HDB flats present a specific challenge for CCTV installation. The flat is yours, but the corridor outside your door is common property. This means what you can install, where you can mount it, and what it can point at are all subject to rules that do not apply to landed homes or condos with private entrances.
This guide focuses specifically on CCTV for HDB residents: the rules, the practical camera options, and how to set up a system that covers your security needs without running afoul of regulations.
HDB rules for CCTV installation
HDB's approach to private CCTV is straightforward in principle but sometimes unclear in specifics. Here is what is currently established.
Inside your flat
No restrictions. You can install cameras in any room, any quantity, any configuration. This is your private space.
At your front door
You may install a camera on your gate, door frame, or inside your flat pointing outward through the gate. The camera should be within your flat's boundary (the threshold of your front door or the outer edge of your gate).
The camera's view should primarily cover the area directly in front of your door. It should not be positioned or angled to capture your neighbour's door, the corridor beyond what is immediately necessary, or the interior of adjacent units.
On the corridor
The corridor itself is common property managed by your Town Council, but the rules changed in May 2023. HDB now allows one corridor-facing CCTV camera per household without prior Town Council approval, provided the camera is mounted within your flat's boundary (gate, door frame, or inside the flat pointing outward through the gate).
Written Town Council approval is still required if you want to physically mount the camera on common property. This includes drilling or fixing the camera onto the corridor wall, ceiling, pillar, or building facade. In those cases, approval is not automatic. The Town Council considers whether there is a legitimate security reason, whether neighbours are affected, and whether the installation is minimally intrusive.
Even when no approval is needed, restrictions still apply. The camera must not capture your neighbours' doorways, windows, or the interior of their units. Typically only one corridor-facing camera per household is permitted. Wiring must not obstruct the corridor or damage common property.
Temporary permits for active security incidents. If you have filed a police report about a specific incident (harassment, repeated theft, or an ongoing neighbour dispute), many Town Councils grant a temporary permit (typically six months) for a camera on common property, renewable if the issue continues. This is worth knowing if you are dealing with an active security situation and a camera mounted within your flat is not sufficient.
In common areas
Cameras in void decks, lift lobbies, staircases, car parks, and playgrounds are the responsibility of the Town Council. Individual residents cannot install cameras in these areas.
What you can and cannot do
Here is a practical summary:
| Action | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Camera inside flat | Yes | No restrictions |
| Camera on your gate/door frame | Yes | Must face your doorstep, not neighbour's door |
| Indoor camera pointing out through gate | Yes | Practical alternative to exterior mounting |
| Doorbell camera on your door | Yes | Within your flat boundary |
| Peephole camera replacing door viewer | Yes | Most discreet option |
| Camera mounted on corridor wall/ceiling | Needs approval | Apply to Town Council (or temporary permit with a police report) |
| Camera facing neighbour's unit | No | Privacy violation |
| Camera in lift lobby/void deck | No | Town Council responsibility |
| Cables across common corridor | Needs approval | Must not obstruct or damage common property |
Best cameras for HDB flats
HDB installations call for cameras that are compact, easy to install, and do not require corridor-mounting.
Doorbell cameras
The most practical exterior-facing option for HDB. Mounts on your door or gate, covers the entrance, and records visitors.
Top picks for HDB:
- Ring Video Doorbell (battery): Wireless, motion-triggered recording, cloud or local storage. Sticks onto the door frame with included adhesive mount. No wiring needed.
- Google Nest Doorbell (battery): Integrates with Google Home, smart alerts for people/packages, cloud recording with subscription.
- Eufy Video Doorbell: Records locally to a base station, no monthly subscription. Good for HDB residents who prefer not to pay ongoing fees.
- Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3: Budget-friendly, records to microSD or NAS, integrates with Mi Home.
Indoor cameras
Compact WiFi cameras placed inside your flat provide wide coverage and easy installation.
For the living area: A wide-angle camera (130 to 160 degrees) placed on a shelf or mounted high on the wall covers the entire room. Brands like TP-Link Tapo, Eufy Indoor, and Xiaomi Mi Home offer reliable 2K models for under S$80.
