As a hotel guest, you have a reasonable expectation of privacy in your room. This means that hotel staff should not enter your room without your permission unless there is an emergency or a specific reason outlined in the hotel's policies.

Legally, hotel housekeeping can enter your room without explicit permission in many circumstances, although most reputable hotels follow strict courtesy protocols. When you check into a hotel, you have a "reasonable expectation of privacy," but this is not absolute. Housekeeping is typically authorized to enter for routine cleaning and maintenance during daylight hours unless you have displayed a "Do Not Disturb" sign. However, even with a sign, hotel management reserves the right to enter for safety and security checks—a policy that became more common after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, with many hotels now requiring a visual room check every 24 to 48 hours. In emergencies, such as a suspected fire, water leak, or medical crisis, staff can enter immediately. If you want total privacy, you should use the deadbolt or security latch while inside, but be aware that if you refuse entry for more than 48 hours, the hotel may eventually insist on an inspection as a condition of your continued stay.