Call Recording Regulations in the United States: State and Federal

Alaska: Alaska requires the consent of one-party – you only need the consent of one party to record phone calls. It is criminal to record an in-person or phone  conversation without at least one party’s consent.

Read more about call recording regulations in Alaska: Alaska Recording Laws.

Arizona: Arizona’s wire-tapping law is a one-party consent law. The state has made it a crime to intercept or record a conversation unless you are a party of the communication, present during the conversation or discussion, or a party to the communication or conversation consents.

Read more about call recording regulations in Arizona: Recording Laws.

Arkansas: Arkansas is a one-party consent state and it is a criminal offence to record conversations without the consent of at least one person in the conversation. You are legally allowed to record a conversation that you are a part of.

Read more about call recording regulations in Arkansas: Recording Laws.

California: When it comes to phone call recording or in-person conversations, California is an all-party consent state. California recording law states that recording conversations where either party is on a cell phone or cordless phone without a warning are illegal.

Read more about call recording regulations in California: Recording Law.

Colorado: Colorado is a one-party consent state. It means that you can legally record a phone call or in-person conversation if you are a part of the conversation. However, it is criminal to eavesdrop or record a conversation you are not part of.

Read more about call recording regulations in Colorado: Colorado Recording Law.

Connecticut: Connecticut is a two-party consent state – you need to get the consent of both parties in a conversation to legally record it. The statute however excludes law enforcement and certain other individuals. It is sufficient to give notification at the beginning of the call or a warning tone at 15-second intervals about the call being recorded.

Read more about call recording regulations in Connecticut: Recording Phone calls.

Delaware: The state of Delaware has conflicting laws. The state’s wiretapping law states that it is lawful to intercept or record a conversation if you are a party to it or if at least one party consents to it. But under Delaware’s state privacy law, which is older, all parties in a conversation must consent to record a conversation.

Read more about call recording regulations in Delaware: Recording Laws.

District of Columbia: District of Columbia is a one-party consent state as far as call recording is concerned and it is unlawful to intercept or record a conversation without the consent of at least one party in the conversation.

Read more about call recording regulations in District of Columbia: Recording Laws.

Florida: Florida is an all-party consent state. It is illegal to record a conversation without the consent of all parties. If you record the conversation without the consent of all parties you would be liable to provide civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in Florida: Recording Laws.

Georgia: Georgia is a one-party consent state. It is illegal to capture a voice call or to intercept a conversation without the consent of at least one party. Violating the law may subject the offender to fines and/or imprisonment.

Read more about call recording regulations in Georgia: Recording Laws.

Hawaii: On call recording, Hawaii is also a one-party consent state. If you violate the law you may be subjected to felony charges. You may also have to face actual and punitive damages on civil suits.

Read more about call recording regulations in Hawaii: Recording Laws.

Idaho: Idaho is a one-party consent state. If you record or intercept a phone call or in-person conversation without the consent of at least one party, you may be fined or imprisoned.

Read more about call recording regulations in Idaho: Recording Laws.

Illinois: Up until 2014, Illinois state eavesdropping stature required all-party consent for a conversation to be intercepted or recorded. However, the Illinois supreme court held this statute to be overboard and unconstitutional. The statute was amended to allow recording in public places but still requires all parties to consent to record conversations where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Read more about call recording regulations in Illinois: Recording Laws.

Indiana: According to the state statute, it is illegal to record or intercept telephonic or electronic communication without the consent of at least one party and you may be subjected to felony charges, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. But Indiana’s wiretapping statute doesn’t mention in-person conversations at all.

Read more about call recording regulations in Indiana: Recording Laws.

Iowa: Iowa is a one-party consent state. It can lead to civil liability if someone attempts call recording or intercepts oral, telephonic or other conversations without the consent of at least one party in the conversation.

Read more about call recording regulations in Iowa: Recording Laws.

Kansas: According to the breach of privacy laws of Kansas, it is a misdemeanor to capture voice calls or to intercept a private conversation without the consent of at least one party.

Read more about call recording regulations in Kansas: Recording Laws.

