Permissions
Permissions & copyright.
What you may print, share, photocopy, or reprint from Before They Build — and what requires written permission.
≈2 min · Quick reference
Copyright
© 1970 Before They Build™. All rights reserved. All handbooks, reports, wallet cards, plates, illustrations, and original written content on this site are the copyrighted work of Before They Build.
Trademark
Before They Build™, the Before They Build wordmark, the handbook system (Civic Handbook, Vol. I), the plate-numbering system (Plate I, Plate II, …), and the report formats (Community Guide, Community Record, Evidence Packet, Neighbour Packet, Agency Contact Packet, Complaint Tracker, Response Cards, Wallet Cards, Hearing Survival Card) are claimed as common-law trademarks of Before They Build.
Educational-use permissions
You may, without asking:
- Print unmodified copies of any handbook or report for personal, neighbour, or community use.
- Photocopy printed handbooks and reports to share with neighbours, at meetings, or in community spaces.
- Email or share the PDF of a printed handbook or report with neighbours, journalists, or local officials.
- Quote short passages (up to ~200 words) in articles, blog posts, or social media with attribution.
Reprint & republication
Written permission is required for:
- Commercial redistribution, resale, or paid republication.
- Modifying, abridging, or re-formatting handbooks or reports.
- Republishing more than a short quotation on a commercial site or in a paid publication.
- Translating handbooks or reports into other languages for public distribution.
- Use of the Before They Build name, wordmark, or plate artwork in another product.
Attribution
When sharing or quoting, please credit:
Before They Build™ — beforetheybuild.com
For longer excerpts, include the handbook or report title, the publication year, and a link back to the source page.
Attribution is appreciated for any non-print re-use too — quoting on social media, embedding a screenshot in a blog post, or showing a wallet card in a neighbourhood newsletter. A linked credit is enough.
Not legal advice
All Before They Build content is general civic information for residents. It is not legal advice, not a substitute for an attorney, and not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details with your local authority.
Contact
Reprint requests, translation requests, press inquiries, and permissions questions can be sent through the contact page.
This page is the authoritative statement of permissions for Before They Build. Every handbook colophon and printable report refers back to it.