neighbors or create a nuisance. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-11(g) | Connecticut has no housing-specific statute on emotional support animal documentation, misrepresentation penalties or pet-fee limits. Disability discrimination in housing is prohibited by the state fair housing law, and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities must post educational materials on the differences between service, emotional support and therapy animals and how a landlord may lawfully determine which an animal is. Service animals in public accommodations may be kept at no extra charge. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46a-64c, 46a-64d, 46a-64(a) |
| Delaware | No landlord-specific statute, but Delaware's privacy law applies directly: it is a crime to install, in any private place, a device for observing, photographing or recording sounds or events without the consent of the persons entitled to privacy there, or to use a device outside a private place to pick up sounds from inside that would not ordinarily be audible. Recording people undressing where they expect privacy, and intercepting private communications without consent, are also crimes. 11 Del. C. § 1335(a)(1)-(4), (6); 25 Del. C. § 5509 | No statute on guests versus tenants, occupancy limits or roommate rights — the lease governs. Tenants and their guests must behave so as not to unreasonably interfere with other tenants' peaceful enjoyment, and landlords may adopt reasonable written rules that meet statutory conditions. 25 Del. C. § 5512 | A landlord may require a pet deposit of up to one month's rent, but may not require any pet deposit for a certified and trained support animal for a disabled resident of the unit. A 'support animal' is defined as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a disabled person. Delaware has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or misrepresentation penalties; reasonable-accommodation requests are governed by state and federal fair housing law. 25 Del. C. §§ 5514(i), 5141 (support animal) |
| District of Columbia | No landlord-specific statute. It is a crime to install or maintain a peephole, mirror or any electronic device to secretly observe someone using a bathroom, undressing or engaged in sexual activity, or to record such a person without express and informed consent where they expect privacy. Intercepting oral or wire communications is illegal unless the person is a party or one party consents. Bathrooms and bedrooms must be private under the Housing Code. Outside emergencies, the landlord must give reasonable notice (48 hours unless the lease says otherwise or the tenant agrees) before entering. D.C. Code §§ 22-3531, 23-542; D.C. Code § 42-3505.51; D.C. Tenant Bill of Rights § 7 | No guest-versus-tenant statute — the lease governs guests and roommates. The Housing Code sets space-based occupancy standards: every bedroom must have at least 70 square feet, and a bedroom used by more than one person must have at least 50 square feet per occupant. D.C. Housing Code (14 DCMR), as summarized by the Department of Buildings | No D.C. statute specifically on service or emotional support animal documentation, misrepresentation penalties or pet-fee limits in housing. Requests to keep an assistance animal are reasonable-accommodation requests under the D.C. Human Rights Act's ban on disability discrimination in housing and the federal Fair Housing Act. D.C. Code § 2-1402.21 |
| Florida | No landlord-specific statute. Secretly recording a person dressing, undressing, or privately exposing the body where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy is the crime of digital voyeurism; intercepting oral communications without all parties' consent is generally a crime under Florida's wiretap law (audio recording). The landlord may enter only as allowed by § 83.53 and may not abuse access or use it to harass the tenant. Fla. Stat. §§ 810.145; 934.03; 83.53 | No statute — the lease governs guest limits, occupancy, and roommates. Chapter 83 defines 'transient occupancy' (temporary by intent of the parties) but does not set guest rules or a roommate right. Unauthorized occupants who are not tenants may be removed under the separate unlawful-occupant procedure in § 82.036. Fla. Stat. § 83.43(18); § 82.036 | Florida's ESA law (2020) requires housing providers, to the extent federal law requires, to allow emotional support animals as a reasonable accommodation without extra compensation. If the disability or need is not readily apparent, the provider may request reliable information (e.g., from a health care practitioner or telehealth provider with personal knowledge; out-of-state practitioners only if they provided in-person care at least once), may require proof of licensing and vaccination, and may not demand diagnosis, medical records, a specific form, or a notarized statement. Internet ESA registrations/ID cards alone are not sufficient. Tenants are liable for damage caused by the animal. Falsifying ESA documentation or misrepresenting a need is a second-degree misdemeanor plus 30 hours of community service; misrepresenting a service animal is likewise penalized. Fla. Stat. §§ 760.27; 817.265; 413.08(6), (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 |
| Hawaii | No landlord-specific statute. It is a crime to install or use, in any private place and without consent of those entitled to privacy there, a device to observe, record, amplify, or broadcast sounds or events (violation of privacy in the second degree), or to capture a person in a stage of undress or sexual activity (first degree, a class C felony). It is also an offense to trespass for surveillance or to use an outside device to pick up sounds from a private place not ordinarily audible outside. Landlord entry generally requires at least two days' notice, during reasonable hours, and may not be used to harass. HRS §§ 711-1111(1)(a), (d), (e); 711-1110.9; 521-53 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits, and roommates. The Code defines a dwelling unit as used by one person or by persons maintaining a common household, and the tenant may be bound by reasonable written rules the landlord can show are needed to protect the property and people. HRS §§ 521-8; 521-51(6), (8) | Refusing a reasonable accommodation needed by a person with a disability is a discriminatory practice; for an assistance animal (including service, therapy, comfort, or emotional support animals, trained or untrained, any species), reasonable restrictions may be imposed. If the disability or need is not readily apparent, the owner may request verification (e.g., a letter from the treating health care professional, mental health professional, or social worker), but may not request medical records or ask about diagnosis, nature, or severity. Online vests, tags, or registrations are not valid verification. No pet deposit may be charged for an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service animal carries a civil fine of $100–$250 (first violation) and at least $500 for later violations. HRS §§ 515-3(a)(9), (b); 521-44(b)(1)(B); 347-2.6 |
| Idaho | No landlord-specific statute. Installing or using (or permitting) an imaging device where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, without the person's knowledge or consent, for sexual gratification or to degrade or abuse, is felony video voyeurism; 'reasonable expectation of privacy' includes places where a person might reasonably expect to be safe from casual or hostile surveillance. Intercepting oral communications is a felony unless one party consents. Idaho has no statutory notice period for landlord entry; the AG advises that the lease set entry terms or that the landlord notify the tenant and agree on a reasonable time. Idaho Code §§ 18-6605; 18-6702; Idaho AG, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), pp. 10–11 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupants, and roommates. The Attorney General notes that a valid occupancy policy limiting the number of people per unit, based on health and safety standards, is a lawful basis for refusing an applicant. A separate limited procedure allows removal of unauthorized persons who are not tenants. Idaho AG, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), p. 2; Idaho Code § 6-310A | Idaho has no statute specific to emotional support animals in rental housing (no state ESA documentation rule or ESA fee rule). State law defines a service dog (emotional support does not count as work or tasks), gives individuals with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a service dog in public accommodations, hotels, and lodging houses without extra charge (but liable for damage), and makes it a misdemeanor for a person without a disability to use an assistance animal or service dog to try to gain treatment or benefits as a person with a disability. Rental-housing accommodation requests are governed by federal and state fair-housing law; the Attorney General states that support, service, and companion animals are not legally 'pets.' Idaho Code §§ 56-701A(5); 56-704; 18-5811A; Idaho AG, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), p. 2 |
