These Terms of Service (“Policy”) describe the City of Virginia Beach’s policies and procedures on the collection, use, and disclosure of information when using the Service, including privacy rights.

We use Your personal data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Policy.

When/where appropriate, the website and service applications will be used to facilitate the delivery of direct services provided by the Virginia Beach municipal government to its residents and visitors. 

All Virginia Beach municipal government offices, departments, agencies, governing bodies, boards, and commissions are eligible to submit content to support their mission or service initiatives. Unless sponsored by an Eligible User, other individuals or groups are not eligible to post content on the Service. 

All electronic content that is used within the City must come from an Eligible User.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

• Account means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
• City (referred to as either "the City", "We", "Us" or "Our" in this Agreement) refers to the municipal government of the City of Virginia Beach, 2401 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.
• Content includes posts by Eligible Users, but does not include responses made by non-Eligible Users.
• Cookies are small files that are placed on Your computer, mobile device, or any other device by a website, containing the details of Your browsing history on that website,
• Country refers to the United States.
• Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone, or a digital tablet.
• Eligible User means an employee or volunteer of Virginia Beach municipal government offices, departments, agencies, governing bodies, boards, and commissions that may submit Content to the Service to support their mission or service initiatives.
• Mobile Application, also called a mobile app, is a type of application designed to run on a mobile device, which can be a smartphone or tablet computer.
• Personal Data or Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”) is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, as more fully defined herein below.
• Service refers to the City’s Websites, social media sites, mobile applications, and other electronic communication tools.
• Service Provider means any natural or legal person who processes data on behalf of the City. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the City to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the City, to perform services related to the Service, or to assist the City in analyzing how the Service is used.
• Third-party Social Media Service refers to any website or any social network website through which a User can log in or create an account to use the Service.
• Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
• User (or You) is a person who, either in their individual capacity or on behalf of a legal entity, accesses or uses the Service produced by the City.
  
• Website refers to the City of Virginia Beach, accessible from virginiabeach.gov

Privacy & Security of Personal Information

The City utilizes information technology systems to provide its citizens with vital services. As reliance on the information created and stored by these systems increases, so does the City’s responsibility to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its computing infrastructure and its associated data. The safety and privacy of citizens within the City of Virginia Beach using the Services and City employees is impacted by the City's ability to maintain information security and privacy. City management recognizes and accepts the importance of information security and privacy as a critical element of the successful operation of the City of Virginia Beach.

The City has established an Information Security and Privacy Office (Info Sec Office). The purpose of the InfoSec Office is to (i) protect electronic data and the information technology infrastructure within the City through administrative, technical, and physical controls; (ii) provide advice and guidance to the City Manager and all levels of agency management on information security and privacy related matters; (iii) perform security audits and privacy impact assessments of City information technology programs and activities; and, (iv) work with affected stakeholders, provide alternatives and recommendations which balance cost, business needs, delivery of services, and security and privacy issues.

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

When visiting or using a City application or website, We may store some personal information. The information is used to measure the number of visitors to the various sections of the site or application and identify system performance or problem areas. We also use this information to analyze patterns of usage, and to make the site more useful.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act

The City of Virginia Beach is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The City does not share any personally identifiable information or data collected through Our website or applications with unaffiliated third parties for their independent use, except as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act or other applicable laws.

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

While using City Services, the City may ask You to provide certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. PII may include, but is not limited to:

• First Name, Last Name
• Email Address
• Phone number
• Address, City, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code
• Usage Data
• Requested Information or Services
• Location for Requested Service or Reported Issues

Usage Data

Usage Data is collected automatically when using the Service.

Usage Data may include information such as Your Device's Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that You visit, the time and date of Your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When You access the Service by or through a mobile device, We may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device You use, Your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of Your mobile device, Your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser You use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

We may also collect information that Your browser sends whenever You visit our Service or when You access the Service by or through a mobile device.

Information from Third-Party Social Media Services

The City allows You to create an account and log in to use the Service through the following Third-party Social Media Services:

• Google
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Linked In
• YouTube
• NextDoor

If You decide to register through or otherwise grant us access to a Third-Party Social Media Service, We may collect Personal data that is already associated with Your Third-Party Social Media Service's account, such as Your name, Your email address, Your activities, or Your contact list associated with that account.

You may also have the option of sharing additional information with the City through Your Third-Party Social Media Service's account. If You choose to provide such information and Personal Data, during registration or otherwise, You are giving the City permission to use, share, and store it in a manner consistent with this Policy.

