How Long Should You Keep Security Footage? A Practical Guide

The question comes up every time we commission a new system: how long should we keep footage? The technical answer is as long as your storage allows. The practical answer is more specific, and it depends on what you need footage for.

Retail loss prevention

Most LP incidents aren't discovered on the day they happen. A till shortage gets investigated the next morning. A refund fraud scheme takes weeks to surface. Industry standard for retail is 30 to 60 days, with high-shrink areas retained at 90 days.

Slip-and-fall liability

Personal injury claims can be filed months after the incident. For property management and any site with significant public access, 90-day retention is a minimum. Some insurers require longer, check your policy before configuring your system.

Financial and regulated environments

Banks, pharmacies, and cannabis retailers often have mandatory minimum retention defined by their licensing authority. Confirm with your compliance team before setting retention policy.

Storage isn't the constraint it used to be

Modern NVR and cloud storage costs have dropped significantly. Configuring 90-day retention on a 30-camera system is a fraction of what it cost five years ago. The decision should be driven by your requirements, not by trying to minimize storage spend.

Configure your retention in writing, document it per location, and review it when your insurance policy renews. If you're not sure what's right for your environment, a system audit will give you the answer.