Hidden camera laws in Washington

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

The statute

RCW § 9A.44.115 (Voyeurism)

What it prohibits

First degree: for sexual arousal or gratification, knowingly viewing, photographing, or filming another person without knowledge and consent in a place they’d expect privacy, or capturing their intimate areas without consent regardless of whether the location is public or private. Second degree: intentionally photographing a person’s intimate areas with intent to distribute the image, without consent. Corrections/jail personnel acting for security are exempt.

Penalty

First degree = class C felony. Second degree = gross misdemeanor.

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://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.44.115. 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

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) NevadaNRS § 200.604 (Capturing Image of Private Area of Another Person) HawaiiHRS § 711-1110.9 (Violation of Privacy in the First Degree) South CarolinaS.C. Code § 16-17-470 (Eavesdropping, Peeping, Voyeurism) CaliforniaPenal Code § 647(j)