Guide / Santa Barbara County
What sets the cost of a security camera system
Nobody can responsibly give you a number before seeing the property, so here is exactly what moves it. Every factor below is something we measure on a free walkthrough.
Why there is no price list on this site
Two properties that both say they want four cameras can be very different jobs. One is a single-story house with an attic you can crawl through. The other has stucco, a detached garage, and a gate two hundred feet from the door. A price list would be wrong for one of them, and usually for both.
So we look first. The walkthrough is free, we map coverage, entry points, and gaps, and we write it into a coverage plan you keep whether or not you hire us. The fixed price comes after that, with the plan in front of you.
Camera count is set by what has to be identified
The count is not a package number. A face is recognizable to someone who knows the person at about 80 pixels across, and an investigator needs about 120. Those figures decide how much ground one camera can cover, because the farther the subject, the fewer pixels land on the face.
A wide driveway or a long fence line therefore needs more cameras, or better-placed ones, than a small front porch. We design for identification first, then add general overview cameras where they help. Features like plate capture, PTZ cameras, floodlight and speaker deterrence, and a doorbell with package view each add to the scope only when your property calls for them.
Cable paths, walls, and mounting surfaces
Cable runs are a large part of the labor. Distance from the recorder, attic or crawlspace access, and wall construction all change how long a clean run takes. Finished interiors, masonry, and second-story eaves take longer than open framing.
We also mount to structure rather than fascia, which limits wind shake and keeps the picture steady. That sometimes means a bracket, a pole, or a different location than the easy one. It avoids footage you cannot use.
Recorder, drive size, and how many weeks you keep
Recording happens on a recorder you own, on your property. Typical retention is several weeks of continuous recording, and it is sized by the drive. More cameras, higher detail, and longer retention all call for more storage.
If you want to keep footage longer, the drive gets larger and the cost moves with it. We settle that number on the plan so you are not guessing. For the tradeoffs, see local recording versus cloud cameras.
Power and links for gates, barns, and outbuildings
Anything away from the house needs power and a way to send video back. Where trenching or a cable run is practical, that is the simple answer. Where it is not, we use a wireless link between buildings, or solar power with cellular for a remote gate or shed.
Distance, line of sight, and sun exposure decide which approach fits. Acreage and ranch properties often land here, and our guide to rural property and gate cameras covers the options in more detail.
Door access and network work that change the total
If the job includes door access control, the number of doors, gates, video intercoms, and alerts adds scope. Life-safety coordination with fire and alarm systems is part of doing it correctly, and it varies by building.
Network segmentation is included in every install, not an upsell. Cameras and devices are kept apart from your computers as a standard part of the work. Larger assessments, such as a full risk review or an incident response plan, are separate network security work and are scoped on their own.
What you pay once and what can recur
The install is a one-time cost. There is no monthly fee to watch your footage, because it records on hardware you own and you view it through encrypted remote access.
Three costs are optional and can recur: professional alarm monitoring, cellular service at a remote site, and an annual health check plan. Cellular service only applies if a location has no other connection. None of these are required to have a working system.
How to get a fixed number for your property
Call or use the plan page. We spend about ten minutes on the phone, then schedule the walkthrough, which is usually within a week. If you have an active problem, call instead and say so.
After the walkthrough you receive the written coverage plan and a fixed price. You can stop at any step. For a broader look at what the service covers, see security camera installation or start from the home page.
Questions
Common questions.
Why won't you give a price over the phone?
A number given without seeing the property is a guess, and guesses get corrected later. We would rather look first, then quote a fixed price in writing. The walkthrough is free, so finding out costs you nothing.
Is there a monthly fee to watch my cameras?
No. Footage records locally on hardware you own, and encrypted remote viewing does not carry a fee from us to watch it. The only recurring costs are optional: professional alarm monitoring, cellular service at a remote site, and an annual health check plan.
Does adding more storage change the cost?
Yes. Retention is sized by the drive, so more cameras, more detail, or longer retention means a larger drive. Typical retention is several weeks of continuous recording, and we set the size on your plan.
Do I pay for the walkthrough or the written plan?
No. The on-site walkthrough is free, and the written coverage plan is yours to keep whether or not you hire Keith Systems. See what to expect at the walkthrough.
Will the price change after work starts?
The price is fixed and quoted before work begins, for the scope in your written plan.
Is network segmentation an extra charge?
No. Segmentation is included in every install. Cameras and other devices are kept separate from your computers as part of the standard work.
Related guides
Find out what this costs on your property.
Free walkthrough, written coverage plan, fixed price. Nothing is locked in until you have seen the plan and the number.