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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 2, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how HousePermits.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you visit https://housepermits.com or use our services (the “Service”). By using the Service, you agree to the practices described in this Policy.

1. Who We Are

HousePermits.com is operated as an online resource for building permit information across the United States. We are based in Massachusetts. For questions about this Policy, contact us at [email protected].

2. Information We Collect

a. Information You Provide Directly

  • Contact form submissions: name, email address, and any message content you submit.
  • Email signups: email address and any preferences you select.
  • Ask AI conversations: the questions and follow-up messages you submit to our AI assistant. We may retain these conversation logs to improve the service, monitor for abuse, and train internal models.
  • Contractor inquiry forms: project details, ZIP code, and contact information you submit when requesting contractor referrals.

b. Information Collected Automatically

  • Analytics data: we use Google Analytics (via the Site Kit plugin) to collect IP address (truncated where possible), device type, browser, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, time on page, and approximate geographic location.
  • Log data: our hosting provider records standard server logs including IP address, request timestamps, and user agent.
  • Cookies and similar technologies: see our Cookie Policy for details.

c. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from advertising and affiliate partners (such as Amazon Associates) regarding clicks, conversions, and aggregate engagement. We do not receive your full payment or account information from these partners.

3. How We Use Information

We use information to:

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Service;
  • Respond to your inquiries and provide contractor referrals you request;
  • Train and improve our AI assistant and content;
  • Monitor for fraud, abuse, and security incidents;
  • Measure traffic, engagement, and the effectiveness of content and affiliate links;
  • Send transactional and (with your consent) marketing emails;
  • Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

4. Legal Bases for Processing

Where required by law (including for visitors in the EEA, UK, or California), we rely on the following legal bases: your consent, performance of a contract, our legitimate interests in operating and improving the Service, and compliance with legal obligations.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only as follows:

  • Service providers: hosting, analytics (Google), email delivery, AI processing (Anthropic), and similar vendors who process data on our behalf under contractual confidentiality obligations.
  • Contractor partners: when you submit a contractor inquiry form, we share the information you provide with matched contractors so they can contact you about your project.
  • Affiliate networks: when you click an affiliate link, the destination site (e.g., Amazon) sets its own cookies and receives referral data. We receive aggregate or commission-related reports.
  • Legal compliance: we may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, court order, or to protect our rights, users, or the public.
  • Business transfers: if the Service is acquired or merged, information may transfer to the successor entity, subject to this Policy.

6. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality, analytics, and affiliate-link attribution. For details and how to control cookies, see our Cookie Policy.

7. AI Assistant (“Ask AI”) Disclosures

Our Ask AI feature is powered by a third-party large language model. When you submit a question:

  • Your message is transmitted to the AI provider for processing.
  • We log the conversation on our servers to improve the service and monitor for abuse.
  • Do not submit personal, financial, medical, or otherwise sensitive information through Ask AI.
  • AI responses may contain errors. Always verify with your local building department.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described above or as required by law. Analytics data is generally retained for 26 months. Contact form submissions are retained for up to 3 years. Ask AI logs are retained for up to 24 months unless we identify a need to retain longer for security or legal reasons.

9. Your Rights

a. Massachusetts Residents

Massachusetts residents are protected under M.G.L. c. 93H (data breach notification) and 201 CMR 17.00 (data security regulations). If we experience a breach involving your personal information as defined under Massachusetts law, we will notify you and the Massachusetts Attorney General as required.

b. California Residents

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), you have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion, request correction, and opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise these rights, contact us at the email above.

c. EEA, UK, and Other Jurisdictions

If you are located in the EEA or UK, you have rights under the GDPR/UK GDPR including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

d. How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days (or 45 days under CCPA, with extensions as permitted by law).

10. Children’s Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn we have collected such information, we will delete it. Parents who believe their child has provided personal information should contact us.

11. Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards consistent with 201 CMR 17.00. No system is perfectly secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted over the internet.

12. International Transfers

If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the U.S. By using the Service, you consent to such transfers.

13. Third-Party Links

The Service contains links to third-party sites including affiliate links and contractor websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Review their privacy policies before submitting information.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will revise the “Effective Date” above. Material changes will be announced via a notice on the Service or by email if we have your address.

15. Contact Us

HousePermits.com
Email: info@housepermits.com