License plate reader cameras have become a common sight at neighborhood entrances, and we are hearing more questions about them from buyers. Companies like Flock Safety now have systems in more than 6,000 communities nationwide, many installed by HOAs or by developers before the first home is sold. The cameras record the plate, make, model, and color of vehicles coming and going. Each HOA board decides how long that data is kept, who can search it, and whether it is shared with a wider law enforcement network.
Buyers see these systems very differently, and both views are reasonable. Many people, especially in gated communities or those who travel for long stretches, consider entrance cameras a welcome security feature and expect to find them. Others are more focused on privacy and want to understand who owns the footage and where it goes before they commit to a neighborhood. National polling shows opinion is divided, and Inman reported last week that some buyers are now factoring cameras into which subdivisions they will consider. Our job is not to tell anyone how to feel about it. Our job is to make sure you have the facts.
Right now, no rule requires an HOA to disclose its camera contract or data settings to a prospective buyer, and most HOA documents do not address the topic at all. The answers are available, but someone has to ask. When a community has entrance cameras, we can request the details from the HOA in writing: whether the system connects to a law enforcement network, how long footage is retained, who has access, and whether residents can opt out. If you are selling in a community with cameras, having those answers ready helps buyers on either side of the question feel comfortable moving forward.
Source: Jessi Healey, "Flock cameras spark homebuyer backlash as disclosure lags," Inman, September 18, 2026. https://www.inman.com/2026/09/18/flock-cameras-real-estate-disclosure/
