Privacy Policy

BOZ Engineering Group ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is a professional engineering firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida, providing licensed engineering services including structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineering, civil engineering and site plans, geotechnical engineering, architectural design, permit expediting, structural inspections, load-bearing wall analysis, foundation design and repair, structural calculations and reports, retaining wall design, roof truss and framing design, and building code compliance review. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information entrusted to us by our clients, website visitors, project partners, and other individuals we interact with in the course of our business.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information through our website, in connection with our professional services, and through other business interactions. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

This Policy is intended to comply with applicable privacy laws, including but not limited to the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), Va. Code § 59.1-575 et seq., the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA), Fla. Stat. § 501.171, the Maryland Online Consumer Protection Act, and any other applicable state and federal privacy regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

We collect personal information in the following categories, depending on how you interact with us:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Contact and identification information: name, job title, company name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number
• Project and property information: property addresses, project descriptions, scope of work, site conditions, surveys, existing drawings, and original building plans
• Professional credentials and licensing information for subcontractors, collaborating engineers, architects, and project partners
• Payment and billing information: invoicing details, billing address, and financial account information necessary to process payments
• Communications: any information you submit via contact forms, survey forms, email, phone, chat widget, or direct correspondence with our team
• Uploaded files: photos, surveys, preliminary sketches, original plans, technical documents, and other project documentation submitted through our website or email
• Survey or feedback responses when you participate in client satisfaction assessments or project review questionnaires

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and referring URLs
• Date and time of access
• Cookie identifiers and similar tracking technologies (see Section 8 below)

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive personal information from third parties, such as property owners, general contractors, architects, developers, real estate agents, or other professionals who engage our services on behalf of property owners or project stakeholders. In such cases, we assume that the referring party has obtained all necessary consents for sharing your information with us.

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing professional engineering services, including structural design, MEP engineering, civil site plans, geotechnical investigations, architectural design, structural inspections, structural calculations and reports, foundation design and repair, load-bearing wall analysis, retaining wall design, roof truss and framing design, building code compliance review, and permit expediting
• Communicating with you about your project, service inquiries, scheduling site visits, and coordinating with your architect, contractor, or other project team members
• Processing payments and managing billing and accounting records
• Fulfilling our legal and professional obligations as licensed Professional Engineers, including maintaining records as required by the Virginia Board for Professional Engineers, Maryland Board for Professional Engineers, DC Board of Professional Engineers, and Florida Board of Professional Engineers
• Complying with applicable building codes, permit requirements, and regulatory filings across all jurisdictions in which we operate
• Responding to your questions, requests, or complaints
• Improving our website functionality, user experience, and service offerings
• Marketing our services where you have consented to receive such communications, or where a pre-existing business relationship permits such contact under applicable law
• Sending SMS/text messages regarding appointment reminders, project updates, site visit notifications, billing reminders, and service information where you have provided consent (see Section 9)
• Maintaining the security and integrity of our information systems
• Protecting our legal rights and defending against claims

We process your personal information based on the following grounds:

• Contract performance: processing necessary to enter into or perform a contract with you for professional engineering services, including structural design, MEP engineering, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, architectural design, and permit expediting
• Legal obligation: processing required to comply with applicable laws, professional licensing requirements, building code regulations, permit filing requirements, and regulatory mandates across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida
• Legitimate interests: processing necessary for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services, marketing to existing clients, maintaining the security of our systems, and analyzing website performance, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights and interests
• Consent: where we rely on your consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may disclose your information in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party vendors and service providers who assist us in operating our business, such as cloud storage providers, accounting software platforms, project management tools, CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, IT support services, and email communication platforms. These parties are contractually obligated to use your information only as directed by us and in accordance with this Policy.

5.2 Professional Collaborators

In connection with specific projects, we may share relevant information with architects, civil engineers, MEP engineers, geotechnical engineers, general contractors, specialty subcontractors, truss manufacturers, or other licensed professionals necessary to complete the scope of work, subject to confidentiality obligations.

5.3 Permit Authorities and Regulatory Bodies

In the course of providing permit expediting services, we may submit project information, property details, and engineering documentation to county, city, and state permit offices, building departments, and regulatory authorities on your behalf as required to obtain building permits and approvals.

5.4 Legal and Regulatory Requirements

We may disclose information when required to do so by law, court order, subpoena, regulatory authority, or in connection with litigation, licensing board proceedings, or insurance claims. We will use reasonable efforts to notify you of such requirements where permitted by law.

5.5 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or other business combination, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to the successor entity's commitment to maintain equivalent protections.

5.6 Protection of Rights

We may disclose information where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of BOZ Engineering Group, our employees, clients, or others.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, including satisfying legal, contractual, accounting, or professional licensing obligations. Specifically:

• Project files and engineering records are retained in accordance with the minimum retention periods required by the professional engineering licensing boards of DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida and relevant statutes of limitations, typically a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years following project completion
• Permit records, sealed drawings, and structural calculations are retained for the duration required by applicable building codes and professional engineering regulations in each jurisdiction
• Financial and billing records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years in compliance with tax and accounting requirements
• Website analytics data is retained in anonymized or aggregated form and is periodically reviewed and purged
• Marketing communication records are retained until you opt out and for a reasonable period thereafter
• SMS/text messaging consent records and opt-in/opt-out logs are retained for as long as you remain subscribed and for a reasonable period after opt-out in accordance with applicable telecommunications regulations

When personal information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy, de-identify, or anonymize it.

