Oregon Recording, Tracking & Surveillance Laws

At a glance

Adult subject — e.g., a spouse

Your own minor child

As a parent you generally have broad authority to monitor your own minor child — especially on a phone, computer, or vehicle you own or provide. The gray area is recording the child's conversations with other people, where wiretap law and the “vicarious consent” doctrine come in and outcomes vary — and if you're co-parenting, custody orders and the other parent's rights matter. Those are marked “seek legal advice.”

General (any subject)

Recording & consent

Oregon splits the rule by medium — the reverse of most hybrid states. For telephone calls, Oregon is one-party consent (ORS 165.540(1)(a)). But for in-person conversations, Oregon requires all parties to be notified that recording is happening (ORS 165.540(1)(c)) — the Ninth Circuit upheld this notice rule in 2025. So you can record a phone call you're on, but you must announce an in-person recording.

A violation is a Class A misdemeanor. The federal overlay still applies.

Recording law enforcement

Recording on-duty police in public is protected by the First Amendment — Oregon sits in the Ninth Circuit — as long as you don't physically interfere. Oregon's in-person notice rule includes a carve-out that allows openly recording peace officers performing official duties.

GPS & vehicle tracking

Oregon has no statute written only for GPS trackers, but secretly tracking someone can be charged under the stalking law (ORS 163.732). Tracking a vehicle you own is generally fine; secretly tracking someone else can be criminal. Treat non-consensual tracking as a lawyer question.

Private-investigator licensing

Oregon requires a state license to work as a private investigator, under ORS 703.430 and following, through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). Applicants need about 1,500 hours of investigative experience, must pass the DPSST proficiency exam, and carry a $5,000 bond or E&O insurance.

Out-of-state investigator reciprocity

Oregon appears on other states' limited-reciprocity lists (California and Louisiana both recognize Oregon), so an Oregon-licensed investigator may be able to follow a home-state case into those states for a limited time. Inbound recognition and any temporary authority run through DPSST — confirm current terms before working an Oregon case from out of state.

Hidden cameras in private areas

Recording a person's intimate area, or observing someone in a state of nudity for sexual gratification, where they reasonably expect privacy, without consent is invasion of personal privacy in Oregon (ORS 163.700). The statute expressly covers images made by a drone. Hidden cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms, and changing areas are off-limits.

Cameras in your own home / nanny cams

You can put cameras in your own home, including nanny cams in common areas. The limits: don't aim a camera at a space a guest, tenant, or worker would reasonably treat as private (a bathroom, or a live-in caregiver's bedroom) — that risks ORS 163.700 — and remember Oregon requires all-party notice to record in-person audio, so a hidden mic capturing others' conversations is a problem even at home.

Doorbell & outdoor cameras

A doorbell or outdoor camera covering your own porch, yard, or the street is fine for video — no reasonable expectation of privacy in public view. Trouble starts if you point a camera into a neighbor's window or fenced yard, or if the mic captures in-person conversations without notice. Aim at your property, not through someone else's walls.

Workplace & employee recording

Oregon's in-person all-party notice rule applies to workplace conversations — you must tell everyone before recording (phone calls are one-party). Secretly recording an in-person conversation is a crime. Employers should give clear notice; federal workplace rules can apply.

Drone surveillance

Oregon addresses drones directly: the invasion-of-personal-privacy statute (ORS 163.700) expressly prohibits recording someone's intimate area through a drone, and ORS 837.310 and following regulate drone use (including a private right of action for repeated low flights over property after notice). Using a drone to spy is a crime; general flight and filming from public vantage points remain legal. FAA rules govern the airspace.

See an error or an out-of-date citation? Please let us know.

General legal information only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Statutes and their interpretation change; entries may be incomplete or outdated. We disclaim all warranties and any liability for reliance on this page. Confirm the current law at the official Oregon Codes and consult a licensed Oregon attorney before recording, tracking, installing cameras, or gathering evidence.