Residential Camera Registry
Community Camera Registry
We are building an interactive map of security cameras in Seattle that will:
- Be accessible to the Seattle Police Department investigators
- Increase the efficiency of direct video evidence collection
- Provide immediate contact information to investigators for camera owners
- Enable communities to work together to create a safer Seattle
Camera registration takes less than one minute via our secure online portal. Registering your cameras does not allow the Seattle Police Department access to your live video stream - it only enables investigators to know a camera is present at your location and easily request video evidence should an incident occur. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
Residential Camera Registration FAQs
What can I expect after registering my camera?
If a crime occurs in your area, law enforcement may contact you via the contact information you provided and ask if you’re willing to share any video footage. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
Who is eligible?
Anyone whose premises are located within Seattle is welcome to register the location of their private camera(s) and aid in investigations.
Is there a cost to register?
No, there is no cost associated with registration.
What information will be requested on the registration form?
The form requests the owner’s first and last name, email address, cell phone number, location address, and the number of internal and/or external cameras.
How will my camera information be used?
The contact information you provide may be accessed by the Seattle Police Department when investigating a crime near where your camera is located. Law enforcement may contact you to request a copy of any video captured by your camera system. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
Can the Seattle Police Department remotely access my cameras at any time?
No. Registering cameras means the police department will know where your cameras are located in the event of a crime or a critical incident. There is no direct access to any privately-owned cameras and the registry is only used to request footage if an incident were to occur in their vicinity. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
Who has access to the camera map?
Only authorized Seattle Police Department users to have access to the entire camera registry map in their jurisdiction – no other jurisdictions have access to your contact information. However, your information can be disclosed as part of a public disclosure request as long as the requestor is not using it for commercial purposes.
Is my camera information subject to disclosure in a public data request?
Any information you share as part of the registration program will be publicly disclosable, unless it is requested for a commercial purpose. If you provide a video clip to SPD as part of an active investigation, it will not be disclosed until the investigation is closed, after which someone can request the video.
How will I be contacted if law enforcement wants to request my video?
In the event your video would be helpful to law enforcement, you would be contacted via the provided information on the registration form. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
Will my information be shared publicly?
Washington State public disclosure laws do not specifically exempt this type of information from being disclosed to someone making that request. However, State law does prohibit anyone from using your information for commercial purposes.