Mobile Terms and Conditions

Short Code 757757

Information and access to City Services is available through your mobile device. If You would like to receive Biweekly text messages regarding City information and/or special events, Text New to 757757. Message and data rates may apply.

By opting in to this service, You consent to receive mobile text alerts using an automatic telephone dialing system. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not required as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.

By signing up, You are confirming You are over the age of 13.

STOP Information

Text STOP to [757757] to stop receiving messages from the City of Virginia Beach. You will receive a confirmation text stating: You have opted out and will receive no further messages from the City of Virginia Beach. Message and data rates may apply.

HELP Information

For additional information, text HELP to [757757]. Message and data rates may apply.

Short Code 757411

Information and access to City Services are available through your mobile device. If You would like to receive Biweekly text messages regarding City information and/or special events, Text VB411 to 757411. Message and data rates may apply.

By opting into this service, You consent to receive mobile text alerts using an automatic telephone dialing system. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not required as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.

By signing up, You are confirming You are over the age of 13.

STOP Information

Text STOP to [757411] to stop receiving messages from the City of Virginia Beach. You will receive a confirmation text stating: You have opted out and will receive no further messages from the City of Virginia Beach. Message and data rates may apply.

HELP Information

For additional information, text HELP to [757411]. Message and data rates may apply.

Short Code 757111

Information and access to Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation (“VB Parks & Rec”) is available through your mobile device. If You would like to receive regular text messages regarding VB Parks & Rec news and/or special events, Text PARKS to 757111. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

By opting into this service, you consent to receive mobile text alerts using an automatic telephone dialing system. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not required as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.

By signing up, you are confirming you are over the age of 13.

STOP Information

Text STOP to 757111 to stop receiving messages from VB Parks & Rec Alerts. You will receive a confirmation text stating that you have opted-out and will no longer receive messages from Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation. For more info, contact fun@vbgov.com.

HELP Information

For additional information, text HELP to 757111. Message and data rates may apply.

Third-Party Data

Sharing excludes text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Supported carriers are: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile®, Verizon Wireless, Boost, Cricket, MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Google Voice, ACS Wireless, Advantage Cellular (DTC Wireless), Appalachian Wireless, Atlantic Tele-Network International (ATN), Bandwidth, Bluegrass Cellular, Buffalo Wireless, CableVision, Carolina West Wireless, Cellcom, Copper Valley, C-Spire Wireless (formerly Cellsouth), Cellular One of East Central Illinois, Chariton Valley Cellular, Cross (dba Sprocket), Duet IP, Element Mobile, EpicTouch, GCI Communications, Golden State, Hawkeye (Chat Mobility), Hawkeye (NW Missouri Cellular), i Wireless (IOWA Wireless), Illinois Valley Cellular, Immix (Keystone Wireless / PC Management), Inland Cellular, Mobi PCS (Coral Wireless LLC), Mosaic, MTA Communications, MTPCS / Cellular One (Cellone Nation), Nex-Tech Wireless, Panhandle Telecommunications, Peoples Wireless, Pine Belt Wireless, Pine Cellular, Pioneer, Plateau, Revol Wireless, RINA, SI Wireless/Mobile Nation, SouthernLinc, SRT Wireless, Thumb Cellular, Union Wireless, United, Viaero Wireless, West Central Wireless, Leaco, Nemont/Sagebrush. T-Mobile is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

IP Addresses and Cookies

The City uses IP addresses (random numbers assigned to individual computers) to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our Web site, and anonymously track content preferences and traffic patterns. We also use cookies to recognize repeat users, track usage behavior, and facilitate access to and use of our site and applications.

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on Our Service and store certain information. Tracking technologies used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze Our Service. The technologies We use may include:

• Cookies or Browser Cookies. A cookie is a small file placed on Your Device. You can instruct Your browser to refuse all Cookies or to indicate when a Cookie is being sent. However, if You do not accept Cookies, You may not be able to use some parts of our Service. Unless you have adjusted Your browser setting so that it will refuse Cookies, our Service may use Cookies.
  • Cookies do not damage files or allow anyone to access your personally identifiable information. They simply allow us to tailor information to make your visits more enjoyable and meaningful (and enable us to provide you with personalized information, if you choose). They also provide information to us about site usage to help us improve and update our site.
• Web Beacons. Certain sections of our Service and our emails may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit the City, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an email and for other related website statistics (for example, recording the popularity of a certain section and verifying system and server integrity).

Cookies can be "Persistent" or "Session" Cookies. Persistent Cookies remain on Your personal computer or mobile device when You go offline, while Session Cookies are deleted as soon as You close Your web browser.

