Short version: We collect minimal data to help you find permit information. We never sell your personal information. Display ads may use cookies. You can opt out or request deletion anytime.
1. Who We Are
FreePermitApp ("we," "us," or "our") operates freepermitapp.com — a free resource that helps homeowners and contractors understand local building permit requirements. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our website and services.
If you have questions, contact us at privacy@freepermitapp.com.
2. Information We Collect
a) Information You Provide Directly
- ZIP code or city searches — entered to look up permit requirements in your area
- Lead form submissions — if you submit your name, email, phone number, or project details to request a permit application, cost estimate, contractor checklist, or renovation guide
- Optional survey or quiz responses — if you complete tools like our Style Quiz or Cost Calculator
b) Information Collected Automatically
- Log data — IP address, browser type, pages visited, referring URL, and timestamps. This is standard web server logging used to diagnose errors and understand traffic.
- Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 5 below for details.
- Usage analytics — aggregated, non-personally-identifiable data about how visitors interact with the site (page views, popular searches, click patterns).
c) Information We Do Not Collect
- We do not require account creation or login
- We do not collect payment information directly (any paid services use third-party processors)
- We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13
3. How We Use Your Information
- To provide permit information — your ZIP or city search is used to return relevant permit guides, fees, and timelines for your area
- To fulfill service requests — if you request a permit application auto-fill, guide download, or cost estimate, we use your contact info to deliver it
- To improve the site — we analyze aggregated usage patterns to identify popular jurisdictions, fix bugs, and improve content
- To display advertising — we use Google AdSense and other ad networks to serve relevant display ads. These services may use cookies to personalize ads based on your browsing history (see Section 5)
- To communicate with you — if you opt in, we may send permit tips, updates, or relevant offers. You can unsubscribe at any time
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
4. Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services that may process your data:
- Google AdSense / Google Ad Manager — serves display advertisements. Google may use cookies to show personalized ads. See Google's Privacy Policy and Ads Settings to opt out of personalized advertising.
- Google Analytics (if enabled) — tracks anonymized usage statistics. You can opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on.
- Email delivery providers — used to send guides, checklists, and confirmation emails to users who request them.
- Hosting and infrastructure providers — our website is hosted on servers in the United States. Data may be processed by our infrastructure provider.
These third parties have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them.
5. Cookies
We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies — required for the site to function (e.g., session management)
- Analytics cookies — help us understand how visitors use the site (aggregated, anonymous data)
- Advertising cookies — placed by ad networks like Google AdSense to serve relevant ads. These may track your browsing activity across sites.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some site functionality. To opt out of interest-based advertising, visit optout.aboutads.info or optout.networkadvertising.org.
6. Your Rights (CCPA / GDPR)
Depending on where you live, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right to know — you can request a summary of what personal information we hold about you
- Right to deletion — you can ask us to delete your personal information
- Right to opt out — California residents have the right to opt out of the "sale" of personal information. We do not sell personal information, but you may still submit an opt-out request
- Right to non-discrimination — exercising your privacy rights will not affect your access to our free services
- Right to data portability — you may request a copy of your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@freepermitapp.com with the subject line "Privacy Request." We will respond within 30 days.
7. Data Retention
We retain lead form submissions and contact information for up to 2 years or until you request deletion, whichever comes first. Server logs are retained for up to 90 days. Analytics data is aggregated and may be retained indefinitely.
8. Security
We implement standard technical safeguards to protect your information, including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS) and access controls on our servers. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children's Privacy
FreePermitApp is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child, contact us at privacy@freepermitapp.com and we will delete it promptly.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. For significant changes, we will post a notice on the site.
11. Contact Us
For privacy questions, data requests, or concerns:
This Privacy Policy applies to freepermitapp.com and any subdomains operated by FreePermitApp. It does not apply to third-party websites linked from our site.