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Is it legal to record a call in California?

California is an all-party consent state for recording conversations. In an all-party consent state, all parties to the conversation must consent before it is recorded.

The statute

A person who, intentionally and without the consent of all parties to a confidential communication, uses an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop upon or record the confidential communication, whether the communication is carried on among the parties in the presence of one another or by means of a telegraph, telephone, or other device, except a radio, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand

Cal. Penal Code 632(a). Last verified 2026-07-03.source Section 632.7 extends the all-party rule to cellular and cordless calls.

Sources

Important

This page is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws have edge cases that this summary does not cover, including in-person versus phone recording, calls that cross state lines, and law-enforcement exceptions. Laws change. Confirm the current statute at the official source linked below, and consult your own counsel before relying on it.