| Illinois | No landlord-specific statute, but Illinois law expressly protects renters: it is a crime to knowingly video record or live-stream another person in that person's residence without consent — and 'residence' expressly includes a rental dwelling (but not stairwells, corridors, laundry facilities, or other areas open to the public). Placing such a device is a Class A misdemeanor; recording is a Class 4 felony. Audio recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties is eavesdropping. 720 ILCS 5/26-4(a-5), (a-6), (a-20), (d), (e); 720 ILCS 5/14-2 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy, and roommates statewide; landlords may make reasonable rules and regulations. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 | Illinois' Assistance Animal Integrity Act (eff. 2020) covers emotional support and service animals that qualify as a reasonable accommodation. A housing provider may require reliable documentation only if the disability or need is not readily apparent or known; documentation must be in writing, from someone with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship, and describe the disability-related need. Online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment do not qualify. Providers may offer a standard form but may not deny a request for not using it, may ask for documentation for each animal when more than one is requested, and may deny or rescind for undue burden, direct threat, substantial property damage, or uncontrolled behavior after an individualized assessment. Providers are immune from liability for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. 310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10, 120/15 |
| Indiana | No landlord-specific statute. Peeping into an occupied dwelling of another person, or into an area where people are expected to disrobe (restrooms, baths, showers, dressing rooms), without consent is voyeurism — a Class B misdemeanor, raised to a Level 6 felony when committed by camera. Using a concealed camera to capture an intimate image counts as 'peeping.' A landlord must give reasonable notice before entry, enter only at reasonable times, and may not use entry to harass. IC 35-45-4-5; IC 32-31-5-6(e)–(g) | No guest statute — the lease governs guests and roommates. By statute, a landlord may refuse to rent based on a reasonable occupancy standard; a standard is presumed reasonable if it allows two people per bedroom, does not count infants under one year, and counts a den, library, finished basement, or loft that could reasonably be used for sleeping (unless codes prohibit). Kitchens, dining and living rooms, bathrooms, hallways, and closets need not be counted. IC 32-31-8-7 | Indiana has no statute specific to emotional support animals in rental housing (no state ESA documentation, fee, or misrepresentation rule identified). Indiana's fair housing law prohibits refusing reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services needed to give a person with a disability equal opportunity to use a dwelling, which covers assistance-animal requests. A separate chapter defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse individually trained to work or perform tasks and protects access to public accommodations. IC 22-9.5-5-5; IC 16-32-3-1.5, -2 |
| Iowa | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly viewing, photographing, or filming another person in full or partial nudity, without consent, where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, for sexual gratification, is invasion of privacy (an aggravated misdemeanor). Intercepting oral communications is unlawful unless the person is a party or one party consents. The landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice before entry (except emergencies or impracticability), enter at reasonable times, and not use access to harass. Iowa Code §§ 709.21; 808B.2; 562A.19 | No statute — the lease and reasonable landlord rules govern guests, occupancy, and roommates. Tenants may not knowingly permit anyone to damage the premises and must not disturb neighbors' peaceful enjoyment. Iowa Code § 562A.17(6), (7) | Iowa law lets a person with a disability request to keep an assistance or service animal as a reasonable accommodation; the landlord must respond within a reasonable time and in writing. If the disability or need is not readily apparent, the landlord may request supporting information, which may be a licensed provider's written finding stating, among other things, whether a provider-patient relationship (in person or telehealth) has existed for at least 30 days, the expiration date, license number, and whether a separate fee was paid for the finding. Online registrations, ID cards, patches, or certificates are not sufficient. Landlords may not request diagnosis, severity, or medical records; may require proof of licensure and vaccination; and may deny for undue hardship, fundamental alteration, direct threat, or substantial property damage. Tenants are liable for damage caused by the animal. Intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a simple misdemeanor. Iowa Code §§ 216.8B; 216.8C; 216C.11(3) |
| Kansas | No landlord-specific statute. Kansas' breach-of-privacy law makes it a crime to enter to secretly listen to or observe people in a private place, to install or use inside or outside a private place a device to hear or record sounds not ordinarily audible there without the occupants' consent (class A misdemeanor), and to use a camera to record a person who is nude, in a state of undress, or under clothing without consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (felony). Landlords may enter only at reasonable hours after reasonable notice (except extreme hazards) and may not use access to harass. K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(3), (4), (6); 58-2557 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits, and roommates. Tenants are responsible for damage and disturbances caused by anyone (or any animal) on the premises with their express or implied permission. K.S.A. 58-2555(f), (g) | Kansas has no statute specific to emotional support animals in housing. By statute, a person with a guide, hearing assistance, or service dog (a dog specially selected, trained, and tested) has the right to be accompanied by it in acquiring and using rental housing without an extra charge, but is liable for damage the dog causes. A dog present only for comfort, protection, or personal defense is not an assistance dog under state law. Falsely claiming the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog in the places listed in K.S.A. 39-1101, or claiming a disability to acquire an assistance dog, is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. ESA requests are handled under federal and state fair-housing reasonable-accommodation rules. K.S.A. 39-1102; 39-1107; 39-1108; 39-1112; 39-1113 |
