A practical guide to HDB CCTV rules, cameras inside and outside the flat, Town Council considerations, domestic helper monitoring, camera placement, recording, remote viewing and upgrading an existing CCTV system.
- HDB says prior HDB approval is not required for a standalone CCTV camera installed within your flat.
- A standalone camera inside the flat should not face another flat's door or windows.
- For CCTV outside your flat, such as along the common corridor, HDB advises you to approach your managing Town Council for advice.
- CCTV cameras should not be installed on the HDB building façade.
- If you employ a migrant domestic worker, MOM says she must be told about the presence and location of video recording devices in the home.
- Cameras should not be installed where a domestic helper sleeps, changes clothes or uses the bathroom.
Standalone CCTV cameras may be installed within the flat, subject to HDB's camera-placement guidance.
This applies where the proposed CCTV installation is along the common corridor or another location outside your unit.
Keep the view focused on the area that genuinely needs monitoring.
HDB specifically states that CCTV cameras should not be installed on the building façade.
CCTV can be useful in an HDB home when you want to monitor your entrance, check the home while you are away, keep an eye on shared care areas, or replace an older camera system.
Start with what you actually need to see. Then decide where the camera should go, how you want footage recorded and whether the proposed installation will be inside or outside your flat.
Can I install CCTV inside my HDB flat?
Installing CCTV inside your own HDB flat is generally more straightforward than mounting cameras outside your unit.
HDB also states that standalone CCTV cameras installed within the flat should not face the door or windows of another flat.
See HDB's guidance on smart door devices and CCTV cameras . Last checked September 2026.
Common indoor locations include the inside of the main entrance, living room, service yard and other shared parts of the home where monitoring is genuinely useful.
You do not automatically need a complex camera. If one fixed direction gives you the view you need, a fixed camera may be simpler and more practical.
Can I use CCTV to monitor my maid or domestic helper?
Some families use CCTV in shared areas when a domestic helper is caring for children, elderly family members, pets or the household while the employer is away.
The important distinction is between monitoring a shared household area and recording an area where your helper needs privacy or modesty.
Common areas and private areas are different
- living room
- main entrance
- shared household areas
- childcare activity areas
- elderly-care common areas
- where your helper sleeps
- where she changes clothes
- bathroom areas
- other areas that compromise privacy or modesty
Tell your helper where the cameras are
MOM says employers who install video recording devices at home must inform their migrant domestic worker about the devices and their locations.
If the purpose is household safety or monitoring, be transparent about the cameras. Do not hide a camera in order to secretly record your helper in a private area.
What if the camera is for childcare or elderly care?
A camera in a shared living or care area can help a household review what happened during the day, provided it is not placed somewhere that compromises your helper's privacy or modesty.
Position the camera around the activity you actually need to monitor. If the purpose is childcare in the living room, for example, there is normally no reason for the camera to cover your helper's sleeping area.
MOM states that employers must inform MDWs about video recording devices and their locations, and must not place them in areas that compromise privacy or modesty. See MOM's guidance for employers of migrant domestic workers .
Can I install CCTV outside my HDB flat?
This is different from installing a camera inside your flat and pointing it towards your own entrance.
Once the camera itself, its bracket or its cabling will be placed in a common area, the proposed installation should be checked accordingly.
Take a clear photo of the proposed camera location and viewing direction. If the equipment will be installed outside your unit, approach your managing Town Council before drilling or running cables.
Do I need a police report?
HDB's current public guidance does not state a universal requirement that every resident must first obtain a police report before installing CCTV outside the flat.
Older online articles may still describe police-report or permit procedures. For a current installation, use HDB's latest guidance and approach your managing Town Council regarding the proposed outside-flat location.
HDB CCTV rules and Town Council considerations
Before discussing an outside-flat installation, prepare some basic information about what you want to monitor and where the equipment will be mounted.
- Take a photo of the proposed camera location.
- Decide what area you actually need to monitor.
- Confirm whether the camera will physically sit inside or outside your flat.
- Check whether the proposed view includes another flat's door or windows.
- Approach your managing Town Council if the camera will be outside your unit.
- Confirm the mounting position before drilling or running external cables.
HDB also states that CCTV cameras should not be installed on the building façade.
Not sure where the camera should go?
