Recording is not the same as protection

Many properties install a few cameras, point them at the lot, and hope for the best. Video alone often becomes evidence after the fact, not prevention before the fact. Residents want to feel safe walking from the car to the lobby. Your team wants fewer incidents to manage and faster answers when something happens.

Deterrence is a system, not a single device. The right mix of lighting, sightlines, controlled entry, analytics, and clear policies changes behavior on your site. Here is how to design a parking program that discourages problems and supports fast resolution when needed.

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The deterrence stack for multifamily parking

1) Lighting that signals presence

Good lighting is the cheapest and most effective deterrent.

  • Use uniform light levels that avoid bright hotspots and dark pockets

  • Target 3 to 5 foot-candles at entrances, pedestrian paths, and payment or elevator areas

  • Choose 4000K to 5000K color temperature for visibility and color accuracy

  • Tie light health checks into your maintenance schedule

2) Camera coverage that matches risk

Place cameras where decisions happen and where faces and plates can be captured.

  • Entrances and exits for identification and journey mapping

  • Pedestrian paths, elevators, and pay stations for safety

  • Blind spot corners and long rows for activity detection

  • Use varifocal lenses to balance scene context and detail

  • Record at settings that preserve plate legibility and face clarity

3) License Plate Recognition for accountability

LPR tells you who entered and when. It also supports rules that deter misuse.

  • Capture plates at all vehicle entry points with consistent angles and lighting

  • Create watchlists for trespassed vehicles and alert your team when they return

  • Compare entries to access permissions and guest lists

  • Export plate timelines with associated camera clips for incident packets

4) Controlled access that fits the property

Open lots invite tailgating and unauthorized parking. A light touch access layer sets expectations.

  • Gates with resident credentials during overnight hours

  • Visitor lanes with video intercom for apartments that route calls to staff or a remote service

  • Time-limited QR or PIN codes for guests and delivery drivers

  • Clear posted rules for towing, visitor limits, and after hours procedures

5) Analytics and alerts that reduce noise

Set your system to notify on meaningful events instead of every movement.

  • Line crossing at perimeters after quiet hours

  • Dwell time alerts in no parking zones or near doors

  • Vehicle counted entries that exceed expected peaks

  • Door prop alerts at lobby or garage access points

6) Clear signage and communication

Deterrence improves when people know the rules and understand the consequences.

  • Post simple signs at entries that describe monitoring, access rules, and towing partners

  • Add wayfinding to guide residents to safe pedestrian paths and elevators

  • Include a short parking safety section in your resident welcome materials

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Tie the lot to the building

Parking safety improves when your parking controls and building access work as one program.

  • Apartment access control: Use the same mobile credential for gate, lobby, elevator, and unit.

  • Video intercom: Let visitors call residents or the office from the garage entry.

  • Smart locks for condos and amenities: Keep bike rooms, storage, and mailrooms on schedules that match parking hours.

  • Unified logs: Correlate plate entries with door events and intercom calls in one dashboard.

SSP designs these systems to share data, which means you can answer who, when, and where without juggling portals.

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A sample design for a mid rise with a gated lot

  • LED pole lights at 18 to 22 feet, spaced for even coverage across rows

  • Fixed overview cameras per quadrant and dedicated LPR cameras at entry and exit

  • Swing gate with resident mobile credentials after 8 p.m. and before 6 a.m.

  • Visitor lane with video intercom and time-limited QR passes

  • Anti tailgating dwell timer and alert if two vehicles pass on one lift

  • Interior corridor and elevator cameras that pick up pedestrians from the lot

  • Unified console where access, LPR, and video events appear on a single timeline

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Playbooks that change outcomes

After hours visitor
Visitor uses a QR from the resident. Plate and gate entry are logged. The intercom snapshot and elevator access to a single floor complete the trail. No open parking, no guessing.

Repeat nuisance vehicle
Plate hits a watchlist at the gate. Staff receives an alert with the last three visits and the associated camera clips. The towing partner is engaged based on posted rules.

Propped garage door
Door prop alert fires after two minutes. Camera confirms a delivery cart left the door open. Staff closes the door and uses the clip for a quick training reminder.

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Metrics that prove deterrence is working

Track these monthly and review with leadership.

  • Incident rate per 100 spaces
    Theft, vandalism, and unauthorized parking should trend down within two quarters of a program launch

  • Door prop time
    Lower totals indicate better compliance at pedestrian entries

  • After hours entries without credentials
    Gate and intercom program should reduce these steadily

  • Average time to evidence packet
    Goal is under 30 minutes from report to a plate timeline and video clip set

  • Resident satisfaction on parking safety
    Add one question to renewals and new move in surveys to capture perception gains

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Policy essentials for resident trust

  • Post a simple privacy and monitoring summary that explains cameras, access logs, and retention windows

  • Publish towing and visitor policies in the lease addendum and on signage

  • Train staff to respond consistently to tailgating, loitering, and door props

  • Offer an escorted walk program during late hours in larger sites when feasible

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Why partner with SSP

SSP delivers parking lot surveillance and access control as one integrated solution for multifamily communities. We design lighting and camera coverage, deploy LPR at the right angles, connect gates to resident credentials, add video intercom for visitors, and unify everything in a cloud console. Our goal is simple. Fewer incidents, faster answers, and a safer walk from the car to the front door.

Want a site specific parking plan
Schedule a consultation and we will map lighting, cameras, LPR, gates, and policies into a clear design for your property.