Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

The answer to that is pretty technical, but the basic answer is "it depends." The key issue is whether the camera allows the landlord to see areas that would be considered private, such as the INSIDE of the house, not the yard for example, in a way that would not be possible by normal human vision from a location that is legally accessible to the landlord. So telephoto lenses would not be ok. Anything that would allow them to see in your windows more clearly than a person sitting in the same location would not be ok. However, if the landlord could legally sit where the camera is, and could see with their eyes what the camera sees, it is legal.

Generally, a landlord is allowed to install security cameras that record areas that are visible from public areas. If a person walking by could see the areas then a camera could be pointed there. If the camera can see inside your unit, that is probably illegal. Finding that out may not be possible. Ask your landlord to re-direct the cameras. If it is something that you cannot tolerate, you may need to find a new place to live. Or, you can simply put up blinds or curtains.