Legal
Privacy Policy
Effective September 30, 2026
Plain-language details on what information we collect, why, and the choices you have.
The short version
- We collect what you choose to send us (like a form or an email sign-up) and basic analytics about how the site is used.
- We use it to reply to you, run our services and tools, and improve the site.
- We don't sell your personal information, and we don't use advertising trackers.
- A handful of trusted services help run the site, and they're all listed below.
- Email us any time to see, correct or delete what we have about you.
Who we are
Urban Permascapes LLC ("Urban Permascapes," "we," "us") is an ecological design business based in Cleveland, Ohio. We run urbanpermascapes.com, our free plant tools, and landscape design and installation services. This policy explains what information we collect through the website, how we use it, and the choices you have.
What we collect
Information you give us
- Contact form: your name, email, organization (optional), topic and message.
- Free consultation form: your name, email, phone (optional), neighborhood and city, property type and size, the services you're interested in, timing, notes, and how you heard about us.
- Email updates: your email address.
- Tool feedback: the rating and comments you submit in the Companion Planter.
- Emails, calls and texts you send us directly.
If you hire us, we also keep the project details needed to do the work and bill for it, like your address, site notes, photos of your property, proposals and invoices.
Information collected automatically
- Analytics: Google Analytics records pages visited, clicks, approximate location (derived from your IP address), device and browser, using cookies. In the Native Plant Finder, analytics events include only coarse details like plant IDs and state codes, never your ZIP code or county.
- Server logs: our host keeps standard logs such as IP address, browser and pages requested, for security and reliability.
- Tool lookups: when you use the Native Plant Finder, the places and plants you look up (including a ZIP code, if you enter one) are sent to the Flora API to fetch results, and Cloudflare Turnstile runs a quick check that you're human.
- Browser storage: we save small preferences on your device, like whether you paused the animated city. The Native Plant Finder keeps a short-lived session token in your browser while you use it.
How we use it
- To reply to your messages and consultation requests.
- To plan, deliver and bill for services you've asked for.
- To send email updates, only if you sign up. Every email includes a way to unsubscribe.
- To run, secure and improve the website and our free tools.
- To comply with legal obligations, like keeping business and tax records.
We don't sell or rent your personal information, we don't share it for advertising, and we don't make automated decisions about you.
Services we use
These companies help us run the site. Each processes information under its own privacy policy.
| Service | What it does | Information involved | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netlify | Hosts the website and receives contact and consultation form submissions. | Form fields, IP address, browser details (server logs) | Policy |
| Google Analytics | Measures how the site is used (pages, clicks, general location). | Cookie IDs, pages viewed, approximate location from IP, device and browser | Policy |
| Google Apps Script & Sheets | Stores email newsletter sign-ups and Companion Planter feedback. | Email address; feedback ratings and comments | Policy |
| Flora API | Powers the Native Plant Finder (our own plant-data service). | Places and plants you look up, including a ZIP code if you enter one | Policy |
| Cloudflare Turnstile | Checks that Native Plant Finder visitors are human. | Browser and device signals, IP address | Policy |
| jsDelivr | Delivers some code libraries used by our tools. | IP address, browser details | Policy |
| Adobe Fonts | Loads fonts on some of our older tool pages. | IP address, browser details | Policy |
| Wikimedia Commons | Hosts some of the plant photos shown on our state pages. | IP address, browser details | Policy |
| PayPal | Processes donations if you choose to give. We never see your card details. | Whatever you provide to PayPal | Policy |
Links to other sites, like TikTok, Vel's Purple Oasis or the National Wildlife Federation, are governed by those sites' own policies once you leave ours.
Cookies and your choices
Google Analytics sets cookies to tell visits apart. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install Google's Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The site works fine without them. We don't use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.
How long we keep it
- Form messages: only as long as we need them to help you.
- Client project records and invoices: as long as required for tax and business purposes.
- Email sign-ups: until you unsubscribe or ask us to remove you.
- Analytics data: according to our Google Analytics data-retention setting.
Your rights
You can ask us to show you, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you, or to stop sending you email, by writing to info@urbanpermascapes.com. We'll respond as quickly as we can. We may need to keep some records where the law requires it, like invoices.
Security
The site is served over HTTPS, and we limit access to your information to what's needed to help you. No system is perfectly secure, so please don't send sensitive information, like payment card numbers, through our forms.
Children
Our site and services are meant for adults. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us information, contact us and we'll delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle information, we'll update this page and the effective date at the top.
Contact us
Urban Permascapes LLC, Cleveland, Ohio · info@urbanpermascapes.com · (216) 815-0502