Property Management & Multifamily Surveillance Systems

What this model prioritizes

• Entry and package evidence (faces, access events, direction of travel) rather than broad lobby views.
• Parking entry lanes and pedestrian paths, not distant vehicle rows where detail collapses.
• Elevator lobbies and corridor intersections to preserve continuity without placing cameras outside every unit.
• Amenity access points where policy violations and disputes occur (gym, pool, lounge, trash areas).

Building Entrances and Access Points

Main entrances, secondary doors, and garage access points are high-liability areas. You need stable exposure for facial identification, clear capture of access control interactions, and coverage that avoids blind spots at thresholds.

Package Rooms and Delivery Areas

Package disputes are common and often time-delayed. Cameras must provide consistent views of shelving, lockers, and entry doors with retention that supports investigation days or weeks after delivery.

Parking Lots and Parking Decks

Vehicle damage and theft claims require usable context. Plan for lighting variation, distance-to-target, and motion at entry lanes. Overly wide lenses reduce detail when you need it most.

Elevators, Hallways, and Shared Amenities

Interior common areas should preserve continuity of movement. Elevator coverage must balance field of view with usable identification detail while respecting privacy expectations within residential environments.

Role-based access and auditability

Define who can view, export, and administer the system. Structured permissions reduce internal risk while maintaining response speed during active incidents.

Scalable platform alignment

For operators managing multiple properties, platform consistency simplifies training, firmware lifecycle management, and cross-property visibility.

6-Camera Property Starter

Core coverage for primary entrance, secondary access, package room, and parking entry.

12-Camera Complex Coverage Kit

Balanced coverage for entrances, parking, hallways, elevators, and shared amenities.

24-Camera Multi-Building Package

Higher camera density for larger properties or multi-building sites where continuity and documentation matter.

What areas should be prioritized in multifamily properties?

Start with primary entrances and vestibules, leasing office and lobby areas, parking lots and garages, mail and package rooms, and controlled access points to amenities. Then add coverage for secondary entrances, stairwells, and high-incident corridors as needed.

How should package and mail areas be covered?

Package zones should be designed for repeatable identification. Use a controlled field of view that captures faces and hands at pickup points, plus a second camera that documents direction of travel to and from the area. Avoid overly wide coverage that loses detail.

What retention window is typical for multifamily surveillance?

Many properties target 14 to 30 days, with longer retention for higher incident volume, recurring vandalism, or slower reporting cycles. Storage sizing should account for constant motion in lobbies and parking areas and should be validated against real scene conditions.

Do I need cameras in hallways?

Hallway coverage is often best focused on elevator lobbies, corridor intersections, and entrances to restricted floors rather than placing cameras outside every unit. The priority is documenting direction of travel and access events while respecting privacy expectations.

What is the most common surveillance failure in apartments?

The most common failure is unusable identification at entrances and package areas due to backlighting, glare, and overly wide lenses. The second common failure is storage shortfall caused by under-sizing retention for high-motion zones like lobbies and parking lots.

Should surveillance integrate with access control?

Integration is recommended for controlled doors, amenity access points, garages, and staff-only areas. Linking access events to video accelerates investigations and reduces disputes about who entered a restricted area and when.

How should parking lots and garages be covered?

Prioritize entry and exit lanes, pedestrian paths, and the highest-incident rows or corners. Lighting is the main limiting factor at night. Use cameras selected for low light performance and plan views that capture faces and activity, not just vehicles at distance.

Can you recommend a starting system without plans?

Yes. Building count, unit count, entrance count, parking type, and retention target are typically enough to recommend a starting architecture. Coverage can then be refined based on lighting conditions, package workflow, and incident history.