| Kentucky | No landlord-specific statute. Using a camera or other recording device (or entering or remaining unlawfully on another's premises) to view or record another person's sexual conduct, genitals, undergarments not publicly visible, or female nipple without consent, where the person reasonably expects not to be observed, is voyeurism (Class A misdemeanor). Using a device to overhear or record others' oral or wire communications without the consent of at least one party is eavesdropping (Class D felony). In URLTA areas, landlords must give at least two days' notice before entry (except emergencies or impracticability), enter at reasonable times, and not use access to harass. KRS 531.090; KRS 526.010, 526.020; KRS 383.615 | No statute — the lease and reasonable landlord rules govern guests, occupancy, and roommates. In URLTA areas, tenants must require people on the premises with their consent to not disturb neighbors, and landlord rules on use and occupancy are enforceable only if they meet the statute's conditions (for example, a purpose of promoting tenants' convenience, safety, or welfare or protecting the property). KRS 383.605(7); KRS 383.610 | Kentucky's assistance-animal law (statewide) covers service animals and emotional support animals. Unless the disability or need is readily apparent, a housing provider may ask for reliable documentation, including from a provider with whom the person has a therapeutic relationship — a Kentucky-licensed clinical social worker, professional counselor, APRN, psychologist, or physician with an active in-state practice (or an out-of-state provider for people moving in with an ongoing relationship); providers whose primary service is selling accommodation letters do not qualify. The provider may independently verify documents. No pet fee, pet deposit, or extra rent may be charged, but the tenant is responsible for physical damage if pet owners would be, and must follow rules that apply to all residents. Landlords are not liable for injuries caused by a permitted assistance animal. Knowingly misrepresenting a disability or need, providing false documents, or fitting a pet with an assistance-animal vest for housing is a violation with a fine up to $1,000. KRS 383.085 |
| Louisiana | No landlord-specific statute. Video voyeurism is a crime. It means using any camera or image-recording device, including a drone, to observe, photograph or film a person without consent to that specific instance, either for a lewd or lascivious purpose or in certain intimate circumstances where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Recording conversations is lawful if the person recording is a party or one party gave prior consent, unless it is done to commit a crime, tort or other injurious act. La. R.S. 14:283(A); La. R.S. 15:1303(C)(4) | No statute on guests versus tenants or occupancy limits — the lease governs. Under the Civil Code, the lessee has the right to sublease and assign unless the lease expressly prohibits it. A lease clause prohibiting one of these is deemed to prohibit the others unless a contrary intent is expressed, and otherwise is construed strictly against the lessor. The lessee is responsible for damage caused by people on the premises with the lessee's consent. La. C.C. arts. 2713, 2692 | The Louisiana Support and Service Animal Integrity Act (2024) sets strict rules for support-animal documentation. A health care provider may issue documentation only if licensed in Louisiana (or through a licensure compact) and qualified to diagnose disabilities, and only after a disability assessment. The provider must have a therapeutic relationship of at least 30 days and at least 2 sessions (in person or remote), and must do a clinical evaluation at least 30 days before. The letter must show its effective date, the provider's license number and license type. Online letter mills don't qualify. Individuals may not falsely claim a disability-related need for a support animal or misrepresent an animal as a service dog to a residential landlord. Fines are up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second and $2,500 for later offenses. Sellers of support animals or certificates must give written notices. The Act doesn't limit fair housing accommodation rights. La. R.S. 46:1971-1978 (Acts 2024, No. 558, HB 407) |
| Maine | No landlord-specific statute. Under the general privacy crime, it is a Class D crime to install or use a device to observe, photograph or record in a 'private place' (such as a bathroom or bedroom) without the consent of those entitled to privacy there. Using a device outside a private place to capture images or sounds from inside that would not normally be visible or audible is also a crime. Intercepting oral or wire communications is a Class C crime unless the person recording is the sender or receiver of the communication. Cameras in common areas aren't specifically regulated. 17-A M.R.S. § 511; 15 M.R.S. §§ 709, 710 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maine's landlord-tenant chapters don't address guest stays or roommate additions. Fair housing law bars discrimination against families with children. 14 M.R.S. ch. 710 (§§ 6021-6030-K checked); 14 M.R.S. § 6027 | Under the Maine Human Rights Act, refusing to allow an assistance animal for a person with a physical or mental disability is unlawful housing discrimination. The only exceptions are if the animal poses a direct threat, would cause substantial property damage, or would substantially interfere with others' enjoyment. The landlord cannot charge a fee or deposit for an assistance animal, but the tenant is liable for damage it causes. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service or assistance animal, including creating or supplying false documents, is a civil violation with a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence. Landlords are generally not civilly liable for injuries or damage involving a tenant's assistance animal, except for gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. 5 M.R.S. § 4582-A(3); 17 M.R.S. § 1314-A; 17 M.R.S. § 1312(5); 14 M.R.S. § 6030-G |
| Maryland | No landlord-specific statute, but strong criminal rules apply. A person may not place a camera on real property where a private residence is located to deliberately and secretly observe someone inside the residence. It is not a defense that the defendant owns the residence. Exceptions include cameras placed with an adult resident's consent and cameras without intent to secretly observe people inside. Violations are a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,500) and give the person observed a civil claim for damages and attorney fees. Secret surveillance with prurient intent in a private place such as a bedroom or bathroom is separately a crime. Recording private conversations generally requires the consent of ALL parties. Md. Code, Crim. Law § 3-903; § 3-902; Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-402(c)(3) | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Maryland's landlord-tenant title doesn't define guest versus tenant or give roommate rights. Fair housing law bars discrimination based on familial status and marital status. Md. Code, Real Prop. Title 8, Subtitles 1-4 (checked); State Gov't § 20-705 | A person with a disability (or a parent of a minor child with a disability) who has or wants a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing, and cannot be charged extra for the service animal. The tenant may be liable for damage the animal causes. State law defines 'service animal' as an animal individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability. State fair housing law also bans disability discrimination in rentals. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals or penalizes misrepresenting an animal. Md. Code, Human Servs. §§ 7-701(g), 7-704(c); State Gov't § 20-705 |