Kentucky: Kentucky is a one-party consent state. It is a felony under Kentucky’s eavesdropping laws to record or overhear an oral or wire communication without the consent of at least one party.

Read more about call recording regulations in Kentucky: Recording Laws.

Louisiana: According to Louisiana’s Electronic Surveillance Act, it is illegal to intercept or record oral, wire or electronic conversation without the consent of at least one party. Violating the law may subject one to fine and/or imprisonment or civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in Louisiana: Recording Laws.

Maine: Maine is a one-party consent state. It is illegal to record or intercept oral or phone conversation without the consent of at least one party. Violators will be subjected to a fine and/or imprisonment.

Read more about call recording regulations in Maine: Recording Law.

Maryland: Under Maryland law, all parties must consent to legal call recording or intercepting of oral or telephonic conversations. The courts have however interpreted this to be limited to situations where the parties have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Read more about call recording regulations in Maryland: Recording Laws.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts is an all-party consent state. It is illegal to capture voice calls or intercept oral, telephone or wire communication without the consent of all parties.

Read more about call recording regulations in Massachusetts: Recording Laws.

Michigan: Eavesdropping statute of Michigan prohibits recording or intercepting of in-person or telephonic conversations without the consent of all parties, though one court has interpreted the statute as requiring the consent of only one party.

Read more about call recording regulations in Michigan: Recording Laws. 

Minnesota: According to Minnesota law, it is legal to record an oral or telephone conversation with the consent of one party, provided there is no criminal or tortious intention.

Read more about call recording regulations in Minnesota: Recording Laws.

Mississippi: Mississippi is a one-party consent state. Call recording and recording in-person or phone conversations without the consent of a least one party is illegal. Violations can result in a fine and/or imprisonment and/or civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in Mississippi: Recording Laws.

Missouri: In Missouri, it is illegal to record or intercept phone conversation without the consent of at least one party. Persons violating the law may be charged with a felony charge punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Read more about call recording regulations in Missouri: Recording Laws.

Montana: Montana is an all-party consent state. You need the consent of both parties to record or intercept telephone conversations, except under certain conditions involving public officials/entities, or warning given about the recording.

Read more about call recording regulations in Montana: Recording Laws.

Nebraska: In Nebraska, it is legal to record or intercept an oral or telephone conversation with the consent of one-party, as long as the recording is not done with criminal intent. Violation of the regulation is considered an act of felony.

Read more about call recording regulations in Nebraska: Recording Laws.

Nevada: The Nevada supreme court has held that call recording of telephone conversation without the consent of all parties is illegal. Under Nevada law, recording oral communication without the consent of at least one party is illegal and if you violate the law, you are liable to pay civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in Nevada: Recording Laws.

New Hampshire: According to the state law, it is illegal to record oral and telephone conversations without the consent of both parties in New Hampshire. The supreme court of New Hampshire has however held that a party essentially consented to a recording when the overall circumstances demonstrated that they knew they were being recorded.

Read more about call recording regulations in New Hampshire: Recording Laws. 

New Jersey: New Jersey is a one-party consent state. You need the consent of at least one person to record in-person as well as a telephone conversation. Illegal recording is a crime of third-degree and can also result in providing civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in New Jersey: Recording Laws.

New Mexico: New Mexico is a one-party consent state. Recording of telephone conversations without the consent of at least one party is illegal and can subject offenders to civil damages. However, there doesn’t seem to be a law that prevents the recording of an in-person conversation in New Mexico.

Read more about call recording regulations in New Mexico: Recording Laws.

New York: According to New York’s eavesdropping law, it is illegal to capture voice calls or record in-person conversation without the consent of at least one party. Violating the rule is considered a felony.

Read more about call recording regulations in New York: Recording Laws.

North Carolina: Call recording and capturing voice call and in-person conversation are legal in North Carolina as long as there is a consent from at least one party. Illegal recording of the conversation is considered a felony and can give rise to civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in North Carolina: Recording Laws.

North Dakota: North Dakota’s Eavesdropping law states that it is legal to record calls and intercept conversations as long as there is consent from one party, as long as the recording is not done with criminal or tortious intent.

