🏘️ Private Flock cameras: HOAs, retailers and businesses (2026)

Do private Flock cameras feed the police?

Often, but not automatically. Flock says "All sharing is 'off' by default, and can only be initiated by you" Flock data-ownership page (21 Aug 2026). In practice, many private owners turn it on. KPBS reviewed more than 1,500 pages of records from San Diego County agencies. They could search dozens of private Flock networks KPBS (20 Nov 2025). Flock told 404 Media that cameras run by private companies have more restrictive sharing options 404 Media (6 Aug 2025).

This page covers cameras bought by someone other than the police: HOAs, shops, malls, landlords, hospitals, schools and churches. For the police side, see our Flock surveillance guide.

Who can buy a Flock camera, and does Flock vet buyers?

Who Flock sells to outside policing. Everything in this table is Flock's own description of its products (checked 16 Oct 2026).

Organisations, not individuals. Flock's pricing page lists public agencies, "businesses, HOAs, houses of worship, and organizations of all sizes" Flock pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026). We found no Flock offer to an individual homeowner.

No published vetting rules. Buyers fill in a form for a quote Flock pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026). Flock's customer terms set some limits Flock terms (21 Aug 2026):

• Use must be for a "Permitted Purpose": "a legitimate public safety and/or business purpose, including the awareness, prevention, and prosecution of crime".
• Customers may not use the service "to mislead, harass, stalk, or otherwise impose upon or violate the rights of any person".
• The customer decides which staff get logins, and logins need customer-issued email addresses.
• The customer must cut off a user on "indictment, arrest, or conviction for any felony offense".

Prices are not published. Flock bundles hardware, installation and software into "one simple annual fee" based on coverage area, sensor types and software Flock pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026). Its HOA page prices by "the number of devices and your neighborhood's layout" Flock HOA page (checked 16 Oct 2026). One reported figure: a Los Angeles neighbourhood association raised $200,000 in 2024 to buy its own Flock cameras Knock LA (29 Jul 2026).

Other vendors sell to businesses too. Motorola Solutions sells Avigilon video systems to businesses. A 2024 fact sheet says businesses "can opt in to share their license plate recognition (LPR) camera data with law enforcement". Each read then goes to a police agency's VehicleManager account (Vigilant software) "without the business needing to take any action" (vendor claims) Motorola/Avigilon fact sheet (Apr 2024). Verkada sells plate recognition to organisations. It calls its city setup a "closed, agency-controlled system" Cybernews (25 Aug 2026). In 2020, a Rekor manager quoted plate-reading software for existing HOA cameras at "basically $45 a month, per camera" CAI HOAresources (16 Feb 2020). We found no current public price from any of them.

Which stores and malls use Flock, and who sees the data?

Lowe's and Home Depot. Records that EFF obtained from the Johnson County, Texas, sheriff's office showed it could search Flock cameras at 173 Lowe's locations nationwide. It could also tap cameras and gunshot microphones at dozens of Home Depot stores in Texas 404 Media (6 Aug 2025). EFF's Dave Maass asked: "Do customers know that these stores are collecting their data and sharing indiscriminately? Probably not" 404 Media (6 Aug 2025).

Ohio. In the Dayton area, a reporter saw plate readers at every Lowe's visited. Police records showed Beavercreek and Lebanon police could reach Lowe's and Home Depot data. Miamisburg and Springfield could reach Lowe's data, including stores statewide Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026). Home Depot said the cameras are "used for the purpose of detecting and preventing theft". Meijer said its system "does not automatically share information with law enforcement or any third parties" Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026).

Malls. Simon Property Group, the largest US mall owner, gave several San Diego County agencies open access to search its cameras and get alerts. That covered Las Americas Premium Outlets and Fashion Valley KPBS (20 Nov 2025). In New Jersey, three Flock cameras watch the entrances of Simon's Gloucester Premium Outlets. Simon did not answer questions about them Philadelphia Inquirer (9 Oct 2026). Cherry Hill Mall would not name its camera brand. Its website says data is deleted after 30 days Philadelphia Inquirer (9 Oct 2026).