| Massachusetts | No landlord-specific statute. Massachusetts is an all-party-consent state: secretly recording a conversation without the prior authority of ALL parties is a crime. It is also a crime to secretly photograph, videotape or electronically surveil someone who is nude or partially nude where they would reasonably expect privacy, without their knowledge and consent. The penalty is up to 2½ years in a house of correction and/or a $5,000 fine. Visible cameras in common areas aren't specifically regulated, but audio recording in those cameras raises wiretap concerns. M.G.L. c. 272, § 99 (definition of 'interception'); c. 272, § 105(b) | No statute on guests versus tenants or roommate rights — the lease governs. The State Sanitary Code sets occupancy limits: at least 150 square feet of habitable floor space for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant. Each bedroom needs at least 70 square feet for one person, or 50 square feet per person if shared. 105 CMR 410.420(D); M.G.L. c. 186 and c. 239 (checked) | State fair housing law bans discrimination against tenants because of a disability or because they have a trained dog guide due to blindness or hearing impairment. Landlords must make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies and services when needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy housing, which covers exceptions to no-pet rules for assistance animals. No state statute sets documentation rules, pet-fee limits, or penalties for misrepresenting an animal in housing. M.G.L. c. 151B, § 4(6), (7), (7A) |
| Michigan | No landlord-specific statute, but Michigan law is strict. It is a felony to install, place or use in any private place, without the consent of the people entitled to privacy there, a device for observing, recording, transmitting, photographing or eavesdropping. The penalty is up to 2 years and/or $2,000, or up to 5 years for repeat offenses or for distributing the images. A 'private place' is one where a person can reasonably expect to be safe from casual or hostile intrusion or surveillance; places with public access are excluded. Security monitoring in a residence by its owner or principal occupant is allowed unless done for a lewd purpose. Eavesdropping means overhearing or recording private conversation without the permission of ALL participants. Trespassing to conduct surveillance is a misdemeanor. MCL 750.539d; MCL 750.539a; MCL 750.539b | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Michigan's landlord-tenant statutes don't define guests versus tenants or give roommate rights. MCL 554.139; MCL 554.601-554.616 (checked) | Michigan's Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act bars landlords from refusing to rent to, or discriminating in rental terms against, a person because of a disability unrelated to their ability to rent or maintain the property. It also bars discrimination based on use of adaptive devices or aids. Federal Fair Housing Act reasonable-accommodation rules govern emotional support animals, including no pet fees or deposits. State law also makes it a misdemeanor to maliciously harass, injure or interfere with a service animal. No state statute setting housing-specific documentation rules or a misrepresentation penalty was found in the sections checked. MCL 37.1502(1); MCL 750.50a; MCL 750.502c |
| Minnesota | No landlord-specific statute. It is a gross misdemeanor to enter another's property and secretly install or use a device to observe, photograph or record through the window or other opening of someone's home, with intent to intrude on a household member's privacy. It is also a gross misdemeanor to secretly use such a device in places like hotel sleeping rooms and other places where people reasonably expect privacy while exposed. Recording conversations is legal if the recorder is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). Minn. Stat. § 609.746, subd. 1; § 626A.02, subd. 2(d) | No statute on guests versus tenants, occupancy limits or roommate rights — the lease governs. By statute, a landlord generally cannot evict or end a lease because of a tenant's, household member's or guest's conduct OFF the premises and curtilage, unless it is a crime of violence against another tenant, a guest, the landlord or staff, or results in a conviction for such a crime. Minn. Stat. § 504B.171, subd. 2a; ch. 504B (checked) | A landlord may require documentation from a licensed professional (doctor, PA, nurse, psychologist, mental health professional, social worker or counselor, including out-of-state licensees with an existing treatment relationship) confirming the disability and the need for a service or support animal. This is not allowed when the need is obvious or already known. Online certification businesses don't qualify. Landlords can't demand medical records. No extra fee, charge or deposit may be charged for a service or support animal, though the tenant is liable for damage. A landlord with a pet fee policy must disclose this ban in the lease. Tenants may not knowingly misrepresent a disability or provide fraudulent documentation; if they do, the landlord may deny the application or animal request. Minn. Stat. § 504B.113 |
| Mississippi | No landlord-specific statute. It is a felony to photograph, film, videotape or record someone's image with lewd, licentious or indecent intent, without permission, where they would be undressed and reasonably expect privacy, including private dwellings, bathrooms and bedrooms. The penalty for an adult is up to 5 years and/or a $5,000 fine. Recording conversations is lawful if the recorder is a party or one party consents, unless done to commit a crime or tort. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-29-63; § 41-29-531(e) | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. The tenant must make guests on the premises behave so as not to disturb neighbors, and must not knowingly let others damage the premises. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-25(e)-(f); §§ 89-8-1 to 89-8-45 (checked) | A blind, mobility-impaired or hearing-impaired person, or a veteran diagnosed with PTSD, who uses a specially trained support animal is entitled to full and equal access to public conveyances, hotels, lodging places and other public accommodations. No fee or charge may be imposed for the animal. The statute does not expressly cover private rental housing. No state statute sets documentation rules or a misrepresentation penalty for assistance animals in housing. The federal Fair Housing Act governs, including reasonable accommodation for emotional support animals and no pet fees. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-6-155 |
| Missouri | No landlord-specific statute. It is the crime of invasion of privacy to knowingly photograph, film or otherwise create an image of someone, without consent, while they are fully or partly nude in a place where they would reasonably expect privacy. It is also a crime to create images under or through someone's clothing. This is a class A misdemeanor, and a class E felony if the image is distributed, more than one person is captured, or it is a repeat offense. Recording conversations is lawful if the recorder is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). RSMo 565.252; RSMo 542.402.2 | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits and roommates. Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters don't define guests versus tenants or give roommate rights. Separate expedited eviction procedures allow immediate removal of parties other than the tenant in certain cases involving criminal activity. RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked); RSMo 441.710-441.880 | It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination. RSMo 209.204.3; RSMo 209.150.3; RSMo 213.040 |
| Montana | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to hide, wait, or loiter in person or by remote electronic device in or near a residence to surreptitiously watch, observe, or record occupants without their knowledge. Landlord entry generally requires 24 hours' notice and may not be used to harass the tenant. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 45-5-223, 70-24-312 | No statute — lease governs. The tenant must require persons on the premises with the tenant's consent to behave so as not to disturb neighbors, and is responsible for damage by family, licensees, or invitees. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-321(1)(f), (2); 70-25-101(2) | A person with a disability with a service animal has full and equal access to housing and may not be charged extra for it, but is liable for damage the animal causes. 'Service animal' means a dog or miniature horse individually trained to assist a person with a disability and expressly excludes emotional support animals. Misrepresenting a service animal can lead to removal and, after a prior written warning, a misdemeanor ($50 first offense; up to $1,000 for third or later). No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals in housing. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 49-4-203(2), 49-4-214(1)-(2), 49-4-221, 49-4-222 |
