What to Record, Where to Aim, and How Long to Keep Footage

●January 21, 2026

From storefronts to offices, this guide breaks down practical camera coverage, retention planning, and setup choices that help you protect staff, customers, and inventory.

Why CCTV Planning Matters in Toronto and the GTA

A security camera system is only as good as its placement and setup. Toronto properties often have shared entrances, tight driveways, mixed lighting, and plenty of foot traffic. That means random camera placement usually creates blind spots, glare, or footage that looks great until you actually need a face or a license plate.

Homeowners usually worry about break ins, package theft, and side access points. Business owners often care about staff safety, customer incidents, inventory loss, and clear footage that supports an insurance claim. The right plan handles both the security risk and the daily reality of your property.

The goal is usable footage

Cameras should capture key details, not just movement. You want angles that show faces, clean lighting at night, and a recording setup that makes playback simple when something happens.

What to Decide Before You Choose Cameras

Most people start by asking, “What cameras should I buy?” A better first question is, “What do I need the cameras to prove?” That single shift changes everything.

Here are the decisions that shape a solid CCTV setup:

Your priority areas: front door, garage, back lane, cash register, loading area, hallway
Lighting conditions: bright sun, porch lights, streetlights, full darkness
Your retention needs: how many days of recordings you want to keep
Who needs access: one person, family members, managers, or multiple staff

Common Toronto property challenges

Many homes have narrow side yards and front steps close to the sidewalk. Many businesses have reflective windows, glass doors, or bright signage that can cause glare. Good placement and the right settings solve most of these problems.

Choosing the Right System Type

There are two common setups, and both can be excellent when done properly.

IP camera systems with NVR recording

These are popular for both homes and commercial spaces because they offer high resolution, better control, and cleaner expansion later. They are also great for remote viewing when configured securely.

DVR systems for existing cabling

If you already have older wiring and want a budget friendly upgrade, keeping parts of an existing system can sometimes make sense. The key is confirming what the current equipment can realistically deliver in image quality.

A Simple Coverage Checklist

If you want a quick way to plan camera locations, use this checklist as your starting point.

For homes

Front door and porch area
Driveway and garage
Side access path
Backyard gate or lane access

For businesses

Main entrance and exits
Point of sale area
High value inventory zones
Back door and delivery area
Parking lot or exterior perimeter

Ordered setup steps that reduce mistakes

Walk the property and mark risks and entry points
Decide what details you need to capture at each point
Choose camera types based on distance and lighting
Plan recording storage for your retention goal
Set user permissions for viewing and exporting clips

“The best camera is the one that captures the moment clearly. If the footage cannot identify a person or confirm what happened, it is just decoration.”

Installation Tips That Make a Big Difference

A clean install is not only about looks. It also improves reliability. Poor cable routing and rushed setup are common reasons cameras go offline, recordings fail, or apps become frustrating to use.

Here are a few practical tips that matter more than people expect:

Place cameras high enough to avoid tampering but not so high that faces become tiny
Avoid pointing directly at bright lights to reduce glare and washed out footage
Use motion zones and sensitivity settings to reduce false alerts
Test playback and exporting clips before considering the job finished

Remote viewing should be secure

Remote access is convenient, but it must be done properly. Secure passwords, updated firmware, and controlled permissions help protect your system from unwanted access.

Frequently Asked Question

Most Toronto homes do well with four to six cameras, but the right number depends on layout, entry points, and what you need to capture. A small townhouse may need fewer cameras than a detached home with a driveway, side access, and a backyard gate. The best approach is to plan coverage areas first, then choose the camera count based on blind spots.

Focus on entry points and paths of travel. Front door, driveway, garage, and side access are top priorities for most homes. For businesses, entrances, point of sale areas, and back doors matter most. A good placement plan overlaps coverage slightly, so if one angle misses a detail, another camera captures it clearly.

Night vision is helpful, but it is not magic. In very dark areas, adding a small, well placed light often improves image quality and helps capture faces more clearly. It also reduces motion blur.

Retention depends on your goals. Many homeowners choose seven to fourteen days. Many businesses choose fourteen to thirty days, especially if incidents are reported later.

You can install basic cameras yourself, but professional installation usually pays off when you want clean wiring, reliable recording, proper network setup, and secure remote access.