For the entrance: Position an indoor camera on a shelf or wall bracket near the front door, angled to capture anyone entering through the gate. This provides clear entrance monitoring without any exterior installation.
For nursery or bedroom: Camera with two-way audio and night vision. Place on a shelf or mount on the wall. Most indoor cameras include these features.
Peephole cameras
A peephole camera replaces your standard door viewer. From the outside, it looks like a regular peephole. Inside, it has a display screen showing who is at the door, with recording capability.
Advantages for HDB: Completely invisible to neighbours, no corridor installation, no mounting hardware visible from outside. Works within your door (your property).
Limitations: Fixed wide-angle view (determined by the peephole position), typically lower resolution than standalone cameras, and battery-powered with limited life between charges.
Corridor vs indoor cameras
For HDB residents, the decision between corridor and indoor cameras is really about risk tolerance.
Indoor camera pointed at the door (recommended for most):
- No approval needed
- Records anyone entering or approaching your gate
- Clear footage of faces at close range
- Completely within your property boundary
- Can also cover your living space
Doorbell/peephole camera on your door (recommended addition):
- Within your property boundary
- Captures visitors and delivery personnel
- Motion alerts when someone approaches
- Two-way audio for communication without opening the door
Corridor-mounted camera on common property (requires approval):
- Covers a wider area (useful if you have had security incidents)
- Requires Town Council application and approval when drilled or fixed onto corridor walls, ceilings, or pillars
- Temporary six-month permits are often available if you have filed a police report about an ongoing incident
- May draw neighbour complaints
- Wiring must be managed neatly and must not damage common property
- Risk of removal order and possible fines if installed without approval
For most HDB residents, the combination of an indoor camera covering the entrance and a doorbell camera provides comprehensive security without regulatory complications. If you are weighing up the two connectivity options, our guide on wired vs wireless CCTV for Singapore homes covers the trade-offs in detail.
Installation considerations for HDB
Power supply
Battery-powered cameras are the simplest for HDB. No wiring, no drilling for cable routes, no impact on common property. The trade-off is battery life (manufacturers typically quote anywhere from a few months to around six months depending on activity and settings) and the need to remove the camera periodically for charging.
Plug-in cameras need a power point. For indoor cameras, existing power points are usually close enough. For a doorbell camera, you may need to run a thin cable from inside the flat under the door or through a small hole in the door frame.
If the installation requires a new power point near a camera location, or if you want to tap into existing mains wiring, a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) should handle the electrical work for compliance. See our HDB residential LEW services or electrical outlet and switch installation page for scope and booking.
WiFi coverage
HDB flats are compact enough that WiFi typically reaches all camera locations from a centrally placed router. If your router is far from the front door and signal is weak, a WiFi mesh node or range extender near the entrance helps.
Concrete walls between rooms can weaken the signal. Test WiFi strength at each camera location before mounting.
Storage
Camera footage needs to be stored somewhere:
- Cloud storage: Convenient but involves a monthly subscription (S$3 to S$15/month depending on the brand and plan). Ring, Google, and TP-Link all offer cloud plans.
- Local storage (microSD card in the camera): No ongoing cost, but you lose footage if the camera is stolen or damaged. Limited capacity (32GB to 256GB).
- NAS or base station: A middle ground. Footage is stored on a device in your flat. Higher capacity, no subscription, and protected from camera theft. Eufy and Reolink offer systems with base stations.
For most HDB setups, a combination of local storage (for continuous recording) and cloud backup (for event clips) provides good coverage.
Our CCTV installation service handles HDB-specific setups, from camera selection to mounting and configuration. For installations that need new power points near camera locations, our doorbell installation service covers wiring for video doorbell systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install CCTV outside my HDB flat?
Yes, with some conditions. Since May 2023, HDB allows one corridor-facing CCTV camera per household without prior Town Council approval, as long as the camera is mounted within your flat's boundary (gate, door frame, or inside your flat pointing outward).