Send us a photo of the entrance or area you want to monitor. We can review the practical camera position, cabling, recording requirement and existing equipment.
Where should you position CCTV in an HDB flat?
Start with one simple question: What exactly do you need the camera to see?
Main entrance
An entrance camera can be useful for monitoring people entering or leaving the home. Depending on your layout, a camera positioned inside the flat may already give you the view you need.
Living room
A living-room camera can be useful for checking the home while travelling or monitoring activity in a shared area.
Childcare or elderly-care area
If the purpose is care monitoring, position the camera around the shared area where the care takes place rather than a private sleeping or changing area.
Service yard
A service-yard camera may be useful where there is another suitable area of the home that you want to monitor.
Entrance-facing camera
If the standalone CCTV camera is installed within your flat, remember HDB's guidance that it should not face another flat's door or windows.
Wider coverage is not automatically better. A camera that clearly covers the area you actually care about is usually more useful than one recording a large amount of unnecessary space.
Wired vs Wi-Fi CCTV for HDB
Both can work. The better option depends on how permanent the installation is, how many cameras you need, how the footage will be stored and how reliable the network is at each camera location.
| Factor | Wired IP CCTV | Wi-Fi CCTV |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Permanent or multi-camera installations | Simple one- or two-camera setups |
| Connection | Network cable | Wireless network |
| Power | Can use PoE with compatible equipment | Usually still needs a power source |
| Recording | Often paired with an NVR | May use memory card, cloud or another compatible recorder |
| Network dependence | Less dependent on Wi-Fi signal at the camera | More dependent on wireless coverage |
| Installation | Requires more cable planning | Usually simpler for small setups |
“Wireless” does not always mean completely wire-free. Many Wi-Fi cameras still require a power cable.
If you need permanent cable runs, see our CCTV and network cabling solutions .
IP camera or analog CCTV for an HDB flat?
IP cameras are commonly used for new residential installations because they work with network-based CCTV systems and can support compatible NVR recording and remote viewing.
That does not mean an existing analog CCTV system should automatically be replaced.
If you already have CCTV equipment, check:
- whether the existing cameras still work
- whether the image is still useful
- whether the recorder is reliable
- whether the existing cabling can be reused
- whether you need additional cameras
- whether more storage is required
- whether remote viewing still works correctly
You can also view our network camera options when planning a new IP CCTV system.
How can HDB CCTV footage be recorded?
The recording method depends on the camera and system you choose.
NVR recording
NVR recording is commonly used with multi-camera IP CCTV systems. Compatible cameras record to a network video recorder so footage can be stored and played back from one central system.
Memory card
Some standalone cameras can record directly to a compatible memory card. Storage capacity and recording functions vary between camera models.
Cloud recording
Some cameras and platforms offer cloud recording. Availability, retention periods and fees depend on the manufacturer or service provider.
Before choosing a recording method, consider the number of cameras, how long you want footage retained and whether you need continuous or event-based recording.
Can I view my HDB CCTV from my phone?
Many modern CCTV systems support mobile remote viewing when the camera, recorder, user account and network are configured correctly.
Depending on the equipment, remote viewing may let you:
- view live camera footage
- play back recorded footage
- view several cameras from one account
- receive supported event notifications
If your camera works locally but remote viewing stops, the issue may be with the network, recorder, account settings or internet connection rather than the camera itself.
For network-related CCTV requirements, see our networking solutions .
What if my existing HDB CCTV is not working?
A faulty camera does not always mean the whole CCTV system needs replacing.
Common problems include:
- camera offline
- no image
- no recording
- DVR or NVR faults
- remote viewing no longer working
- unstable network connection
- damaged cabling
- PoE or power problems
- ageing cameras
If only one part has failed, replacing the entire system may not make sense. If several components are old or incompatible, an upgrade may be more practical.
Which HDB CCTV setup may suit your needs?
One well-positioned entrance camera may already be enough.
Look for reliable recording and compatible remote viewing.
A wired IP system with central NVR recording may be more practical.
Position cameras around the care area rather than private sleeping or changing spaces.
Check the cameras, recorder and cabling before replacing everything.
Approach your managing Town Council for advice about the proposed location.