What the stores say. Lowe's privacy notice says it may share plate data "upon appropriate request and solely in connection with criminal investigations" KPBS (20 Nov 2025). Home Depot says it does not give federal law enforcement plate-reader access Philadelphia Inquirer (9 Oct 2026). Flock's own retail page features Academy Sports, whose loss-prevention manager describes an alert that led to an arrest (vendor material) Flock retail page (checked 16 Oct 2026).

Police view. A Beavercreek police captain said the cameras "can act as an important set of eyes for police" Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026). San Diego's sheriff's office said plate readers helped solve "multiple murders", but "the vast majority have been narcotic cases and stolen vehicle cases" KPBS (20 Nov 2025).

Can police still use private cameras after a city cancels Flock?

Places where private cameras outlasted a city decision, or where police rely on them. Sources dated; as of 16 October 2026.

Yes, where the owner keeps sharing. A council can end its own contract and remove city cameras. That does not reach cameras a business or HOA owns. The Institute for Justice counts 277 local governments (Institute for Justice, as of 15 Oct 2026) that cancelled or did not renew plate-reader contracts Institute for Justice (15 Oct 2026). Its count does not track private cameras left behind.

Chicago shows the route. The city's public-safety office described a 2023 agreement with Flock. It lets police "log in to Flock's system and view camera information" shared by others FOX 32 Chicago (7 Oct 2026). The Mayor's Office said it "recognizes the serious concerns raised by this arrangement". It said the office paid from its own discretionary budget from 2024, without approval from the budget office or the Mayor's Office FOX 32 Chicago (9 Oct 2026). Flock had not commented when FOX 32 published FOX 32 Chicago (7 Oct 2026).

How does private camera data reach the police?

There are three routes, all chosen by the camera owner.

1. Sharing with a local agency. The owner grants one police department search access and alerts. In Fallbrook, California, an HOA lets the sheriff search its two cameras and watch for plates of interest KPBS (20 Nov 2025). A board member there said he could not "see a reason any HOA would not share the data feed with the local sheriff" KPBS (20 Nov 2025).
2. Agencies with wide network access. A department that can search Flock's network can reach private cameras that share with it. El Cajon police own about 80 cameras but can reach more than 50,000 nationwide KPBS (20 Nov 2025). The 173 Lowe's stores were visible to a Texas sheriff's office 404 Media (6 Aug 2025).
3. Sending specific evidence. The HOA page also describes sharing "specific evidence" rather than live access Flock HOA page (checked 16 Oct 2026).

Can Flock share without the owner? Flock's data-ownership page says it "cannot share your data with law enforcement agencies, partner organizations" or anyone else on its own judgment Flock data-ownership page (21 Aug 2026). Its LPR policy keeps a narrower right. Flock "may access, use, preserve and/or disclose the LPR data to law enforcement authorities" if the law requires it. It may also do so if it believes in good faith this is "reasonably necessary". The listed reasons are legal process, enforcing the agreement, and security, fraud or technical issues Flock LPR policy (30 Jun 2026). Both pages are Flock's own statements.

Who controls the private side? Flock's spokesperson told KPBS: "It is up to the customer to determine, on the private side, how transparent they want to be" KPBS (20 Nov 2025). Alexandria police say private owners decide, and that police do not share their own plate data with private entities Alexandria Police (15 Oct 2026).

How much of the Flock network is private?

Nobody has published a share. Flock says it has more than 1,000 business customers (company figure) Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026). Its network page names no count of business or HOA cameras Flock network page (checked 16 Oct 2026). The pieces on record:

• Midland, Texas: more than 200 Flock cameras in the community; the city contract covered about 70 fixed and two portable units CBS7 (13 Oct 2026).
• San Diego County: over 150 private readers that agencies could search had not been disclosed before KPBS's review KPBS (20 Nov 2025).
• Chicago: all Flock cameras in the city are privately owned, per FOX 32. Police ran more than 23,000 searches in three months FOX 32 Chicago (7 Oct 2026).
• Retail: 173 Lowe's locations visible to one Texas sheriff's office 404 Media (6 Aug 2025). The Dayton Daily News cites a National Retail Federation survey of 70 retailers. About a quarter had plate readers running or in pilots Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026).

Volunteers on the DeFlock map log cameras from all vendors. Our Flock guide shows how to query that OpenStreetMap data yourself. Many entries carry an "operator" tag naming who runs the camera.