Approval is still required if you want the camera physically mounted on common property: drilled or fixed to the corridor wall, ceiling, pillar, or building facade.
The camera's field of view should cover the area immediately outside your door and must not capture your neighbour's doorway, the interior of neighbouring units, or wide stretches of the corridor.
In practice, a doorbell camera or peephole camera is the safest option because it naturally covers only the area directly in front of your door. An indoor camera angled through the gate also works well.
If you have filed a police report about an active security incident, many Town Councils grant a temporary six-month permit for a camera on common property, renewable if the issue continues.
For a broader overview of CCTV options, see our complete CCTV installation guide.
What are the HDB rules for corridor cameras?
HDB updated its rules in May 2023. You may install one corridor-facing CCTV camera without prior Town Council approval, as long as the camera is mounted within your flat's boundary (gate, door frame, or inside the flat pointing outward).
Approval is still required if you want to mount the camera on common property itself (drilled or fixed to corridor walls, ceilings, pillars, or the building facade).
Key rules that apply either way:
- Typically one corridor-facing camera per household
- Camera must not capture neighbours' doorways, windows, or interiors
- Wiring must not obstruct the corridor or damage common property
- The camera must serve a legitimate security purpose
If you have filed a police report about an ongoing incident, Town Councils often grant a temporary six-month permit for a camera on common property, renewable based on continued need. For the current HDB guidance, refer to the official HDB page on installing smart door devices and CCTV cameras.
Do I need neighbour's permission for CCTV?
You do not need explicit permission to install CCTV inside your flat or on your gate. However, if your camera captures your neighbour's doorway, you may face complaints.
The PDPA domestic exemption covers home security cameras for personal use. But if you share footage publicly that identifies neighbours, PDPA obligations may apply.
The practical approach: inform immediate neighbours that you are installing a camera for security. This prevents misunderstandings. For cameras within your flat's boundary pointed at your own doorstep, you are generally on solid ground.
Can I install a doorbell camera in HDB?
Yes. Doorbell cameras are one of the best CCTV options for HDB. They mount on or beside your front door (within your boundary) and capture the area directly in front of the door.
Popular options:
- Ring Video Doorbell (battery, easy stick-on mount)
- Google Nest Doorbell (battery or wired)
- Eufy Video Doorbell (local storage, no subscription)
- Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3 (budget-friendly)
Battery-powered models are simplest: no wiring needed. For HDB gates, magnetic or bracket mounts attach without permanent modification. Peephole cameras are the most discreet alternative, replacing your standard door viewer.
What happens if I violate HDB CCTV rules?
The Town Council follows a graduated response:
- Notification letter asking you to remove or reposition the camera
- Formal directive to remove if you do not comply
- Removal by Town Council at your cost (under the Town Councils Act and Town Council by-laws)
Unauthorised installation on common property can also attract fines of up to S$5,000 in some cases.
In more serious disputes (deliberate surveillance of neighbours, or surveillance that a neighbour considers harassment), the matter can escalate beyond the Town Council:
- Voluntary mediation via the Community Mediation Centre (CMC)
- Statutory recourse via the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) under the Community Disputes Resolution Act, where a neighbour may claim that surveillance amounts to unreasonable interference with the enjoyment of their home
- PDPC investigation if PDPA obligations are breached (typically when footage is shared publicly in a way that goes beyond personal domestic use)
The practical consequence is usually a request to remove or reposition. Installing within your flat's boundary from the start avoids this risk entirely. For camera placement strategies, see our complete CCTV installation guide.
Stay secure, stay compliant
HDB CCTV does not have to be complicated. A doorbell camera on your door and an indoor camera covering the living area gives you solid security coverage without touching common property or needing Town Council approval.
Focus on cameras within your flat's boundary, use battery-powered or plug-in models for simple installation, and keep your neighbours informed. If you need wider corridor coverage, go through the proper Town Council application process first.
Our CCTV installation service is experienced with HDB-specific setups and can recommend the right cameras and mounting approach for your flat layout.
