The surface potential of a multidomain BaTiO3 (001) surface was imaged in the presence and absence of ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The UV radiation induces a decrease in the surface potential contrast between c+ and c− domains with a time constant of a few seconds due to redistribution of photocarriers and screening. A slower process of recovery was observed after illumination. In addition, scanning a conducting atomic force microscopy tip in contact under UV illumination destabilizes some ferroelectric domains.