| Nebraska | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to knowingly intrude on a person without consent in a place of solitude or seclusion, or to photograph, film, or record a person's intimate area without knowledge and consent. Landlord entry generally requires 24 hours' written notice stating the purpose and time window, and may not be used to harass. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-311.08, 76-1423 | No statute — lease governs. The tenant may not knowingly permit any person to damage the premises and must use the premises reasonably. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1421 | A person with a disability who has a service animal is entitled to full and equal access to housing; the landlord may not charge extra compensation or an additional deposit for the animal, but the tenant is liable for damage it causes. No state statute addresses emotional support animal documentation or penalizes misrepresentation in housing. Separately, a pet deposit (for pets) may not exceed one-fourth of one month's rent. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 20-131.01 to 20-131.04; § 76-1416(1) |
| Nevada | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to knowingly and intentionally capture an image of another person's private area without consent where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy (gross misdemeanor; felony on repeat). Except in emergencies, the landlord must give 24 hours' notice before entry and may not use access to harass. NRS 200.604; NRS 118A.330 | No statute — lease governs. Tenants are responsible for damage caused by household members and other persons on the premises with their consent. NRS 118A.110; NRS 118A.310 | A landlord may not refuse to rent to a person with a disability solely because an animal that assists, supports, or provides service to the person will live in the unit. The landlord may require proof, which may be satisfied by a statement from a health care provider that the animal performs a function that ameliorates the effects of the disability. Fraudulently misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or service animal in training is a misdemeanor (fine up to $500). NRS 118.105; NRS 426.805 |
| New Hampshire | No landlord-specific camera statute, but it is a class A misdemeanor to install or use, without consent, any device to observe, photograph, record, or transmit images or sounds in a private place (which includes the interior of one's dwelling), or from outside a private place to capture images, location, movement, or sounds not ordinarily perceptible outside it. A landlord may not enter without the tenant's prior consent except for emergency repairs or under a court order. RSA 644:9, I-II; RSA 540-A:3, IV and V-d | No statute — lease governs guests and occupancy. A person who is not a tenant, subtenant, or implied tenant may not occupy residential property without permission of the owner, landlord, or agent. RSA 540-A:3, IX | Service animals may accompany their handler or trainer into any housing accommodation. Under state law a service animal performs work or tasks for a person with a disability; providing emotional support, comfort, or companionship does not count. It is a misdemeanor to fit an animal with a vest, harness, sign, or tag representing it as a service animal when it is not, or to impersonate a person with a disability to obtain service-dog accommodations. Disability discrimination in rentals is prohibited by the state fair-housing law. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules or pet-fee limits. RSA 167-D:1, 167-D:2, 167-D:4, 167-D:8, 167-D:10; RSA 354-A:10 |
| New Jersey | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to observe another person without consent, knowing one is not licensed or privileged to do so, where a reasonable person would know the person may expose intimate parts or engage in sexual activity and would not expect to be observed. The same statute separately criminalizes photographing, filming, or recording such a person and disclosing such images. N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9 | No statute — lease governs guests and occupants. Leases may set conditions of occupancy and restrictions on subletting or assignment. N.J.S.A. 46:8-44 to -47 (Truth in Renting Act); lease | Under the Law Against Discrimination, a person with a disability, or who is blind or deaf, who has or obtains a service or guide dog is entitled to full and equal access to all housing and may not be charged extra for the dog; a no-pets lease clause does not apply to it, and the tenant is liable for damage the dog causes. Seniors in covered senior citizen housing projects (3+ units) may keep pets after written notice to the landlord. No state statute sets emotional support animal documentation rules or penalizes misrepresentation in housing. N.J.S.A. 10:5-29.2; N.J.S.A. 2A:42-103 et seq. (Pets in Housing Projects) |
| New Mexico | No landlord-specific camera statute. Voyeurism — intentionally viewing, photographing, videotaping, filming, webcasting, or recording another person's intimate areas without knowledge and consent in a bedroom, bathroom, or other place with a reasonable expectation of privacy — is a misdemeanor (fourth-degree felony if the victim is under 18). Owner entry generally requires 24 hours' written notice of the purpose, date, and estimated time. NMSA 1978, §§ 30-9-20, 47-8-24 | The owner may not charge the resident a fee for occupancy of the unit by a reasonable number of guests for a reasonable length of time (charges for guests' use of other facilities are allowed). Otherwise the rental agreement governs occupants; residents must make persons on the premises with their consent behave so as not to disturb neighbors. NMSA 1978, §§ 47-8-15(E), 47-8-22(G) | The Service Animal Act defines 'qualified service animal' as a trained service dog or miniature horse and expressly excludes emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals. Knowingly presenting an animal as a qualified service animal when it does not meet that definition is a misdemeanor. The Act's access and no-extra-charge rules are framed around buildings open to the public, public accommodations, and common carriers. No state statute sets ESA documentation rules or pet-fee limits for housing. NMSA 1978, §§ 28-11-1.1 to 28-11-6 |
| New York | No landlord-specific camera statute. Unlawful surveillance in the second degree (class E felony) includes using or installing an imaging device to surreptitiously view, broadcast, or record a person dressing or undressing or their intimate parts where they expect privacy, or to surreptitiously record in a bedroom, bathroom, changing room, or shower with no legitimate purpose (device use in those rooms creates a rebuttable presumption of no legitimate purpose). N.Y. Penal Law § 250.45 | The 'Roommate Law': a landlord may not restrict occupancy to the tenant and immediate family. A sole tenant may live with immediate family, one additional occupant, and that occupant's dependent children; on a multi-tenant lease, total tenants plus occupants (excluding occupants' dependent children) may not exceed the number of tenants on the lease. The tenant or spouse must use the unit as a primary residence, and the tenant must tell the landlord an occupant's name within 30 days of move-in or of the landlord's request. Occupants gain no tenancy rights. Lease waivers are void. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-f | Housing providers must make reasonable accommodations in rules and policies for persons with disabilities, including permitting an assistance animal. It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to deny access to or discriminate against a person with a disability accompanied by a guide, hearing, or service dog, and no additional charge may be imposed for admittance of such a dog. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals or penalizes service-animal misrepresentation in housing. N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(14), (18)(2); N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 47-b |