We use both Session and Persistent Cookies for the purposes set out below:

• Necessary / Essential Cookies
  • Type: Session Cookies
  • Administered by: Us
  • Purpose: These Cookies are essential to provide You with services available through the Website and to enable You to use some of its features. They help to authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use of user accounts. Without these Cookies, the services that You have asked for cannot be provided, and We only use these Cookies to provide You with those services.
  • Cookies Policy / Notice Acceptance Cookies
    • Type: Persistent Cookies
    • Administered by: Us
    • Purpose: These Cookies identify if users have accepted the use of cookies on the Website.
  • Functionality Cookies
    • Type: Persistent Cookies
    • Administered by: Us
    • Purpose: These Cookies allow us to remember choices You make when You use the Website, such as remembering your login details or language preference. The purpose of these Cookies is to provide You with a more personal experience and to avoid having to re-enter your preferences every time You use the Website.

External Links

The security of the information You provide to the City is important to Us. However, the City site includes links to other sites, and when You choose to visit those sites, We are not responsible for the privacy policies or how user information is utilized. In addition, We may permit third parties to offer registration-based services through Our site. We are not responsible for the actions and policies of these third parties and encourage individuals to review the privacy policies of these parties when supplying personally identifiable information for them.

Links To and From the City of Virginia Beach Website

• External links may be made to websites that meet the following criteria, as determined by the City Webmaster:
• Sites that are owned and managed by a state, local or federal governmental agency or local school board.
• Sites that are maintained by an organization that receives direct financial support from the City.
• Sites that have a direct contractual relationship with the City for the provision of goods and/or services.
• Sites that provide a unique online resource that will assist in the provision of services and/or information that compliments the purpose of the City's web presence as outlined above.
• External links will not be made to sites that fall within any of the following criteria, as determined by the City Webmaster:
• Sites that are owned or managed by a political party, candidate or special interest group or are of a political nature that are associated with, sponsored by or serving a candidate for elected office, any political party or organization supporting or seeking to defeat any candidate for elective office or ballot proposal.
• Sites that are owned, managed or provide content for commercial, non-profit, religious, community, civic or other organizations that do not have a direct contractual relationship with the City for the provision of goods and/or services.
• Sites containing any materials that may reasonably be considered scurrilous or offensive. Offensive materials are defined as sexual content or images, slurs against race, religious or political beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or physical attributes.
• Links may be made to the City website with the express written (email) permission of the City Webmaster. Persons wishing to link to the City website may contact the City Webmaster for permission and linking procedures. When permission is received to link to the City's website, all hypertext links should be pointed to the City's homepage, VirginiaBeach.gov.

Use of Your Personal Data

The City may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain the Service, including monitoring the usage of the Service.
• To manage Your Account: to manage Your registration as a user of the Service. The Personal Data You provide can give You access to different functionalities of the Service that are available to You as a registered user.
• For the performance of a contract/service agreement: the development, compliance, and undertaking of the purchase contract for the products, items or services You have purchased or of any other contract with Us through the Service.
• To contact You: To contact You by email, telephone calls, SMS, or other equivalent forms of electronic communication, such as a mobile application's push notifications regarding updates or informative communications related to the functionalities, products, or contracted services, including security updates.
• To provide You with news, special offers, and general information about other goods, services, and events which We offer that are similar to those that You have already utilized, purchased, or inquired about unless You have opted not to receive such information.
• To manage Your requests: To attend to and manage Your requests to Us.
• For other purposes: We may use Your information for other purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, and evaluating and improving our Service, products, services, marketing, and your experience.

We may share Your personal information in the following situations:

• With other users when You share Your Personal Data or otherwise interact in the public areas with other users, such information may be viewed by all users and may be publicly distributed. If You interact with other users or register through a Third-Party Social Media Service, Your contacts on the Third-Party Social Media Service may see Your name, profile, pictures, and description of Your activity. Similarly, other users will be able to view descriptions of Your activity, communicate with You and view Your profile.

Retention of Your Personal Data

The City will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set forth in this Policy. We will retain and use Your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with all applicable laws, to resolve disputes, and to enforce Our legal agreements and policies.

The City will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of Our Service, or We are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.

Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information, including Personal Data, is processed at the City’s operating offices and in any other place where the parties involved in the processing are located. This means information may be transferred to and maintained on computers located outside of Your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those in Your jurisdiction.

Your consent to this Policy, followed by Your submission of such information, represents Your agreement to that transfer.

The City will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that Your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Policy and that no transfer of Your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of Your data and other personal information.