We implement reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encrypted electronic storage and secure transmission protocols (SSL/TLS) for data transferred via our website
• Access controls limiting personal information to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis
• Separation of marketing CRM data from internal project management systems to minimize exposure in the event of a security incident
• Regular review of our information security practices
• Team training on data privacy and security obligations

No method of data transmission or storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a security breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you as required by the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA), Fla. Stat. § 501.171, the Maryland Personal Information Protection Act, and any other applicable breach notification law.

Our website may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and collect usage information. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that allow our website to recognize your browser and remember certain information.

We may use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies: necessary for the website to function properly, including contact forms, survey forms, chat widgets, and scheduling tools. These cannot be disabled without impacting core functionality
• Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors interact with our website, including which service pages are most visited, traffic sources, and user behavior (e.g., Google Analytics). These may be disabled without affecting core website functionality
• Marketing cookies: used to track visitors across websites to measure advertising effectiveness and display relevant information. Where used, these support our Google Ads and SEO tracking campaigns

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may impact website functionality, including the ability to submit contact forms or use the chat widget. By continuing to use our website with cookies enabled, you consent to our use of cookies as described herein.

BOZ Engineering Group offers an SMS/text messaging program to provide clients and prospective clients with timely communications related to our engineering services. This section describes how you may opt in to our text messaging program, the types of messages you may receive, message frequency, and your rights regarding SMS communications.

9.1 Opt-In and Consent

By providing your mobile phone number and consenting to receive text messages from BOZ Engineering Group, you expressly agree to receive SMS/text messages from us. You may opt in to our SMS program through any of the following methods:

• Submitting a contact form or survey form on our website that includes your mobile phone number and an indication of consent to receive text messages
• Providing your mobile phone number and verbal or written consent during a consultation, site visit, service inquiry, or in-person meeting with our team
• Opting in via our website chat widget by providing your mobile phone number and consent to receive SMS/email communications

Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of purchasing any services from BOZ Engineering Group. You may engage our professional services without opting in to our text messaging program.

9.2 Types of Messages

If you opt in, you may receive text messages related to:

• Appointment & scheduling reminders: reminders for upcoming consultations, site visits, and scheduled engineering services
• Project status updates: notifications regarding the progress of your engineering project, plan delivery, and permit status
• Site visit notifications: alerts related to upcoming site visits, inspection scheduling, and pre-visit preparation instructions
• Billing & payment reminders: invoice notifications, payment confirmations, and payment due date reminders
• Permit status updates: notifications regarding permit submission, plan review comments received, revision status, and permit approval
• Promotional messages: information about our services, company announcements, and service availability updates

9.3 Message Frequency

Message frequency varies based on your project activity and engagement with our services. During active projects, site visits, permit review cycles, or multi-discipline engineering engagements, you may receive more frequent messages related to scheduling, updates, and billing. Promotional messages will be sent on an occasional basis. In all cases, we strive to limit messages to only those that are relevant and useful to you.

9.4 Opt-Out

You may opt out of receiving SMS/text messages from BOZ Engineering Group at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Upon receiving your opt-out request, we will confirm your removal from our messaging program and cease sending further text messages, except as may be required for transactional purposes related to an active service agreement. You may also opt out by contacting us directly at [email protected] or by calling (202) 747-5599.

9.5 Help and Support

For assistance with our SMS program, reply HELP to any message or contact us at [email protected] or (202) 747-5599.

9.6 No Sharing of Mobile Information

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. Information sharing to subcontractors in support services, such as customer service, is permitted. All other use of your mobile information is strictly limited to the purposes described in this Policy.

9.7 Carrier Disclaimer and Costs

Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan. BOZ Engineering Group is not responsible for any charges incurred from your carrier as a result of receiving text messages from us. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Consult your carrier for details regarding your text messaging plan.

9.8 Supported Carriers

Our SMS program is supported by all major U.S. mobile carriers. Service availability may be limited in areas with inadequate cellular coverage.

Depending on your state of residence and applicable law, you may have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Right of access: the right to request confirmation of whether we process your personal information and to receive a copy of that information
• Right to correction: the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you
• Right to deletion: the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and professional retention obligations as licensed Professional Engineers
• Right to opt out of marketing: the right to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time, including SMS/text messages (see Section 9)
• Right to data portability: where technically feasible and required by applicable law, the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used format

Residents of Virginia have specific rights under the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), Va. Code § 59.1-575 et seq. Residents of Florida have specific rights under the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA), Fla. Stat. § 501.171. Residents of Maryland and the District of Columbia have rights under their respective applicable privacy statutes. We do not discriminate against individuals who exercise their privacy rights.

To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 13 of this Policy. You may reach us directly at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 747-5599. We will respond to verified requests within the time period required by applicable law, typically thirty (30) days.

Our website and services are intended for business and professional use and are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will promptly delete it. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as industry resources, professional engineering licensing boards, building code databases, permit office portals, or partner organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and encourage you to review their respective privacy policies. The inclusion of a link does not constitute our endorsement of the third party's privacy practices.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

We will respond to all privacy-related inquiries promptly and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this Policy and, where appropriate, notify you by email or by posting a prominent notice on our website. Your continued use of our website or services following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Policy.

We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.