HOAGuard Privacy Policy
Effective date: 2026-04-20 · Last updated: 2026-04-26
Short version: HOAGuard stores all of your dispute documentation — violation notices, photos, fines, communications, meeting notes, appeals, contacts — only on your device. We have no servers and no analytics. We never see your evidence. Your HOA never learns this app exists from us. The only network communication the app performs is with Apple's StoreKit servers to verify your subscription status.
1. Who we are
HOAGuard is published by an independent iOS developer (Apple Developer Team ID ZM8LF8494F). For any privacy-related question, write to captainlongevity@gmail.com.
2. Information we do not collect
We do not collect, transmit, store on a server, sell, share, or analyze:
- Your property address, HOA name, management company name, or monthly dues
- Your violation notices, photos, CC&R references, fines, dispute reasons, or notes
- Your selective-enforcement comparison entries, neighbor descriptions, comparison photos, or GPS coordinates
- Your appeals, communications with the board, meeting notes, or architectural requests
- Contacts you save for board members, management, or your attorney
- Your name, email, phone, or any account identifier
- Device identifiers (IDFA, IDFV) for advertising or tracking purposes
- Crash reports or analytics events sent to any third party
3. Information stored on your device
All data you enter is stored locally on your iOS device using Apple's SwiftData framework. This data is included in your iCloud or iTunes device backup if you have device backup enabled. We do not have access to your device backups; only Apple does, under their published privacy terms.
4. On-device processing
Several features process data locally on your device only:
- GPS tagging on evidence photos uses Apple's Core Location framework. Your coordinates are stored with the entry on your device and never transmitted. If you deny location permission, entries still save without GPS — no feature is blocked.
- Evidence Package PDF generation uses Apple's PDFKit framework on-device. Your violations, photos, communications, and notes never leave your device during generation.
- Response deadline reminders are scheduled via Apple's UserNotifications framework and fire locally on your device. Notifications deliberately contain no identifying detail (HOA name, violation type, fine amount are never shown in the notification body) so an on-lock-screen preview does not leak your dispute.
- App Lock (Pro) uses Apple's LocalAuthentication framework with a default 0-second lock delay on background. Your Face ID or Touch ID biometric data never leaves Apple's Secure Enclave; the app only receives a success or failure signal.
5. Subscriptions and StoreKit
HOAGuard offers an optional Pro subscription via Apple's StoreKit 2. When you subscribe, restore a purchase, or when the app verifies your entitlement, your device communicates directly with Apple's servers. HOAGuard receives only the entitlement status (active or inactive) and a purchase identifier. We do not see your Apple ID, payment method, billing address, or transaction history. Apple's handling of subscription information is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.
6. Permissions the app requests
- Photo Library — only when you tap "Add photos" on a violation, selective-enforcement comparison, communication screenshot, or architectural request. The app does not access the device camera.
- Location (When-in-Use) — only when you tap "Add GPS tag" on a selective-enforcement entry. If denied, the entry still saves.
- Notifications — only after you enable response deadline reminders.
- Face ID / Touch ID — only after you enable App Lock in Settings.
You can revoke any of these permissions at any time in iOS Settings > HOAGuard.
7. Third parties
HOAGuard uses no third-party SDKs other than Apple's StoreKit 2 for subscription management. We do not use Firebase, Google Analytics, Sentry, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or any similar analytics / crash / advertising service. We do not share data with your HOA, your HOA's management company, any attorney, or any other party.
8. Children's privacy
HOAGuard is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children. The app's age rating reflects this.
9. Data retention and deletion
Because all data is stored only on your device, you control retention completely. To delete all dispute documentation, delete the app from your device. There is no remote copy for us to delete.
10. International users
The app does not transfer your data internationally because it does not transfer your data anywhere. The app is published in English and is primarily marketed in North America.
11. Not legal advice
HOAGuard is a personal documentation tool. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent you in any proceeding. The HOA Rights Reference Guide is general educational content sourced from publicly available legal education materials, not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice specific to your dispute, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
12. Changes to this policy
If we ever change how the app handles data — for example, if a future version adds an opt-in cloud backup feature — we will update this policy and surface the change in the app before you can use that feature. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
13. Contact
Privacy questions: captainlongevity@gmail.com