| 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 |
| North Dakota | No landlord-specific statute. Criminal laws apply: surreptitiously installing or using a device to observe, photograph or record events from another's dwelling, or from a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and may be undressed, with sexual intent, is surreptitious intrusion (class A misdemeanor; felony for repeat offenses or minor victims). Intercepting oral or wire communications without a party's consent is a class C felony (one-party consent). N.D.C.C. §§ 12.1-20-12.2, 12.1-15-02 | No statute on guests vs. tenants, occupancy limits or roommate rights — the lease governs. Tenants must make persons on the premises with their consent behave so as not to disturb neighbors, and are liable for guest-caused damage. A landlord may not rent the same room as a dwelling to more than one family (double letting). N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-13.2(6)-(7), 47-16-07.1(3)(a), 47-16-26 | If a rental has a no-pets policy and a tenant asks for a service or assistance animal as a disability accommodation, the landlord may require reliable supporting documentation confirming the disability and the disability-related need, from a physician or medical professional who does not operate in North Dakota solely to certify assistance animals. No documentation may be required if the disability or need is readily apparent or already known. Knowingly making a false disability claim or providing fraudulent documentation is an infraction; after a guilty plea or conviction the landlord may evict and collect a damage fee of up to $1,000. Pet deposits (capped at the greater of $2,500 or two months' rent) may not be charged for a service or companion animal needed as a reasonable accommodation. N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-07.5, 47-16-07.6, 47-16-07.1(2) |
| Ohio | No landlord-specific statute. Criminal laws apply: secretly or surreptitiously recording another person in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy for the purpose of viewing private areas is voyeurism (misdemeanor; felony if the victim is a minor); spying or eavesdropping by trespass or surreptitious invasion of privacy for sexual gratification is also voyeurism. Intercepting oral, wire or electronic communications without being a party or having a party's consent is a fourth-degree felony (one-party consent). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2907.08, 2933.52 | No statute — lease governs guests, roommates and occupancy limits. Tenants must require persons on the premises with their consent not to disturb neighbors, not to damage the premises, and not to violate drug laws. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.05(A)(6), (8)-(9) | No Ohio housing statute on emotional support animal documentation or misrepresentation. Refusing a reasonable accommodation needed by a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling is an unlawful discriminatory practice under Ohio's fair-housing law, which applies to assistance animal requests. A separate statute gives people with qualifying disabilities and trainers equal access with assistance dogs in public accommodations and lodging places and bars charging a fee for the dog. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4112.02(H)(19), 955.43 |
| Oklahoma | No landlord-specific statute. Using photographic, electronic or video equipment in a clandestine manner for an illegal, illegitimate, prurient or lewd purpose to view a person without knowledge and consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy is a felony (Peeping Tom); loitering near a residence to watch someone clandestinely is a misdemeanor. Intercepting oral, wire or electronic communications is a felony unless the person is a party or one party consented (one-party consent). 21 O.S. § 1171; 13 O.S. §§ 176.3, 176.4(5) | A rental agreement may impose reasonable limits on use by a tenant or occupant. A landlord may demand in writing that an occupant who breaches a lease condition leave; an occupant who wrongfully fails to leave within a reasonable time commits trespass (fine up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail). An occupancy limit of two persons per bedroom is presumed reasonable, but does not apply to children born to the tenants during the lease. An occupant with no rental agreement whom the landlord has not accepted as a tenant may be told to leave without an eviction case. 41 O.S. §§ 117(B)-(C), 111(G) | Oklahoma defines 'assistance animal' to include service animals and emotional support animals. Unless the disability or need is readily apparent, the landlord may request reliable documentation verifying the disability under the Fair Housing Act, describing the accommodation, and showing the link between the disability and the need, and may independently verify it. Documentation acquired through purchase or exchange of funds for goods and services is presumed fraudulent. A landlord is not liable for injuries caused by an assistance animal allowed as an accommodation. If a tenant obtains an accommodation by knowingly false claim or fraudulent documentation, the landlord may use the Act's noncompliance remedies, and a prevailing landlord in eviction may recover costs, fees and damages up to $1,000. A landlord may not deny or end a tenancy because of a guide, signal or service dog. 41 O.S. §§ 113.2, 113.1 |
| Oregon | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly recording a visual image of another person's intimate area without consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, or observing a person in a state of nudity for sexual purposes, is invasion of personal privacy (crime). Recording an in-person conversation with a device generally requires that all participants be specifically informed; intercepting a phone or radio communication requires at least one participant's consent. ORS 163.700; ORS 165.540(1) | A landlord, tenant and proposed occupant may sign a written temporary occupancy agreement: the temporary occupant is not a tenant, the tenant may end it at any time, the landlord may end it only for a material violation, and the landlord may screen the occupant for conduct or criminal record but not credit or income. A temporary occupant who stays after the tenancy ends or after the tenant revokes permission is treated as a squatter. Any occupancy guideline a landlord adopts may not be more restrictive than two people per bedroom and must be reasonable considering bedroom size, unit size and discriminatory impact. ORS 90.275; ORS 90.262(3) | A landlord may not charge a pet security deposit for a service animal or companion animal that a tenant with a disability needs as a reasonable accommodation under fair housing laws. Refusing reasonable accommodations in rules or policies needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling is an unlawful practice. Oregon has no housing-specific statute on documentation for emotional support animals or penalties for misrepresenting one in housing. ORS 90.300(4); ORS 659A.145(2)(g) |
