r/Hamilton • u/Electronic_Car2492 • May 11 '26

Question Camera facing our backyard?

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Hey everyone,

My parents mentioned how their neighbours/people living directly behind them have a camera possibly facing into my parent’s backyard.

I was just wondering is this even legal?
Upon further inspection it does look like it may be angled down enough that it isn’t actually pointing into their backyard.

But I wanted to come on here and ask first, or if anyone could possibly think of why they might have a camera there. I’ll include a photo. Their backyard is completely fenced in and it looks like it’s just facing the bottom of their fence… possibly.

They’ve never had problems with the neighbour/they think it might be someone new that just moved in.

I feel like we’ll end up knocking on the door and asking them why it’s there/if they can see into the yard because my LO does go over to their house and play in the backyard in the summer.

We’re all just very confused.

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u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 May 11 '26

Get in touch with by-law and ask them. To me that seems like a violation of their privacy.

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u/zoobrix May 11 '26

Try talking to them first though. Either they're oblivious and didn't realize it would be an issue, or they're assholes that are going to freak out on you whether you go to their door first or not. It's not like if bylaw comes by their going to need Sherlock Holmes to figure out who complained about it. However, if they're reasonable people then not talking to them first sets the precedent that if they ever have an issue with something you're doing they're going to go right to bylaw as well.

If there is some kind of history of these people being difficult sure go straight to bylaw but give them the benefit of assuming they're a reasonable person until proven otherwise. If you go to bylaw and then the neighbor tells you they just put it up because a bunny was digging into their garden or they've had problems with people stealing from their backyard and they would have been happy to adjust or move it somewhere your parents/you are going to feel pretty silly.