Utah law generally allows hosts to use cameras in non-private areas for security, such as exterior doors, driveways, and entryways. These devices are meant to deter theft, confirm check-ins, and monitor who comes to and from the property so long as they do not capture guests inside spaces where privacy is expected.

Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb require hosts to clearly disclose any cameras on the property, even if those devices are outside. Guests should be able to see camera details in the listing before booking and decide whether they are comfortable staying there.

If you are dealing with a broader dispute involving your rental, it may also be helpful to review Utah resources on landlord–tenant and housing issues, since privacy concerns often overlap with larger rental problems.

Utah’s voyeurism statute makes it a crime to intentionally record or observe a person in a private place without consent. In the short-term rental context, this typically includes any hidden or undisclosed cameras inside the property, especially if they are placed where guests change clothes, sleep, or use the bathroom.

Risky devices include:

• Hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors, chargers, alarm clocks, vents, or speakers
• Undisclosed cameras pointed into living rooms used as sleeping spaces (sofa beds, futons, etc.)
• Any device capturing audio or video of guests inside the home without informed consent

Even visible indoor cameras can be a problem if they were not clearly disclosed in the listing before booking. Depending on the facts, guests may have claims under Utah privacy law and under consumer-protection rules, such as those discussed in guides like 5 Key Points on Utah UDAP Laws.

Imagine this situation: A family books a weekend Airbnb near a Utah ski resort. The listing mentions an exterior doorbell camera but says nothing about any indoor devices. On the first night, while plugging a phone into a USB wall adapter in the living room, one family member notices a tiny lens and blinking light inside the adapter.

They quickly realize it is a hidden camera pointed at the sofa bed where one of the children is sleeping.

Under Utah law, this raises immediate concerns:

• The device is indoors, in a space where guests reasonably expect privacy at night.
• The camera is hidden and undisclosed; guests had no way to consent.
• It is positioned where people sleep and may partially undress.

In this kind of scenario, the host’s conduct may amount to criminal voyeurism, and the guests may have grounds for both a police report and a civil claim. It is more serious than a mere “house rule” violation it is potentially a crime.

If you discover a suspected hidden camera in a Utah Airbnb or short-term rental, your safety and documentation come first.

Step 1: Move to a different area and document what you see. Take clear photos and short videos of the device from several angles. Capture where it is installed and what it appears to be recording. Avoid destroying evidence or pulling the device apart.

Step 2: Contact Airbnb through the app. Use the platform’s safety tools or message support to report an undisclosed camera. Airbnb may relocate you, cancel the reservation, and begin its own investigation into the host.

Step 3: Consider contacting local law enforcement. Because hidden indoor recording can qualify as unlawful surveillance, it is often appropriate to file a police report. Officers may seize the device, review footage, and decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

Step 4: Preserve all messages and evidence. Keep screenshots of the listing, communication with the host, and your report to Airbnb. These records can be critical if a civil claim or criminal case develops later on.

If questions about your rights under Utah statutes arise more broadly, resources like Utah Legal Guide: Key Statutes Every Utahn Should Know can help put the privacy rules in context.

As a rough rule, cameras may be acceptable in public-facing or non-private spaces if they are disclosed. They cross the line when they monitor private behavior or are hidden from guests.

Police and prosecutors. If officers conclude that the host secretly recorded guests, prosecutors may pursue voyeurism or related charges. The exact outcome will depend on how the device was used, what was recorded, and whether images were shared.

Airbnb and other platforms. Airbnb’s policies generally forbid hidden or undisclosed cameras. Hosts who break these rules may be removed from the platform, and guests may receive refunds or credits depending on the situation.

Civil and consumer remedies. In addition to criminal enforcement, guests may have civil claims for invasion of privacy, emotional distress, or deceptive practices. Some conduct may also fall under Utah’s unfair and deceptive acts and practices rules, explained in more detail in Utah Law Explained content on key insights on Utah UDAP laws.

Because each case is fact-specific, many Utahns choose to speak with a lawyer who can evaluate whether to pursue damages or other relief.