| Pennsylvania | No landlord-specific statute. Viewing or recording a person without knowledge and consent, for sexual gratification, while the person is fully or partially nude in a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy (or recording intimate parts not intended to be publicly visible) is criminal invasion of privacy. Intercepting oral, wire or electronic communications is a third-degree felony unless all parties consent (two-party/all-party consent state). 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 7507.1, 5703, 5704(4) | In tenement buildings and multiple dwelling premises (three or more households), tenants have a non-waivable right to invite social guests, family or visitors for a reasonable period of time, and business visitors, tradesmen and deliverymen, as long as tenant obligations are observed; the landlord may not charge any fee or extra rent for exercising these rights. Tenants must not let persons on the premises with their permission willfully damage the property or disturb other tenants. No statewide occupancy limit or roommate statute. 68 P.S. §§ 250.501-A, 250.503-A, 250.504-A | The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act makes it unlawful to refuse to lease housing, or to discriminate in terms, because of disability or because of the use of a guide animal (blindness or deafness) or support animal (physical handicap), or because a person is a handler or trainer of guide or support animals; inquiries and records about such animal use in connection with a lease are restricted. Pennsylvania has no statute specifically on emotional support animal documentation, misrepresentation penalties or pet-fee limits. 43 P.S. § 955(h)(1), (h)(6) (PHRA § 5(h)) |
| Rhode Island | No landlord-specific statute. Using or installing an imaging device, for sexual purposes, to capture images of another person's intimate areas without knowledge and consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy — or using an imaging device to look into an occupied dwelling for sexual purposes — is video voyeurism (up to 3 years and/or $5,000). Intercepting wire, electronic or oral communications is a felony unless the person is a party or one party consents (one-party consent). R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-64-2, 11-35-21 | No statute on guests vs. tenants or roommate rights — the lease governs. The state housing code sets minimum space standards that cap occupancy: at least 150 sq ft of habitable floor space for the first occupant and 130 sq ft for each additional occupant, and sleeping rooms need 70 sq ft for the first occupant and 50 sq ft for each additional one. Tenants must make persons on the premises with their consent not disturb neighbors. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-24.3-11, 34-18-24(7) | Rhode Island's fair-housing law requires owners to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services when necessary for an occupant with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling, which covers assistance animal requests. A person with a disability who has a guide dog or other 'personal assistive animal' (an animal trained by a certified training program to help with independent living tasks) is entitled to full and equal access to housing and may not be charged extra for the animal, but is liable for damage it causes. There is no housing-specific statute on emotional support animal documentation. Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal is a civil violation (up to 30 hours of community service), but that law applies to public areas, not housing. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-37-4(e)(1)-(2), 40-9.1-3.1 |
| 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 |
| South Dakota | No landlord-specific statute, but installing in any private place, without the consent of the persons entitled to privacy there, any device for observing, photographing, recording, amplifying or broadcasting sounds or events — or using such an installation — is a Class 1 misdemeanor; so is trespassing to subject anyone to surveillance in a private place. Photographing or recording a person without clothing without consent, with intent to self-gratify, harass or invade privacy, is also a crime. Recording a conversation with an eavesdropping device without the consent of a party is a Class 5 felony (one-party consent). SDCL 22-21-1, 22-21-3, 22-21-4, 23A-35A-20 | No statute on guests vs. tenants, occupancy limits or roommate rights for residential rentals — the lease governs. The landlord's repair duty does not cover disrepair caused by the negligent, willful or malicious conduct of the tenant or a person under the tenant's direction or control. SDCL 43-32-8; ch. 43-32 checked | South Dakota's landlord-tenant statute defines 'service animal' broadly to include emotional support, therapy and assistance animals. When a tenant asserts a disability requiring such an animal as an accommodation, the landlord may require reliable supporting documentation confirming the disability and its relationship to the need, from a licensed health care provider who does not operate in South Dakota solely to certify service or assistance animals. No documentation may be required if the disability or need is readily apparent or already known. If a tenant knowingly makes a false claim or provides fraudulent documentation, the landlord may evict and collect a damage fee of up to $1,000. SDCL 43-32-33 to 43-32-36 |
| 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 |
| Texas | No landlord-specific statute. Criminal laws apply: it is a state jail felony to photograph or record, without consent and with intent to invade privacy, another person in a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, which the statute says includes a bathroom, bedroom and changing room; posting a sign does not establish consent. Intercepting oral, wire or electronic communications is a crime unless a party to the communication consents (one-party consent), so audio recording of tenants' conversations is restricted. Tex. Penal Code Sec. 21.15; 16.02 | State occupancy cap: a landlord may not allow more adults (18+) to occupy a dwelling than three times the number of bedrooms, except where a fair housing law requires more, or for up to one month for an adult seeking sanctuary from family violence. Neighbors within 3,000 feet (or a government or civic association) may sue to enjoin violations and recover $500 per violation plus fees. No statute defines when a guest becomes a tenant or gives roommate/additional-occupant rights; the lease governs. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.010 | Texas law guarantees persons with disabilities equal access to rental housing and says a person with a service animal may not be charged extra compensation or a deposit for the animal, but is liable for damage the animal causes beyond reasonable wear and tear. The state definition of 'assistance animal'/'service animal' is limited to a specially trained or equipped dog. Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as an assistance or service animal is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 hours of community service. No state statute sets documentation rules for emotional support animals. Tex. Hum. Res. Code Sec. 121.002, 121.003(g)-(h), 121.006 |
| Utah | No landlord-specific camera statute. Since May 7, 2025, it is a crime (class A misdemeanor; third-degree felony in aggravated cases) to intentionally use any technology to secretly record an individual, without knowledge or consent, for the purpose of viewing a part of the body for which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, under circumstances where the person reasonably expects privacy. Utah is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Unless the rental agreement says otherwise, the owner must give at least 24 hours' notice before entering the unit. Utah Code 76-12-307; 77-23a-4; 57-22-4(2) | No statewide occupancy limit. The renter may not increase the number of occupants above the number specified in the rental agreement without the owner's written permission. Otherwise guests are governed by the rental agreement; the renter may not knowingly permit anyone to damage the unit. Utah Code 57-22-5(1), (2) | An owner or lessor of private housing may not discriminate against an individual with a disability because the individual has a service animal or a 'support animal' (an animal, other than a service animal, that qualifies as a reasonable accommodation under federal law), including by charging an extra fee or deposit for the animal; the owner may recover the reasonable cost to repair damage the animal causes. It is a class C misdemeanor to knowingly and intentionally falsely represent that an animal is a service or support animal, or to misrepresent a material fact to a health care provider to obtain documentation designating an animal as a service or support animal. No state-specific documentation form; federal Fair Housing Act standards apply. Utah Code 26B-6-801, 26B-6-803, 26B-6-805 |
