Privacy policy
Last updated October 15, 2026
YardHound is operated by Mike Banta, a sole proprietor in Spokane, Washington ("we", "us"). This policy covers the YardHound app and the website at yard-hound.com. We don't sell your personal information, and we don't share it for advertising.
The waitlist
If you join the waitlist, we collect your email address, which option you picked (homeowner, worker, teen worker or parent) and your ZIP code if you give it. We use them only to tell you when YardHound launches near you and to decide which neighborhoods open first. To be removed, email support@yard-hound.com.
What the app collects
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Phone number, email, first name, date of birth, profile photo, short intro | Your account, sign-in, age rules, receipts and showing the other side who they're dealing with |
| Identity verification result, verified legal name and date of birth (from Stripe) | Confirming you are who you say, and running the background check. We never receive your ID images |
| Background check and registry results | Deciding whether an account can post or work, against the standards on our Safety page |
| Property address, map pin, work-area outlines, hazard pins and photos | Describing the job to workers and running the address registry check |
| Work zones and their base addresses (workers) | Sending job alerts and showing distance. Base addresses are never shown to anyone |
| Job photos, hazard acknowledgements and GPS location at check-in | The record of the job, for approvals, disputes and safety |
| Messages between homeowner and worker | Coordinating the job, and resolving disputes and reports |
| Bids, jobs, payments, ratings, reliability and reports | Running the marketplace, paying people, and keeping it safe |
| Payment and payout details | Held by Stripe. We keep only Stripe's reference numbers, never full card or bank numbers or your SSN |
| App usage events and device information | Fixing bugs and understanding which features work |
We use location only at check-in and on the job map while a job is active. We don't track your location in the background.
Who we share it with
The other side of a job
Before a job is awarded, workers see a picture of the yard with its outline and hazards, but not the street address. After it's awarded, the worker sees the address and live map, and the gate code at check-in. Homeowners see a worker's first name, photo, intro, ratings, reliability and verification badges. A guardian sees everything about their linked teen's jobs, bids, payouts, reviews and zones.
Service providers
We use these companies to run YardHound. They may use your information only to provide their service to us.
- Stripe: payments, payouts, identity verification and tax calculation
- Washington State Patrol: criminal history searches, and public sex offender registry searches
- Supabase: our database, file storage and sign-in
- Google: maps, satellite imagery, address search and push notifications (Firebase)
- Resend: email; Telnyx: text messages
- PostHog: product analytics
- Cloudflare: hosting this website
When the law or safety requires it
We share information with law enforcement or others when the law requires it, or when we believe it's needed to protect someone's safety, especially a minor's. If YardHound becomes a company or is sold, your information would move with it under this policy.
How long we keep it
| Data | Kept for |
|---|---|
| Property photos and hazard pins | While your account is active |
| Job photos, hazard acknowledgements, check-in locations | 1 year after the job closes |
| Messages | 1 year after the job closes |
| Anything attached to a dispute or a safety report | As long as that record is needed |
| Background check results | The outcome and date, indefinitely. The name and birth date used for the search are not stored afterwards |
| Jobs, payments, ratings and reviews | Indefinitely, for tax records and the other person's history, with your name removed if you delete your account |
| Waitlist entries | Until launch in your area, or until you ask us to remove them |
Your choices
- See or correct your data: most of it is in the app. For a copy of everything, email us.
- Delete your account: in the app, or as described on Delete your account.
- Notifications: turn off push, email or texts in the app or your phone's settings. Some messages about active jobs and payments can't be turned off.
- Analytics: we don't use advertising trackers. This website sets no cookies.
We'll honor these requests no matter which state you live in.
Children and teens
YardHound isn't for anyone under 14. Workers aged 14 to 17 can use it only with a verified parent or guardian, who consents to their use, can see their activity and can pause or end it. A guardian can ask us to delete their teen's account. If you believe someone under 14 has signed up, tell us and we'll delete the account.
Security
Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Access inside YardHound is limited to the people who need it, each with their own login and two-factor sign-in, and every admin action is logged. No system is perfectly secure; if a breach affects you, we'll tell you as the law requires.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date above. For significant changes we'll tell you in the app and ask you to accept the new version.
Contact
Privacy questions or requests: support@yard-hound.com.