.a

Back

Legality of Recording by State.......(size: 2 printed pages)

It is against the law in every jurisdiction to audio record conversations where none of the parties are aware that they are being recorded. In the case where one of the parties is aware and the rest are not, laws vary from state to state along with statutes regarding civil penalties, etc. Below is an overview of which states have what laws. States where consent of all parties is required are highlighted in grey. A blank space means No.
STATE Is consent of all parties required? Are there criminal penalties? Does the statute allow for civil suits? Is there a specific hidden camera law? Are there additional penalties for disclosing or publishing information?

Federal

  YES YES   YES
Alabama   YES   YES YES
Alaska   YES   YES YES
Arizona   YES      
Arkansas   YES   YES  
California YES YES YES YES YES
Colorado   YES     YES
Connecticut YES YES YES    
Delaware   YES YES YES YES
D.C.   YES YES   YES
Florida YES YES YES    
Georgia   YES   YES  
Hawaii   YES YES   YES
Idaho   YES YES   YES
Illinois YES YES YES YES YES
Indiana   YES YES   YES
Iowa   YES     YES
Kansas   YES     YES
Kentucky   YES     YES
Louisiana   YES YES YES YES
Maine   YES YES YES YES
Maryland YES YES YES   YES
Massachusetts YES YES YES   YES
Michigan YES YES YES   YES
Minnesota   YES YES   YES
Mississippi   YES YES   YES
Missouri   YES YES YES YES
Montana YES YES     YES
Nebraska   YES YES   YES
Nevada YES YES YES   YES
New Hampshire YES YES YES YES YES
New Jersey   YES YES   YES
New Mexico   YES YES   YES
New York   YES     YES
North Carolina   YES YES   YES
North Dakota   YES     YES
Ohio   YES YES   YES
Oklahoma   YES     YES
Oregon   YES   YES  
Pennsylvania YES YES YES   YES
Rhode Island   YES YES   YES
South Carolina          
South Dakota   YES   YES  
Tennessee   YES YES YES YES
Texas   YES YES   YES
Utah   YES YES YES YES
Vermont          
Virginia   YES YES   YES
Washington YES YES YES    
West Virginia   YES YES   YES
Wisconsin   YES YES   YES
Wyoming   YES YES   YES

(back to top)