Privacy Policy

Builders Monitor, Inc. ("Builders Monitor," "we," "our," or "us") operates the Builders Monitor website and data platform. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we share it, and your rights regarding that information.

By using our Service, you agree to the collection and use of information as described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

2.1 Information You Provide

When you create an account, purchase a plan, or contact us, we collect:

• Account information: name, email address, company name, job title, and password (stored as a cryptographic hash).
• Payment information: billing address and payment card details. Card numbers are processed and stored by our payment processor (Stripe, Inc.) and are never stored on our servers.
• Communications: messages you send us via email or support channels.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Service, we automatically collect:

• Usage data: pages visited, features used, API calls made, timestamps, and query parameters.
• Device and connection data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and referrer URL.
• Log data: server logs recording requests to our API and infrastructure.

2.3 Permit and Government Records Data

Our core dataset consists of building permits, contractor records, inspections, and related filings sourced from U.S. municipal and county government systems. This data is public record. It may include names, business addresses, license numbers, and other information about licensed contractors and permit applicants as they appear in government databases. We do not collect this data from individuals directly — it is extracted from public government sources.

2.4 Cookies and Tracking

We use session cookies and similar technologies to authenticate users and maintain session state. We do not use third-party advertising cookies or sell browsing data. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but doing so may prevent you from using authenticated features of the Service.

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the Service.
• Process transactions and send transaction-related communications.
• Respond to your support requests and inquiries.
• Send product updates, service announcements, and promotional communications (you may opt out of marketing emails at any time).
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns to improve the Service and detect abuse.
• Enforce our Terms of Service and other policies.
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal account information to third parties, and we do not use it to train AI or machine-learning models.

4.1 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party vendors who help us operate the Service, including:

• Cloud hosting: Amazon Web Services (infrastructure and storage).
• Authentication: Auth0 / Okta (identity management).
• Payments: Stripe (payment processing).
• Email delivery: transactional email provider for account and billing notifications.

These providers are contractually required to use your information only to provide services to us and to protect it in accordance with applicable law.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government authority, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Builders Monitor, our users, or the public.

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of substantially all of our assets, user information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will provide notice before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.4 With Your Consent

We may share information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

The permit and contractor data we distribute is sourced from public government records. If you are a licensed contractor or permit applicant whose information appears in government databases, that data may appear in our Service. Because this information originates from public government filings, it falls outside the scope of personal data subject to deletion under most US state privacy laws.

If you believe information about you in our database is inaccurate, you may contact us at privacy@buildersmonitor.com to request a review. We will evaluate your request and, where appropriate, correct or annotate the record.

We retain account information for as long as your account is active, and for a reasonable period thereafter to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. API logs and usage data are retained for up to 12 months. You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us at privacy@buildersmonitor.com.

We apply industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit via HTTPS/TLS.
• Encryption of data at rest in our cloud infrastructure.
• Access controls based on least privilege; all production access requires multi-factor authentication.
• Regular third-party security assessments and vulnerability scanning.

No security system is impenetrable. In the event of a data breach that affects your information, we will notify you as required by applicable law. To report a security concern, contact security@buildersmonitor.com.

8.1 All Users

Regardless of where you are located, you may:

• Access and update your account information at any time through your account settings.
• Opt out of marketing emails via the unsubscribe link in any such email.
• Request deletion of your account by contacting us.

8.2 California Residents (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to: know what personal information we collect and how it is used; request deletion of personal information; opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell personal information); and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. To submit a request, email privacy@buildersmonitor.com with the subject line "California Privacy Request."

8.3 Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Other US States

Residents of states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and port their personal data. Contact us using the information in Section 10 to exercise any applicable state privacy rights.

The Service is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, contact us and we will delete it promptly.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last revised" date at the top of this page. For material changes, we will provide additional notice (such as an email to account holders). Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, contact us at: