User Accounts & Profile Management

This guide covers how to create, manage, and maintain your Permits Portal account. Your account provides access to permit applications, inspection scheduling, payments, and communication with permitting staff.

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Creating Your Account

Registration Process

1. Visit the Permits Portal
2. Click "Create Account" or "Register"
3. Complete the registration form:

Required Information:

1. Accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
2. Click "Create Account"
3. Check your email for verification link
4. Click the verification link to activate your account

Password Requirements

Your password must include:

• Minimum 8 characters
• At least one uppercase letter
• At least one lowercase letter
• At least one number
• At least one special character

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Signing In

Standard Login

1. Go to the portal login page
2. Enter your email address
3. Enter your password
4. Click "Sign In"

Forgot Password

If you forget your password:

1. Click "Forgot Password" on the login page
2. Enter your registered email address
3. Click "Send Reset Link"
4. Check your email (including spam folder)
5. Click the reset link in the email
6. Create a new password
7. Sign in with your new password

Account Lockout

After multiple failed login attempts:

• Your account may be temporarily locked
• Wait 15-30 minutes before trying again
• Use "Forgot Password" to reset if needed
• Contact support if problems persist

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Your Profile

Accessing Profile Settings

1. Sign in to the portal
2. Click your name or avatar in the top right
3. Select "Profile" or "Account Settings"

Profile Sections

Personal Information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Middle Name (optional)
• Display Name

Contact Information:

• Email Address (primary, used for login)
• Alternate Email (optional)
• Primary Phone
• Alternate Phone
• Preferred Contact Method

Address:

• Street Address
• City
• State
• ZIP Code

Communication Preferences:

• Email notifications (on/off)
• SMS notifications (on/off)
• Newsletter subscription

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Updating Your Information

Editing Personal Details

1. Go to Profile
2. Click "Edit" or the pencil icon next to the section
3. Update your information
4. Click "Save"

Changing Your Email Address

1. Go to Profile > Contact Information
2. Click "Change Email"
3. Enter new email address
4. Verify your password
5. Check new email for verification link
6. Click verification link to confirm change

Important: Your email is your login username. After changing it, use the new email to sign in.

Updating Phone Number

1. Go to Profile > Contact Information
2. Edit phone number field
3. Select phone type (Mobile, Home, Work)
4. Save changes
5. For SMS notifications, ensure it's a mobile number

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Password Management

Changing Your Password

1. Go to Profile > Security
2. Click "Change Password"
3. Enter current password
4. Enter new password
5. Confirm new password
6. Click "Save"

Password Best Practices

• Use a unique password not used on other sites
• Consider using a password manager
• Change password if you suspect unauthorized access
• Don't share your password with others

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Notification Preferences

Email Notifications

Control which emails you receive:

SMS Text Notifications

If enabled, you may receive text messages for:

• Inspection reminders (24 hours before)
• Status changes on active permits
• Urgent communications

Managing Preferences

1. Go to Profile > Notification Preferences
2. Toggle each notification type on/off
3. Save your preferences

Note: Some critical notifications may always be sent regardless of preferences.

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Account Security

Keeping Your Account Secure

Do:

• Use a strong, unique password
• Keep your email secure (it's your username)
• Log out on shared computers
• Report suspicious activity immediately

Don't:

• Share your login credentials
• Use the same password as other accounts
• Save passwords in unsecured locations
• Ignore security notifications

Session Management

• Sessions expire after 30 minutes of inactivity
• You'll be automatically logged out
• Save your work regularly
• Sign in again to continue

Two-Factor Authentication

If available, consider enabling two-factor authentication:

1. Go to Profile > Security
2. Click "Enable Two-Factor Authentication"
3. Follow setup instructions
4. Use authenticator app or SMS codes

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Linked Accounts

Contractor Accounts

If you're both a property owner and a licensed contractor:

• Use one account for personal permits
• Business activities may require separate registration
• Contact permitting staff for multi-role access

Authorized Representatives

To allow someone else to manage your permits:

1. Currently requires contacting permitting staff
2. Provide authorization in writing
3. They'll need their own account

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Account Issues

Email Not Received

If you're not receiving portal emails:

1. Check spam/junk folder
2. Add portal email to your contacts
3. Verify email address in profile is correct
4. Check with your email provider's filtering

Locked Account

If your account is locked:

1. Wait 15-30 minutes and try again
2. Use "Forgot Password" to reset
3. Contact support if still locked

Duplicate Accounts

If you accidentally created multiple accounts:

1. Contact permitting staff
2. They can merge or deactivate duplicates
3. All permit history will be preserved

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Deleting Your Account

Account Deletion Request

To request account deletion:

1. Contact the permitting office Support
2. Provide your email address and reason
3. Staff will process your request

Note:

• Active permits may prevent immediate deletion
• Historical records are retained per public records requirements
• Account can be deactivated instead of fully deleted

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Privacy & Data

Your Data

The portal collects and stores:

• Contact information you provide
• Permit applications and documents
• Payment history
• Communication records

Data Access

You can:

• View all your information in your profile
• Download copies of your permits and documents
• Request data export by contacting staff

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Troubleshooting

Q: I'm not receiving the verification email. A:

1. Check spam/junk folders
2. Wait a few minutes and check again
3. Request a new verification email
4. Verify the email address was entered correctly

Q: I can't log in even with correct password. A:

1. Ensure caps lock is off
2. Check for extra spaces in email
3. Try password reset
4. Clear browser cache and cookies
5. Try a different browser

Q: My profile changes won't save. A:

1. Check all required fields are completed
2. Verify phone number format
3. Ensure email format is valid
4. Try refreshing the page

Q: How do I close my account? A: Contact the permitting office Support. They'll guide you through the process and ensure any active permits are handled appropriately.

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Related Features

• Citizen Portal Lifecycle
• Portal Record Views
• Automated Reminders