Common HDB CCTV installation mistakes
- installing CCTV outside the flat before checking the proposed location with the managing Town Council
- letting a standalone camera inside the flat face another unit's door or windows
- recording too much of the corridor when only the entrance needs monitoring
- placing cameras where a domestic helper sleeps, changes clothes or uses the bathroom
- not informing a migrant domestic worker about recording devices and their locations
- assuming a Wi-Fi camera does not need power
- buying cameras before checking Wi-Fi coverage or cable routes
- replacing the entire system before checking whether the existing cameras, recorder or cabling can still be used
Does the PDPA apply to CCTV in my HDB home?
Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act mainly regulates how organisations collect, use and disclose personal data.
The PDPA includes an exclusion for individuals acting in a personal or domestic capacity. A homeowner using CCTV for a private household purpose is therefore different from a business or organisation operating CCTV.
Businesses and organisations using CCTV should refer to the Personal Data Protection Commission Singapore for current guidance.
For normal HDB household use, the more immediate practical issues are where the camera is placed, whether anything is installed in a common area and, where applicable, MOM requirements relating to migrant domestic workers.
How much does HDB CCTV installation cost in Singapore?
There is no single useful price for every HDB CCTV installation.
The cost can depend on:
- number of cameras
- camera type
- indoor or outside-flat installation
- wired or Wi-Fi setup
- DVR or NVR requirements
- recording storage
- cable routing
- installation difficulty
- remote viewing setup
- whether existing equipment can be reused
A simple single-camera indoor setup is very different from a permanent multi-camera wired system with central recording.
What should I send when asking for an HDB CCTV quotation?
A few clear photos can make the quotation discussion much easier.
- Take a photo of the proposed camera location.
- Take another photo showing the intended viewing direction.
- Tell the installer how many areas you want monitored.
- Say whether recording is required.
- Say whether you need remote viewing.
- Send photos of your existing DVR, NVR or cameras if you already have a system.
- Mention whether the proposed camera is inside or outside the flat.
This gives the installer a much clearer starting point than simply asking for the price of “one HDB camera”.
HDB CCTV installation checklist
Check these before installation
- What exactly do I need the camera to monitor?
- Will the camera be physically inside or outside my flat?
- Does the proposed view include another flat's door or windows?
- If I employ an MDW, have I told her where the recording devices are?
- Is any camera positioned where the MDW sleeps, changes clothes or uses the bathroom?
- Do I need continuous recording?
- Do I need remote viewing?
- Is the Wi-Fi signal reliable at the proposed location?
- Can existing cameras, recorder or cabling be reused?
- Will any camera, bracket or cable be installed in a common area?
Frequently asked questions
HDB says residents do not need to seek HDB approval to install a standalone CCTV camera within their flat. The camera should not face another flat's door or windows.
If you intend to install CCTV outside your flat, such as along the common corridor, HDB advises you to approach your managing Town Council for advice.
HDB states that a standalone CCTV camera installed within your flat should not face another flat's door or windows.
HDB states that CCTV cameras should not be installed on the building façade.
HDB says residents do not need to seek HDB approval to install smart door devices such as smart door viewers and smart doorbells. A standalone CCTV camera outside the flat should still be considered under HDB's separate outside-flat guidance.
CCTV may be used in shared household areas, but MOM says employers must inform their migrant domestic worker about the presence and location of video recording devices in the home.
MOM says recording devices must not be installed in areas that compromise an MDW's privacy or modesty, including where she sleeps, changes clothes or uses the bathroom.
Yes. MOM says employers must inform their MDW about the presence and location of video recording devices in the home.
Not always. Wi-Fi can be practical for a simple installation, while wired IP CCTV may be more suitable for permanent multi-camera systems or central NVR recording.
Sometimes. Existing cabling should be checked for its type, condition and compatibility before deciding whether it can be reused.
Many modern CCTV systems support mobile remote viewing when the camera, recorder, account and network are configured correctly.
Cost depends on the number of cameras, equipment, recording method, storage, cabling, existing infrastructure and installation difficulty. Photos of the proposed installation area help with a more relevant quotation.
Need help planning your HDB CCTV setup?
Web Security provides CCTV installation, troubleshooting and system upgrades for homes and businesses in Singapore.
Send us photos of the proposed camera location, the intended viewing direction and any existing CCTV equipment. If the camera will be installed outside your flat or along a common corridor, approach your managing Town Council for advice about the location before proceeding.