Read more about call recording regulations in North Dakota: Recording Laws.

Ohio: Ohio Law states that it is legal to record phone calls and capture mobile calls as long as there is consent from at least one party, provided the call recording is not with criminal or tortious intent.

Read more about call recording regulations in Ohio: Recording Laws.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s Security of Communications Act states that it is illegal to capture mobile calls and intercept in-person conversations without the consent of at least one party. It is also illegal to capture voice calls with criminal or tortious intent.

Read more about call recording regulations in Oklahoma: Recording Laws.

Oregon: According to Oregon law, it is legal to record a telephone conversation if there is consent from at least one party. But to record in-person conversation, you need to have the consent of all parties, except in some circumstances such as when all parties reasonably should have known they were being recorded.

Read more about call recording regulations in Oregon: Recording Laws.

Pennsylvania: It is illegal to capture voice calls without the consent of both parties in Pennsylvania and offenders are subject to civil liability.

Read more about call recording regulations in Pennsylvania: Recording Laws.

Rhode Island: It is legal to record in-person and telephone conversations in Rhode Island if there is consent from at least one party. It is illegal to capture voice calls with criminal and tortious intent and violations of the law could is punishable by imprisonment and can also be the basis for civil damages.

Read more about call recording regulations in Rhode Island: Recording Laws.

South Carolina: According to South Carolina law, it is illegal to record the in-person and telephonic conversation without the consent of at least one party.

Read more about call recording regulations in South Carolina: Recording Laws.

South Dakota: In South Dakota, it is illegal to capture voice calls and record in-person conversation without the consent of at least one party.

Read more about call recording regulations in South Dakota: Recording Laws.

Tennessee: In Tennessee, it is illegal to capture phone calls and record in-person conversation without the consent of at least one party. It is also considered a felony if you record phone calls with criminal and tortious intent. Offenders may be subjected to civil damages, an injunction and/or a restraining order.

Read more about call recording regulations in Tennessee: Recording Laws.

Texas: Texas’ laws state that it is a felony to record oral and electronic communications without the consent of at least one party or to capture phone calls with criminal or tortious intent. Offenders could be subjected to civil liabilities.

Read more about call recording regulations in Texas: Recording Laws.

Utah: In Utah, it is legal to record oral and telephone conversations as long as there is consent from at least one party. Illegal recording of phone conversations is considered an act of felony except as it relates to the radio portion of cell phone communications, in which case it is a misdemeanor.

Read more about call recording regulations in Utah: Recording Laws.

Vermont: The state of Vermont has not enacted any law regarding recording conversations. However, the Supreme Court of Vermont has maintained that it is an unlawful invasion of privacy for law enforcement officers to secretly make a warrantless recording of a conversation inside a person’s home.

Read more about call recording regulations in Vermont: Recording Laws.

Virginia: Virginia is a one-party consent state. It is illegal to capture voice calls, in-person conversations without the consent of at least one party. Offenders of the law may be subjected to civil liabilities.

Read more about call recording regulations in Virginia: Recording Laws.

Washington: Washington law requires the consent of all parties for a legal recording of in-person as well as telephonic conversations. Consent is considered given via a reasonably clear announcement made to all parties about the conversation being recorded. The illegal recording is considered a serious misdemeanor and can also lead to civil liabilities.

Read more about call recording regulations in Washington: Recording Laws.

West Virginia: According to West Virginia law, it is legal to capture voice call or record in-person conversations as long as there is consent from at least one party. It is illegal to record conversations with criminal or tortious intent. Offenders may be subjected to civil liabilities.

Read more about call recording regulations in West Virginia: Recording Laws.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin is a one-party consent state and it is considered a felony if someone records oral or telephone conversation without the consent of at least one party. Victims may seek civil liabilities.

Read more about call recording regulations in Wisconsin: Recording Laws.

Wyoming: According to Wyoming law it is illegal to record in-person and telephone conversations without the consent of at least one party. It is also illegal to capture phone calls with criminal or tortious intent. Violation is considered felony and offenders are punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Read more about call recording regulations in Wyoming: Recording Laws.