| Vermont | No landlord camera statute, but Vermont's voyeurism law expressly prohibits intentionally conducting surveillance of, or photographing, filming or recording, a person without the person's knowledge and consent while the person is in a place where the person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy within a home or residence. It also bars viewing or recording a person's intimate areas or sexual conduct without consent where privacy is expected. Landlord entry requires consent or at least 48 hours' notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., for listed purposes, except in an emergency. 13 V.S.A. § 2605(b)-(d); 9 V.S.A. § 4460 | No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. Vermont law allows a landlord to condition or prohibit subleasing in a written lease and to require written notice of any sublessee's name and contact information (without a written lease, the tenant must give that notice). The tenant must ensure persons on the premises with the tenant's consent do not disturb other tenants or damage the premises. 9 V.S.A. § 4456(b)-(c); § 4456b | Vermont fair housing law makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting a dwelling because a person relies on aids such as specially trained animals, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules, pet-fee limits or a housing misrepresentation penalty; federal Fair Housing Act standards govern those questions. 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9)-(10) |
| 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 |
| Washington | No landlord camera statute. Washington is an all-party consent state: recording a private conversation or private communication without the consent of all participants is unlawful. Voyeurism laws make it a crime to knowingly view, photograph or film a person without knowledge and consent in a place where the person would reasonably expect privacy. New smart-access-system rules (effective Jan. 1, 2027) limit the data a landlord's electronic/biometric entry system may collect, require a written privacy policy (including what data on guests is collected), and require a non-biometric, non-phone alternative key on request. RCW 9.73.030; 9A.44.115; 59.18.750-.760 | No statute on guest limits or occupancy caps — the state landlord-tenant act does not define when a guest becomes a tenant; the rental agreement governs, subject to local occupancy codes and fair-housing rules. The tenant must follow reasonable rules and may not let family members, invitees or others damage the premises. Remaining-occupant rule: when a tenant permanently leaves (other than because the landlord ended the tenancy), the landlord must serve any occupant who lived there with the tenant for at least the prior six months a notice to apply to join the rental agreement or vacate within 30 days; the landlord may apply its normal screening criteria. RCW 59.18.130(4); 59.18.140(1); 59.18.650(3) (ch. 59.18 checked) | The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits housing discrimination based on disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and requires reasonable accommodation in rules and policies. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or service-animal trainee (knowing or having reason to know it does not qualify) to secure disability rights is a civil infraction. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules or pet-fee limits. RCW 49.60.222; 49.60.214 |
| West Virginia | No landlord-specific statute. Criminal invasion of privacy: knowingly photographing, filming or digitally recording another person without that person's knowledge while the person is fully or partially nude in a place where a reasonable person would expect privacy is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000); a second offense is a felony. West Virginia is a one-party consent state for audio interception. W. Va. Code § 61-8-28; § 62-1D-3(e) | No statute — no statewide occupancy limit or guest rule; the lease governs. The landlord's code-compliance and repair duties do not cover problems caused by a member of the tenant's family or other person on the premises with the tenant's consent. Since 2024, a 'squatter' (a person occupying a unit without a rental agreement and without the tenant's authorization) is not covered by the landlord-tenant article, and courts may not require eviction proceedings to remove one. W. Va. Code § 37-6-30(a)(2), (4); § 37-6-31 | Not verified yet |
| Wisconsin | No landlord-specific statute. It is a crime (Class A misdemeanor; felony if the victim is a minor) to knowingly install a surveillance device in a private place, or use one to observe there, with intent to observe a nude or partially nude person without consent; a 'private place' is anywhere a person may reasonably expect to be safe from being observed without knowledge and consent, and 'surveillance device' includes a peephole. It is also a crime to enter a common area of a multiunit dwelling and look into a unit for sexual gratification. Wisconsin is a one-party consent state for audio interception. Wis. Stat. 942.08; 968.31(2)(c) | No statute — ch. 704 and ATCP 134 set no statewide occupancy limit and do not define when a guest becomes a tenant; the rental agreement governs, subject to local occupancy codes and fair-housing law (family status is protected under Wis. Stat. 106.50). Wis. Stat. ch. 704; Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP 134 (checked) | State fair housing law covers both trained assistance animals and emotional support animals (ESAs: animals that provide emotional support, comfort or companionship but are not trained to perform tasks). A landlord may not refuse to rent, evict, charge extra compensation, or harass because of a disability-related animal. For an ESA, the landlord may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need for the animal from a licensed health professional; for a trained animal it may request documentation as provided by statute. The tenant is liable for sanitation and damage caused by the animal. The animal may be refused if documentation is not provided, if it would impose an undue burden, or if the specific animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial damage that cannot be reduced by another accommodation. Misrepresenting a disability or the need for an ESA to obtain housing carries a forfeiture of at least $500 (also for a health professional who misrepresents a patient's need). Wis. Stat. 106.50(1m)(im), (2r)(bg), (2r)(br) |
| Wyoming | No landlord-specific statute. Voyeurism — clandestinely viewing without consent into an area where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy (including restrooms, baths, showers, dressing rooms and bedrooms) — is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $750); capturing images with a camera or other recording device in such circumstances is a felony (up to 5 years and $5,000). Wyoming is a one-party consent state for audio interception. W.S. 6-4-304; 7-3-702 | No statewide occupancy limit. The renter may not increase the number of occupants above the number specified in the rental agreement without the owner's written permission. Otherwise the lease governs guests; the owner need not repair damage caused by guests' misuse, and the renter must remove property left by guests before the tenancy ends. W.S. 1-21-1204(a)(v), (viii); 1-21-1203(c) | A person may not be discriminated against in renting residential property because the person has an assistance animal, which must be permitted in accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act; the person is liable for damage the animal causes. 'Assistance animal' includes an animal that provides emotional support alleviating symptoms or effects of a disability. Knowingly and intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service or assistance animal to obtain these rights is a misdemeanor (fine up to $750); interfering with these rights is also a misdemeanor (fine up to $750). No state-specific documentation rules — federal Fair Housing Act standards apply. W.S. 35-13-201(c); 35-13-203; 35-13-205 (definitions) |
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.