Audio recording consent (one-party vs all-party) — North Carolina
Not legal advice. General information only; laws change and outcomes depend on facts.
Quick answer: North Carolina is generally treated as a one‑party consent state for recording conversations: if one party consents (including you if you’re a participant), recording is typically lawful.
| Consent standard | One‑party consent (general rule) |
|---|---|
| If you are a participant | Recording is typically allowed (subject to exceptions). |
| If you are NOT a participant | Risk increases significantly; may be unlawful to intercept/record. |
| Cross‑state calls | Other states’ laws may apply depending on where parties are located. |
Plain‑language explanation
In one‑party consent states, you generally may record a conversation if you’re part of it, because your consent counts as the required consent.
If you’re not part of the conversation, secretly recording or intercepting it is where criminal and civil exposure tends to arise.
Why this matters for “filming in public”
Video in public is often fine, but adding clear audio of a private conversation can change the analysis.
When you can, separate “video only” from “video + audio,” and default to caution with audio.