Terms of Service

Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using FreeCodeChecks ("the platform"), operated by Emberbyte LLC("we", "our", "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the platform.

Service description

FreeCodeChecks is a software service that researches municipal sign-code ordinances and compiles them into standardized Code Check summaries. We offer a free tier supported by advertising and a paid tier in which we research and deliver verified report PDFs. We may add, change, or discontinue features at any time.

Account responsibilities

If you create an account, you are responsible for the activity that occurs under it and for keeping your credentials secure. You agree to provide accurate information, to not share your account, and to notify us promptly of any unauthorized use. You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, to create an account.

Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Scrape or programmatically harvest platform content at scale
• Circumvent rate limits or access controls
• Interfere with advertising or attempt to defeat ad serving
• Use the platform for any unlawful purpose
• Resell or sublicense extracted data without written permission

Disclaimers — informational only, not legal advice

The sign-code information provided by this platform is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, professional code review, or a permit application. We make no representations or warranties that the information is current, complete, or applicable to your specific situation.

Always verify sign-code requirements directly with the applicable jurisdiction before submitting a permit application or purchasing signage.

Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Emberbyte LLC shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of the platform, including but not limited to permit denials, cost overruns, or errors in the extracted sign-code data. Our total aggregate liability for any claim relating to the platform shall not exceed the amount you paid us, if any, in the twelve months preceding the claim.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Emberbyte LLC and its officers, members, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to your use of the platform, your violation of these terms, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.

Paid services — Stripe

Verified report orders ($199 per report) are processed by Stripe, Inc. You agree to Stripe's Services Agreement and Privacy Policy when completing a purchase. We do not store your full payment card details — all payment data is handled directly by Stripe.

Refunds: Full refund if we are unable to research the requested municipality. Refunds are processed within 5 business days to the original payment method.

Intellectual property

The FreeCodeChecks platform, including its codebase, user interface, and extracted sign-code summaries, is the property of Emberbyte LLC. Municipal ordinance text is public domain. Nothing in these terms limits your ability to access public municipal codes directly.

Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the platform at any time, with or without notice, if you violate these terms or use the platform in a way that risks harm to us, other users, or third parties. You may stop using the platform and request deletion of your account at any time. Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law — will survive.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. You agree that the state and federal courts located in Virginia, USA shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from these terms or your use of the platform.

Changes to these terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date above. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Email legal@freecodechecks.com or write to Emberbyte LLC at ben@emberbyte.io.