# 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" %}
You will have access to all cameras, viewing stations, air quality sensors, intercoms, gateways, New Alarms, and Command Connectors once you have been granted permissions for a site.
{% endhint %}

<details>

<summary>Users</summary>

1. In Verkada Command, go to <img src="https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1486869215/1814a70f654cc9ef55141d9e8147/Screenshot+2025-02-21+at+12_45_58%E2%80%AFPM.png?expires=1745388000&#x26;signature=b5b1e4d99107d382b87819f343965733c297188b4894f2a524406d4a686f9b7d&#x26;req=dSQvEMF4lINeXPMW3Hu4gXN4igTaKjjuNpkB8i2AoYPPBPGijBXEIGtmq6kL%0AgA%3D%3D%0A" alt="" data-size="original"> **All Products > Admin** ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1486870999/45308fafc2d4613daa8b2e50f802/Screenshot+2024-04-11+at+10_49_58%E2%80%AFAM.png?expires=1745388000\&signature=adc8ee4008a88dbed98588be5a71a05c30176d978fc19ff1720bfa8b1e7e126a\&req=dSQvEMF5nYhWUPMW3Hu4gRH6C4wj8sPMsy1omMhZz9LkqOm09%2BcWpkMJ0rXo%0AQw%3D%3D%0A).
2. Under![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1488258786/bfea6facb65e1cbe7142300986ce/Screenshot%2B2024-04-11%2Bat%2B10_49_58-E2-80-AFAM.png?expires=1745336400\&signature=97b6c7014329f46a270b4108105e8b7f39c894f12860e81c2df1f348cbd17db5\&req=dSQvHst7lYZXX%2FMU3HP0gJiLx0FTeXLfgq5wX6mb892cKMRzWgc%3D%0A)**Org Settings**, select **Users**.
3. Select a user.
4. At the top right, click **Manage Roles**.
   1. Set the needed permissions.
   2. Click **Save**.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Groups</summary>

1. In Verkada Command, go to ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1486869215/1814a70f654cc9ef55141d9e8147/Screenshot+2025-02-21+at+12_45_58%E2%80%AFPM.png?expires=1745388000\&signature=b5b1e4d99107d382b87819f343965733c297188b4894f2a524406d4a686f9b7d\&req=dSQvEMF4lINeXPMW3Hu4gXN4igTaKjjuNpkB8i2AoYPPBPGijBXEIGtmq6kL%0AgA%3D%3D%0A) **All Products > Admin** ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1486870999/45308fafc2d4613daa8b2e50f802/Screenshot+2024-04-11+at+10_49_58%E2%80%AFAM.png?expires=1745388000\&signature=adc8ee4008a88dbed98588be5a71a05c30176d978fc19ff1720bfa8b1e7e126a\&req=dSQvEMF5nYhWUPMW3Hu4gRH6C4wj8sPMsy1omMhZz9LkqOm09%2BcWpkMJ0rXo%0AQw%3D%3D%0A).
2. Under![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/q5re5q6g/1488258786/bfea6facb65e1cbe7142300986ce/Screenshot%2B2024-04-11%2Bat%2B10_49_58-E2-80-AFAM.png?expires=1745336400\&signature=97b6c7014329f46a270b4108105e8b7f39c894f12860e81c2df1f348cbd17db5\&req=dSQvHst7lYZXX%2FMU3HP0gJiLx0FTeXLfgq5wX6mb892cKMRzWgc%3D%0A)**Org Settings**, select **Users**.
3. Select a user.
4. At the top right, click **Manage Roles**.
   1. Set the needed permissions.
   2. Click **Save**.

</details>

***

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


---

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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.

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