---
title: "By-law regulating AI-enabled CCTV, facial recognition, licence-plate recognition and smart-building data on common property (NSW)"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/strata-and-community-titles/ai-cctv-smart-building-by-law"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a47-ai-cctv-smart-building-by-law"
area_id: "A47"
kind: "clause"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-17"
---

# By-law regulating AI-enabled CCTV, facial recognition, licence-plate recognition and smart-building data on common property (NSW)

> By-law that authorises and limits owners corporation surveillance and analytics on common property: approved purposes, no audio, a default ban on facial recognition, signage, access, retention, privacy and review.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/strata-and-community-titles/ai-cctv-smart-building-by-law  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-17

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Clause. Wording to drop into a longer document.
- Practice area: [Strata & Community Titles](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/strata-and-community-titles.md)
- Jurisdictions: New South Wales
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-17
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-17 against the 4 authorities it cites, for New South Wales.

## When to use it

Use when an owners corporation installs or upgrades CCTV, access control or analytics on common property, especially systems that can identify people or vehicles. Pass it with any special resolution needed under s 108 for the installation itself.

## How AI may be used

AI may draft the by-law and a plain-English summary from the system specification; a lawyer confirms the system's real capabilities, the privacy position and that the by-law is not harsh or oppressive.

**AI may:**

- Draft the by-law and the owners' summary from the installer's written system specification.
- Compare the by-law with the system's settings (retention, analytics, access logs) and list gaps.
- Draft signage text for review.

**AI must not:**

- Must not assume a system has no facial recognition or analytics features; confirm in writing with the supplier.
- Must not decide whether biometric collection is lawful or whether consent is valid.
- Must not be given CCTV footage of identifiable people to analyse unless the tool is approved and the purpose is authorised by the by-law.

**The lawyer checks:**

- Cameras do not capture the interior of any lot, and no audio is recorded.
- Facial recognition and licence-plate recognition are either excluded or limited with consent and a privacy impact assessment.
- Access and disclosure rules work for police requests, insurance claims and owner requests.
- Any installation has its own special resolution under s 108 where needed.

## Authorities

- [Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) ss 136, 139, 141 (by-law power, limits and registration)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.136)
- [Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) s 108 (special resolution to add to or alter common property)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-050#sec.108)
- [Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) ss 7–8, 11 (listening and optical devices; publication)](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2007-064#sec.8)
- [Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) s 6 (biometric information is sensitive information) and Sch 1, APPs 3, 5, 6 and 11](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A03712/latest/text)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/strata-and-community-titles/ai-cctv-smart-building-by-law and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*