What happens when residents push back? HOA fights, removals and lawsuits

Brentwood, California: city permits revoked. In mid-2026 the Shadow Lakes HOA put up Flock cameras in public areas. The city had issued permits believing they were part of the police programme of 62 cameras. City staff later said the permit was a mistake NBC Bay Area (17 Aug 2026). Its engineering director said: "Any cameras installed in the public rightway that's not in coordination with the police contract will have to be removed" The CC Pulse (13 Aug 2026). One resident said: "The cops don't even have access to them" NBC Bay Area (17 Aug 2026). An HOA member told the council the association "followed the city's permitting process, obtained the required approvals". The board had since given up its own access to the data, leaving it with professional management The CC Pulse (13 Aug 2026). The council voted 4–0 to come back to rules for private cameras The CC Pulse (13 Aug 2026).

Disclosure is the usual complaint. Leases and HOA notices may mention cameras but not plate tracking, retention or police sharing Knock LA (29 Jul 2026). A Brentwood resident who had assumed police got the data said: "It doesn't feel right. That's for sure" NBC Bay Area (17 Aug 2026).

Who carries the risk. In 2020 a Stanford privacy lawyer warned that liability for misuse often falls on the HOA. His advice: "they should check their insurance policies" CAI HOAresources (16 Feb 2020).

Lawsuits. We found no ruling against an HOA or store over Flock cameras as of 16 October 2026. The closest case is about a private data company. DRN is a private plate-reader firm, owned by Motorola Solutions since 2019 (see our vendor-swap page). In Mata v. Digital Recognition Network, a California appeals court upheld judgment for DRN. It held that a plaintiff must show "actual harm that arises from the violation" Mata v. DRN, Cal. Ct. App. (20 Jul 2026).

Which state laws cover private plate readers?

State laws that reach private plate readers, or police use of their data. Not legal advice; check the statute for your state.

Most state laws regulate police, not private owners. The ACLU of Massachusetts says Maine "stands out as the only state that expressly prohibits LPR use by private individuals altogether" ACLU of Massachusetts (25 Sep 2026). Washington's 2026 law is the clearest limit on the police side: no warrant, no private data Washington SB 6002, ch. 239, Laws of 2026.

California is a common misunderstanding. SB 34 covers private operators as well as police. A California HOA or store must post a usage and privacy policy, and keep records when it gives others access California DOJ bulletin 2023-DLE-06 (27 Oct 2023). But the rule that bars sharing "except to another public agency" binds public agencies only California DOJ bulletin 2023-DLE-06 (27 Oct 2023). A law firm that advises HOAs notes that no statute limits an HOA's sharing beyond its own written policy MBK Chapman (14 Aug 2026).

Can you get records about private cameras?

Not from the owner, in most places. California's limits and records rules cover police and public networks, but "don't cover private businesses and HOAs", KPBS found KPBS (20 Nov 2025). The Inquirer reports no comparable transparency rules for New Jersey businesses Philadelphia Inquirer (9 Oct 2026). Washington's 2026 law makes plate data exempt from its public records act, except for research Washington SB 6002, ch. 239, Laws of 2026.

Courts have opened police-owned data. A Washington court held in 2025 that images from city-paid Flock cameras are public records. That ruling dealt with cities' own cameras, not private ones EFF (12 Nov 2025).

The police side is where records live. Reporters have pried out three useful records:

• Device lists. KPBS got an 82-page Flock "device list" from San Diego police after weeks of pushback KPBS (20 Nov 2025).
• Search logs. FOX 32 got Chicago police Flock audit logs after months of requests FOX 32 Chicago (7 Oct 2026).
• Shared-network lists. The Dayton Daily News got these from four Ohio departments, showing which stores they could search Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026).

What does Flock promise private customers, and what do critics say?

Flock's promises (vendor statements).

• Ownership: the customer owns the data Flock LPR policy (30 Jun 2026). Flock "shall not sell Customer Data" Flock terms (21 Aug 2026).
• Retention: plate data "is hard deleted on a rolling 7-day basis by default", which can change case by case Flock LPR policy (30 Jun 2026).
• Logging: "all footage access is logged and monitored" on HOA systems Flock HOA page (checked 16 Oct 2026).
• No face recognition: the HOA page says "no facial recognition, no personal data collection" Flock HOA page (checked 16 Oct 2026).

