What to know about security cameras in Phoenix
Arizona limits what a city can require of retail stores
State law says a city may not require a retail business to install security cameras. The law does not cover bars, hotels, restaurants or businesses with live entertainment, so a city can still set camera rules for those. We check your business type before planning around any requirement.
Source: A.R.S. 9-500.34
Alarm panels need a Phoenix Police permit
Phoenix Police issue burglar and fire alarm subscriber permits for businesses, one for each control panel. If cameras go in alongside an alarm panel, that permit is separate from the camera work, and we point it out at the walkthrough.
Source: Phoenix Police alarm permit form
Wiring inside a building falls under the building code
Phoenix's building code regulates communications wiring run inside a building. Class 2 and Class 3 control and signal circuits not essential for life safety are exempt from electrical permits, but the wiring itself is still under the code.
Source: Phoenix PBCC, Chapter 1
Who to call about a commercial permit
Commercial building permits go through Planning & Development at 200 W. Washington St., 3rd floor, phone 602-495-5411. If a camera job involves new conduit or a tenant improvement, we ask them how the work is handled before we start.
What a camera system includes
A commercial system has four parts: cameras, cabling, a recorder and a way to watch. Most installs use PoE cameras, which get power and video over one network cable, so each camera needs one cable and no outlet nearby.
The recorder, called an NVR, stores the video. You choose how many days of footage to keep, and drive size follows from that, from the camera count and from the video quality you pick.
Where cameras go
A camera's position decides what it can show. We walk the property with you and mark every spot before anything is drilled.
- Entries and exits, where you want a clear view of faces.
- Cash handling areas, bars and registers.
- Parking lots, loading docks and yards, with cameras rated for sun, dust and heat.
- Back doors and alleys, with enough light or infrared to see at night.
- Dome cameras for ceilings, bullet cameras for walls, and wide or multi-lens cameras for open areas.
Security cameras in Phoenix
Phoenix summers are hard on outdoor gear. Cameras on a west wall or metal roofline sit in direct sun much of the day, so we choose models rated for high temperatures and aim them away from glare. Dust is the other enemy, and a yearly lens cleaning, part of our camera repair and maintenance, keeps the picture sharp.
Restaurants, bars and live-entertainment venues fall outside the state's limit on city camera requirements, so we also ask whether your city, landlord or liquor license adds expectations. Retail shops get the same careful plan, even though the state rule shields them from a city mandate. Anything run inside the walls follows the Phoenix building code.
Viewing and exporting video
Live and recorded video play on a phone, a tablet or an office screen. Each person gets a login, and you choose what each can see. A manager may watch every camera while a bartender sees only the bar.
When someone asks for footage, you export the clip by time and camera. We show you and your staff how before we leave.
Install sequence
- Walk the building, ceilings and cable paths with you.
- Plan camera spots, recorder size and the days of footage you want.
- Install around your business hours so you can stay open.
- Aim, focus and check at night, then train your staff.
- Service continues Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Often paired with
Cameras share a network with other systems. Door access control on the same doors, structured cabling for the camera runs and business WiFi are common additions. The rest of our Phoenix services are on the Enzo in Phoenix page.
