> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.verkada.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.verkada.com/intercom/getting-started/roles-and-permissions-for-intercom.md).

# Roles and Permissions for Intercom

This article describes the set of roles and associated permissions for [Verkada Intercom](/intercom/getting-started/get-started-with-verkada-intercom.md). For more information on roles and permissions for other Verkada product lines, see [Roles and Permissions for Command](/command/users-and-permissions/roles-and-permissions-for-command.md).

* **Site-level roles** determine the access a user or group has to devices in the site.
* **Permissions** are set using roles, which define the level of access users and groups have to devices and settings within an organization and its sites.

***

### Permissions considerations

* Subsites inherit permissions from all parent sites, including the ultimate parent.
* Users can belong to multiple groups. When roles conflict, the user receives the **highest role** granted directly or through any group.
* Group-assigned roles can be manually upgraded but not downgraded. Remove the user from the group with the higher role to downgrade their access.

***

## Site-level roles

Verkada Intercom permissions determine who can receive calls, view intercom video, and unlock intercom doors. Intercom permissions depend on your site-level permissions and whether you're configured as a Receiver.

{% hint style="danger" %}
You must be configured as a receiver to receive calls.
{% endhint %}

At a high level, these are the permissions granted to each level of Intercom devices:

| Permission                         | Receiver (Command & Pass) | Live-View Only | Site Viewer | Site Admin |
| ---------------------------------- | :-----------------------: | :------------: | :---------: | :--------: |
| Video during call                  |             ✅             |        ✅       |      ✅      |      ✅     |
| 24/7 Live video                    |             ✅             |        ✅       |      ✅      |      ✅     |
| Historical video & events          |                           |                |      ✅      |      ✅     |
| Unlock during call                 |             ✅             |                |             |      ✅     |
| 24/7 Unlock                        |             ✅             |                |             |      ✅     |
| Talkdown                           |             ✅             |                |             |      ✅     |
| Change receivers & device settings |                           |                |             |      ✅     |

<details>

<summary>Receiver</summary>

Verkada Intercom Receivers have the baseline receiver permissions. A user's intercom permissions for a site are based on their baseline and site-level roles.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Receivers, such as Desk Stations and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, are not tied to a Verkada Command user. This means these receivers cannot be granted site-level permissions.
{% endhint %}

Regardless of their site-level permissions, a Receiver can:

* Receive calls with video.
* See 24/7 live intercom video, even if not on an active call.
* Unlock the door both during and outside of a call.
* Talk down to the intercom.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Live-View Only</summary>

* Receive calls with video.
* See 24/7 live intercom video, even if not on an active call.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Site Viewer</summary>

* Receive calls with video.
* See 24/7 live intercom video, even if not on an active call.
* View historical video and events.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Site Admin</summary>

* Receive calls with video.
* See 24/7 live intercom video, even if not on an active call.
* View historical video and events.
* Unlock the door both during and outside of a call.
* Unlock the door 24/7.
* Talk down to the intercom.
* Change Receivers and device settings.

</details>

***

### Verify a user's eligibility to receive Verkada Pass calls

Users configured as receivers can answer calls from the Pass app. To check their eligibility, hover over <img src="/files/KgLw83OFaJJtPv1bFdQ3" alt="" data-size="original"> next to the user's name in the receiver list.

* A user who has **previously logged in** to Verkada Pass will see **Mobile: Pass App**.

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/zd5ZeIHFdp4GbcDeP9Fc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

* A user who has **never logged in** to the Verkada Pass will see **Pass App not Installed.**

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/DoT5yAPMgg8CScgIh4zi" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

***

## Set permissions

You can set site permissions for existing users and groups by managing user roles, groups, or sites.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Command site roles grant varying levels of access to cameras, viewing stations, air quality sensors, intercoms, gateways, and Command Connectors in a site and its subsites.
{% endhint %}

<details>

<summary>Users</summary>

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Org Settings > Users & Permissions, select Users.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select a user.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**To the right of Site Roles, click Manage.**

1. In the top left, select **Command** as the product line.
2. Select the role to grant to the user.
3. Click **Save**.
   {% endstep %}
   {% endstepper %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Groups</summary>

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Org Settings > Users & Permissions, select Groups.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select a group.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**To the right of Site Roles, click Manage.**

1. In the top left, select **Command** as the product line.
2. Select the role to grant to the group.
3. Click **Save**.
   {% endstep %}
   {% endstepper %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Sites</summary>

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Admin.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, select Sites.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select a site to manage.**

1. In the right pane, next to **Site Permissions**, click <i class="fa-pen-line">:pen-line:</i>.
2. In the top right, click <i class="fa-plus-large">:plus-large:</i> > **User** or **Group.**
3. Select user(s) or group(s) to edit their permissions, then click **Next.**
4. Edit the permissions as needed.
5. Click **Add.**
   {% endstep %}
   {% endstepper %}

</details>

***

{% hint style="info" %}
**Prefer to see it in action?** Check out the [video tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeBWHZAwCBg).
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.verkada.com/intercom/getting-started/roles-and-permissions-for-intercom.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.