Hidden camera laws in North Carolina

The actual statute, in plain English — not a paraphrase of a paraphrase.

The statute

G.S. § 14-202 (Secretly Peeping Into Room Occupied by Another Person)

What it prohibits

Possessing a device capable of creating a photographic image while secretly peeping into a bedroom, restroom, bathroom, shower, dressing room, or similar private-designed area; actually creating an image while peeping for sexual gratification is a higher tier; secretly photographing under or through someone’s clothing without consent is also covered.

Penalty

Simple secret peeping with a capable device = Class A1 misdemeanor. Creating an image while peeping for sexual gratification, or upskirt-type photographing = Class I felony.

This is general public information, not legal advice, verified against the statute text linked below as of this writing — legislatures amend these laws periodically (Florida renamed its own statute in 2024). If this matters for a real situation, read the current text yourself or talk to a lawyer: https://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/chapter-14/article-26/section-14-202/. Separately, recording audio of a conversation is governed by a different law (wiretap/eavesdropping statutes, which vary by state on whether one party or all parties must consent) — this page covers image/video capture only.

If you've actually found something, the statute matters less than what you do next: read the six steps here.

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Other states

MichiganMCL § 750.539j New JerseyN.J.S.A. § 2C:14-9 (Invasion of Privacy) VirginiaCode of Virginia § 18.2-386.1 (Unlawful Filming, Videotaping or Photographing of Another) WashingtonRCW § 9A.44.115 (Voyeurism) ArizonaA.R.S. § 13-1424 (Voyeurism) MassachusettsM.G.L. c. 272, § 105 (Photographing, Videotaping or Electronically Surveilling Partially Nude or Nude Person) TennesseeTenn. Code § 39-13-605 (Unlawful Photographing in Violation of Privacy) ColoradoC.R.S. § 18-3-405.6 (Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification)