In short
Installing CCTV outside your HDB flat, such as in the common corridor: ask your Town Council first. What HDB allows inside the flat, positions and privacy.
To install a CCTV camera outside your HDB flat, for example in the common corridor, ask your managing Town Council first. HDB's no-approval rule only covers cameras and smart doorbells inside your flat, and HDB says you should not install CCTV cameras on the building façade. Inside the flat, a standalone camera needs no HDB approval as long as it does not face another flat's door or windows (HDB).
Inside or outside the flat: what is the difference?
| Where the camera goes | HDB approval? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Inside the flat, e.g. above the inside of the main door | Not needed | Do not face another flat's door or windows |
| Smart doorbell or digital door viewer at the main door | Not needed | Install it as part of your door |
| Common corridor, lift lobby or outside the gate | Not covered by HDB's no-approval rule | Ask your managing Town Council for advice first |
| Building façade | HDB says do not install | Choose a position inside the flat instead |
How do you ask the Town Council?
Contact your managing Town Council before you buy or drill anything. Tell them where the camera will go, what it will cover and how it will be powered. Keep their reply in writing. If they do not allow a corridor camera, a camera inside the flat behind the main door, or a smart doorbell, usually covers the same entrance.
Where should an HDB corridor camera point?
- At your own door and gate, not at the flat opposite or your neighbours' windows.
- Use a narrower view or the camera's privacy mask to black out areas that are not yours.
- Mount it neatly and keep cables tidy, so it does not block the corridor.
Recording a neighbour's home can lead to a dispute: the Community Disputes Resolution Act lists surveillance of a neighbour's home as an example of unreasonable interference (section 4).
What if you are being harassed, for example by loan sharks?
Make sure everyone at home is safe and make a police report first. Then ask your Town Council about a camera at your door, and tell them about the police report. A camera does not stop an incident, but footage helps the police investigate.
Does the PDPA apply to a home camera?
The PDPA's main obligations do not apply to individuals acting in a personal or domestic capacity (section 4), so a resident's home camera is generally outside them. Businesses are covered: see our PDPA CCTV guide.
Need a camera for your HDB flat?
Read our HDB doorbell camera guide, see our CCTV packages, or ask us for a quote with photos of your door and corridor.
Sources
- HDB: Installing Smart Door Devices and CCTV Cameras
- Personal Data Protection Act 2012, section 4
- Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015, section 4
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change: check HDB's page and your Town Council before you install. Last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need approval for CCTV outside my HDB flat?
- HDB's no-approval rule covers cameras inside your flat only. For a camera outside the flat, such as in the common corridor, ask your managing Town Council for advice before installing.
- Can I install CCTV inside my HDB flat without approval?
- Yes. HDB says you do not need its approval for a standalone CCTV camera in your flat, as long as it does not face another flat's door or windows.
- Can my CCTV point at my neighbour's door?
- No. Aim it at your own door and gate. HDB's condition is that cameras must not face another flat's door or windows, and recording a neighbour's home can lead to a dispute.
Want this done for you?
We supply and install CCTV, door access, video intercom and Wi-Fi systems across Singapore, from Hikvision, Uniview, Vstarcam, TP-Link, Ruijie and EZVIZ. Send a photo or floor plan and we will recommend a setup and a fixed price.