Three ways to use Before They Build
Free. Organized. Preserved.
Essential civic knowledge stays free forever. Paid Editions package what's already free into a binder you can take to the hearing — or a slim reference book you can keep on a shelf.
Which one should I choose?
Start with your situation.
See the full shop → — free handbooks, kits, cards, and printables in one place.
Free
Everything you need.
Every handbook, packet, directory, and answer page on this site is free at its canonical route. No login. No paywall.
Free
Digital Edition
Everything organized.
One professionally organized handbook plus three printable field tools — designed to help you understand, prepare for, and participate in local government decisions. Delivered as a single downloadable ZIP immediately after purchase.
$14.95
Library Edition
Everything preserved.
A slim, shelf-ready Volume I: twelve core civic handbook chapters, front matter, field notes, and engraved plates in a 6×9 perfect-bound paperback. For neighbors who want a permanent desk copy — and for libraries, schools, planning offices, HOAs, and churches that want a reference book on the shelf.
$29.95
One more, smaller
Have a single hearing on the calendar?
The Public Hearing Pack ($9) is a 41-page edition focused on the one meeting you have to prepare for — speaking worksheet, timeline, questions, and a place to take notes.
Compare
What's the difference?
Every row is true of the Free tier first. Paid Editions add convenience, organization, and a physical copy — never new information.
| Free | Hearing Pack | Digital | Library | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core civic information | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Printable at home | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hearing toolkit (speech, timeline, questions) | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Organized collection (single binder PDF) | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Complete handbook set | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bound paperback for the shelf | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Price | Free | $9 | $14.95 | $29.95 |
Your purchase keeps every core handbook free for everyone.
Why isn't a paid Edition required?
Because the free handbook already contains everything important. The Editions package that knowledge for convenience — they do not unlock it.