Terms of Service
These Terms are a launch draft for a California-wide private permit-preparation service. They should be reviewed by qualified California counsel before public launch.
1. Who operates the service
Form-O-Matic is operated by Otto Schmitz LLC, a Colorado limited liability company. These Terms apply to OrangeCountyBuildingPermits.com and other Form-O-Matic permit-preparation websites or applications that link to them.
2. Private service; no government affiliation
We are a private software and document-preparation service. We are not a city, county, state agency, building department or other government entity, and we do not imply government endorsement or authorization. Official forms and filing services may be available directly from the applicable government agency, sometimes at no separate preparation charge.
3. What the service does
For supported jurisdictions and project types, the service guides you through questions, checks configured fields for completeness, and uses the information you provide to prepare permit-related documents and supporting materials. Features vary by jurisdiction and project.
4. No professional-services relationship
Use of the software does not create an attorney-client, architect-client, engineer-client, contractor-client, surveyor-client or other licensed-professional relationship. Unless a separately identified licensed professional expressly agrees to provide a particular service, we do not provide legal advice, architectural or engineering design, surveying, contracting services or professional code determinations.
5. No guarantee of acceptance or approval
Government forms, codes, fees, submission methods and interpretations can change. We do not guarantee that a government agency will accept a package, approve plans, issue a permit, meet a particular review time, or agree with every classification or calculation. Automated completeness checks reduce common omissions but do not guarantee accuracy or code compliance.
6. Your responsibilities
You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information; reviewing generated documents; confirming any values the service marks for verification; obtaining required signatures, plans, engineering, contractor information, HOA approvals and other third-party materials; paying government and professional fees; and confirming current government requirements before submission. You may not knowingly provide false or misleading information.
7. Accounts and security
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase the service. Keep account credentials secure and notify us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised. You are responsible for activity performed through your account unless applicable law provides otherwise.
8. Pricing, payment and government fees
The price shown at checkout is the fee for our private preparation/automation service for the specific project identified at checkout. Government permit fees, inspection fees, plan-review fees, taxes, professional fees and third-party charges are separate unless expressly stated. Payment processing may be provided by a third-party processor such as Stripe.
9. Electronic delivery and email copy
Purchased permit packages are delivered electronically through your account. When transactional email is configured, we may send a notification with a secure link back to the completed job. Your account remains the primary location for current versions and regenerated packages.
10. Revisions
Where a workflow includes editing and regeneration, revisions remain associated with the same purchased project. Government correction comments, a change in construction scope, or a changed form may require additional information, professional plans, government fees or a different permit workflow.
11. Refunds
Our Refund & Cancellation Policy is incorporated into these Terms. Because permit packages are customized digital work product, refund eligibility may change after the first package is generated, subject to applicable law.
12. Government and third-party materials
Official government forms, handouts, code excerpts, agency names, links and third-party product information may be owned or maintained by their respective owners. We use or reference them to provide the requested service and do not claim ownership of government materials or third-party marks.
13. Acceptable use
You may not use the service to impersonate another person, access another user's project, submit fraudulent information, upload malicious content, interfere with the service, violate intellectual-property rights, or violate applicable law.
14. Third-party services
The service relies on third parties for functions such as hosting, authentication, payment processing and email. Third-party services may be unavailable or change their terms. Links to government or third-party websites are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement.
15. Disclaimer of warranties
To the extent permitted by law, the service is provided on an "as available" basis and we disclaim warranties not expressly stated in these Terms. Nothing in these Terms limits warranties or consumer rights that cannot legally be waived.
16. Limitation of liability
To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential losses caused by government delays, permit denial, construction activity, inaccurate user-supplied information, changed government requirements, professional-service omissions, or third-party systems. This section does not exclude liability that applicable law does not allow us to exclude.
17. Governing law
These Terms are governed by California law for services directed to California permitting, without overriding mandatory consumer protections or jurisdictional rules that apply to you.
18. Changes and contact
We may update these Terms prospectively. The effective date identifies the current version. Questions may be sent to [email protected].