REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Introduce an Ordinance to Repeal Section 19.42.080 of Title 19 (Zoning) Regarding Private Security Cameras, and Find that the Project is Exempt from the Requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3)(Planning File: 2015-7148; Study Issue CDD 15-08)
Report
BACKGROUND
During their January 2015 study issues workshop, the City Council directed staff to study policies regarding private security cameras (CDD 15-08, Attachment 1), consisting of two key elements:
1. Effectiveness of the current regulation in Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) Title 19 (Zoning) regarding placement of security cameras on private property; and
2. Feasibility of implementing a voluntary security camera registration program to be administered by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code (SMC) requires that private security cameras be placed no higher than the height of a property line fence/wall if mounted on a building. The provision also requires that there be no field-of-vision intrusion onto adjacent residential properties. While the existing provisions serve to address the potential for security cameras to impact the privacy of adjacent properties, concerns have been raised that these provisions are too restrictive to effectively provide a sense of security for those wishing to install security camera systems.
Council determined that with the increase in security camera used by private citizens, this is a good time to review the standards and regulations, as well as to consider options for allowing law enforcement to use the recordings for criminal investigations, such as through a voluntary security camera registration program.
The City Council is scheduled to consider this item on November 10, 2015.
EXISTING POLICY
GENERAL PLAN:
Land Use and Transportation Chapter
GOAL LT-4 Quality Neighborhoods and Districts - P...
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