Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2026

Backyard is a private community app for verified neighbors. This policy explains what we collect and how it is used.

Information we collect

• Account details: your name, email address, and password (stored as a salted hash).
• Residency details: the street address and unit you choose to add after joining. These provide community context and are visible only to verified members of your community.
• Photos: a required signup selfie used for neighbor verification, plus optional profile, post, and listing photos.
• Content you create: posts, comments, listings, messages, and directory entries.
• Diagnostics: error reports and basic usage events used to keep the app working.

How information is used

• To operate the community feed, marketplace, messaging, and verification features.
• To enforce community safety (reports, blocks, and moderation).
• To send account emails such as password reset codes.

What we do not do

• We do not sell your personal information.
• We do not show your email address to other members.
• We do not share your content outside your community.

Sharing and visibility

Your display name, photo, and content are visible to members of your community. Your street address is visible only to verified members of your community when you choose to add it. Direct messages are visible only to their participants.

Data retention and deletion

You can delete your account at any time from Settings → Delete account. Deletion anonymizes your profile, removes your memberships, and archives your listings. Diagnostic logs are retained for a limited period for security and reliability purposes.

Security

Data is encrypted in transit. Passwords are stored as salted PBKDF2 hashes. Access tokens can be revoked by signing out or resetting your password.

Children

Backyard is not directed at children under 13, and you must be at least 13 years old to use it.