What the August 2026 safeguards leave out. Flock's 13 August post added case codes and audits for law enforcement. It does not mention businesses or HOAs Flock blog (13 Aug 2026). Flock licenses customer data to "support and improve" its products Flock terms (21 Aug 2026).

Critics.

• EFF's Sarah Hamid said private use leaves "less of a paper trail" if data is misused Philadelphia Inquirer (9 Oct 2026).
• The ACLU of Ohio's Gary Daniels warned of "unregulated and unfettered access by government and law enforcement to data first obtained via non-government sources" Dayton Daily News (12 Jun 2026).
• Rachel Levinson-Waldman of the Brennan Center said private ownership "really often leaves people in the dark about these incredibly powerful surveillance technologies" KPBS (20 Nov 2025).
• The ACLU has warned that Flock's standard police agreement gave the company a licence to share data "for investigative purposes" ACLU, Jay Stanley (24 Oct 2025).

We found no Institute for Justice statement specific to private cameras.

How can you find out whether your HOA or store shares with police?

1. Ask the HOA board in writing. Ask for the Flock contract, the sharing settings, the list of agencies with access, the retention period and the access log. In California, ask for the ALPR usage and privacy policy the law requires MBK Chapman (14 Aug 2026).
2. Read the store's privacy notice. Search for "license plate" or "ALPR". KPBS found that Lowe's, Home Depot and Simon mention plate data in theirs, with few details KPBS (20 Nov 2025).
3. Ask your police department. Request the Flock "device list" or shared-network list, plus audit logs for searches of private networks. Our records request guide has templates.
4. Check the map. Look up mapped cameras near you on DeFlock. Records-based search logs are collected at HaveIBeenFlocked, which says its data is incomplete and can lag by months HaveIBeenFlocked (checked 16 Oct 2026).
5. Ask about the "Safe List". A Flock spokesperson said this feature is now only available to private customers such as HOAs and businesses WALB / InvestigateTV (12 Oct 2026). In 2020 the Community Associations Institute said it lets owners keep their plates out of images sent to police. Boards decide whether to offer it CAI HOAresources (16 Feb 2020).

What can a city do about private cameras?

Control the right of way. Brentwood ordered HOA cameras off public roads by pulling permits NBC Bay Area (17 Aug 2026). Cameras on private land are outside that power.

Limit what its own police search. San Diego police paused searches of outside plate-reader networks in spring 2025 and were working toward lifting the pause KPBS (20 Nov 2025). Overland Park's new police policy, effective October 2026, cuts retention to 30 days. It requires a case number and purpose for outside requests and adds monthly audits. KCUR did not say whether it covers private data KCUR (13 Oct 2026).

Back a state warrant rule. Washington requires a warrant before police take privately held plate data Washington SB 6002, ch. 239, Laws of 2026. No city can impose that on its own owners' private cameras, but it can set the rule for its own police.

Adopt an oversight ordinance. The ACLU promotes Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) ordinances. They require public approval before police acquire surveillance technology ACLU of Massachusetts (25 Sep 2026). We found no city ordinance, as of 16 October 2026, that expressly bars police from searching private plate readers.

Sources

Every source was read on 16 October 2026. Flock, Motorola and Verkada material is vendor material. This page is general information, not legal advice.

1. Flock Safety — HOAs industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
2. Flock Safety — Retail & Grocery industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
3. Flock Safety — Property Management industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
4. Flock Safety — Multifamily Communities industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
5. Flock Safety — Places of Worship industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
6. Flock Safety — Healthcare industry page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
7. Flock Safety — Pricing page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
8. Flock Safety — National LPR Network page (vendor; read 16 Oct 2026)
9. Flock Safety — License Plate Reader Policy (last updated 30 Jun 2026)
10. Flock Safety — Terms and Conditions (last updated 21 Aug 2026)
11. Flock Safety — Data Ownership (last updated 21 Aug 2026)
12. Flock Safety blog — safeguards announcement (13 Aug 2026)
13. Jason Koebler, 404 Media — "Home Depot and Lowe's Share Data From Hundreds of AI Cameras With Cops" (6 Aug 2025; partly paywalled)
14. Scott Rodd and Gustavo Solis, KPBS — "San Diego County police agencies access many private license plate readers with minimal oversight" (20 Nov 2025)
15. Ximena Conde, Philadelphia Inquirer — "From the Gloucester Outlets to Home Depot: Businesses using license plate readers come under scrutiny" (9 Oct 2026)
16. Cornelius Frolik, Dayton Daily News — "Your shopping trips are being recorded: Local retailers use Flock cameras" (12 Jun 2026, updated 1 Jul 2026)
17. Kyle Harris, Denverite — Denver license-plate readers and Axon contract (31 Mar 2026)
18. Se Kwon, FOX 32 Chicago — "Exclusive: Chicago police accessed Flock camera data despite no city contract" (7 Oct 2026)
19. Se Kwon, FOX 32 Chicago — "Chicago mayor's office responds to questions over CPD's Flock database access" (9 Oct 2026)
20. Tamlyn Price and Luke Johnson, CBS7/KOSA — Midland city council votes to end Flock camera contract (13 Oct 2026)
21. Dan Egitto, ARLnow — "Arlington has uninstalled its Flock cameras, but some private ones may remain" (13 Oct 2026)
22. Sam Zeff, KCUR — Overland Park tightens restrictions on license plate reader data (13 Oct 2026)
23. Alexandria Police Department — License Plate Reader Dashboard and Response to City Council Questions on Flock (15 Oct 2026)
24. Tracy Miller, Knock LA — "How LA Landlords Are Using Flock Safety to Build a Private Surveillance Network" (29 Jul 2026)
25. Thom Jensen, NBC Bay Area — "Brentwood orders removal of HOA license plate readers approved by mistake" (17 Aug 2026)
26. Danielle Parenteau-Decker, The CC Pulse — "Brentwood to Look Into Privately Owned Flock Cameras" (13 Aug 2026)
27. Emily Featherston and Brendan Keefe, WALB / InvestigateTV — "Flock cameras went up without some city councils' approval. We found out why." (12 Oct 2026)
28. ACLU of Massachusetts — "Get the Flock Out" resource guide (updated 25 Sep 2026)
29. Jay Stanley, ACLU — "Flock Can Share Driver-Surveillance Data Even When Police Departments Opt Out, And Other Flock Developments" (24 Oct 2025)
30. Beryl Lipton, EFF — "Washington Court Rules That Data Captured on Flock Safety Cameras Are Public Records" (12 Nov 2025)
31. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A §2117-A, Use of automated license plate recognition systems (read 16 Oct 2026)
32. Washington State Legislature — SB 6002, chapter 239, Laws of 2026 (session law; effective 30 Mar 2026)
33. California Department of Justice — Information Bulletin 2023-DLE-06, "California Automated License Plate Reader Data Guidance" (27 Oct 2023)
34. Mata v. Digital Recognition Network, Inc., California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Div. One, No. D084781 (20 Jul 2026; PDF hosted by Courthouse News)
35. National Conference of State Legislatures — "Automated License Plate Readers: State Statutes" (updated 28 Sep 2026)
36. Michael Kushner, MBK Chapman — "Can My California HOA Share My License Plate Data With the Police?" (14 Aug 2026)
37. Mike Ramsey, Community Associations Institute HOAresources — "Installing License Plate Readers in HOAs" (16 Feb 2020)
38. Motorola Solutions / Avigilon — "VehicleManager Integration" fact sheet (vendor; Apr 2024)
39. Gintaras Radauskas, Cybernews — "US cities rush to replace Flock with Verkada cameras: Are they any better?" (25 Aug 2026)
40. Institute for Justice — ALPR contract cancellation database announcement (count as of 15 Oct 2026)
41. DeFlock — ALPR map (read 16 Oct 2026)
42. HaveIBeenFlocked — search-log lookup (read 16 Oct 2026)

Related Tools & Guides

Flock Surveillance Guide Flock Product Names Glossary ALPR Misuse: Documented Cases Flock to Axon Vendor Swap What Police Say About ALPRs Surveillance Tech Records Requests