Disclosure of Your Personal Data

Under certain circumstances, the City may be required to disclose Your Personal Data if required to do so by applicable law or in response to valid court order or subpoena. The City may disclose Your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with a legal obligation
• Protect and defend the rights or property of the City
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• Protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public
• Protect against legal liability

Maps & GIS Data

The Center for GIS (“Center”) manages the core Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). It is a member division of the City’s Information Technology Department (IT). The primary role is to support City GIS operations and spatial information needs. 

The digital data provided by the Center for GIS (“Data”) is not the official recorded plat for any piece of property. All official plats are recorded and stored by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.​The GIS Data available on the Internet is provided "as is" and the City expressly disclaims all warranties, UCC, and otherwise, express or implied, including particular purpose, and further expressly disclaims responsibility for all incidental, consequential or special damages arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the Data. 

In regard to Data usage, the User acknowledges the disclaimer of warranty, waives all warranties expressed or implied, and waives any right of claim for damages, whether incidental, consequential, or special, arising out of or in connection with the use of performance of the data.

Multimedia (Photos, Audio, and Video)

VirginiaBeach.gov has a wealth of multimedia content available for review. The posted media is copyrighted and owned by the City and may not be downloaded, copied, or linked to without the express written permission of the City. Any media displayed by or linked from VirginiaBeach.gov that was not created by the City has been used with permission from the copyright holder.

Social Media

The City maintains a presence on social media sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) in order to share government information and engage with the public. We do not collect or use any PII available on social media sites.

Statistics

The City may collect and store PII for statistical purposes. For example, the City may count the number of users to the different sections of a website to help make those sections more useful to users.

Online Assistance

Online Assistance is the application that the City uses to provide real-time customer service to our website visitors. The Online Assistance service automatically collects a User's IP address, browser type, date and time of the visit, the referring webpage and transcripts of each session. 

The City uses these items to provide a more thorough and efficient response to customer service inquiries and to collect statistical information regarding the usefulness of the application. Additionally, Users also have the option to voluntarily provide feedback regarding the application and the service they received in the form of an exit survey. 

The City does not share any PII or data collected through this service with unaffiliated third parties for their independent use, except as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act or other applicable laws.

Google Translation

The official language used for the content of the City’s website is English. A free translation service provided by Google® is available through the links provided that offer immediate translation of our website using Google's software.

Computerized translations are only an approximation of the website’s original content. The translation should not be considered exact and in some cases may include incorrect or offensive language. The City does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated by this system. In addition, some applications, files or items cannot be translated including graphs, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).

The City does not endorse the use of the Google® translation site. Other translation services may be used to view Our site. Any person or entity that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk.

Public Utilities eBill Unsubscribe Information

Virginia Beach Public Utilities offers eBilling services for water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste collection charges. This is an optional service that customers may subscribe to by supplying their account number and email address.

You may unsubscribe from eBill service by clicking on the ‘Return to paper statements’ link in all eBill email communications or submitting an unsubscribe form. Please note, it may take up to 24 hours to process the request. Once you unsubscribe, you will revert to receiving a paper statement in the mail.

Should you have any questions regarding eBill, please email eBill.help.pu@vbgov.com.

Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for use by anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly contact or collect PII from children under the age of 13. If You are a parent or guardian and You are aware that Your child has provided Us with Personal Data, please contact Us so we can promptly obtain parental consent or remove the information. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13, We take steps to remove that information from Our servers.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

The information posted on the VirginiaBeach.gov website includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations. The City provides these links and pointers solely for Our Users' information and convenience. When Users select a link to an outside website, they are leaving the VBgov site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website. The City does not:

• Control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of information contained on a linked website.
• Endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites and We do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
• Authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked websites. Users must request such authorization from the owner of such copyrighted materials.
• Take responsibility for transmissions Users receive from linked websites.
• Guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (accessibility requirements).

Acceptance of Policy

By accessing the Services and/or related applications, you agree to the terms of this Policy. The City reserves the right to change the Policy at its sole discretion. Your use of the Services will be subject to the most current version of the Policy posted on the City’s website at the time of such use. In addition, when using particular services or materials on the Service, You are subject to any posted guidelines or rules applicable to such Services or materials that contain terms and conditions in addition to those in the Policy. All such guidelines or rules are hereby incorporated by reference into the Policy. You may use the Services only if You agree to these terms:

1. You agree that you will not violate (or attempt to violate) the security of the website or application by hacking, sending viruses, or any other similar malicious or careless conduct.
2. You agree that you will not utilize the communication methods found within the Service or application for the communication of any material that may reasonably be considered scurrilous or offensive. Offensive materials are defined as sexual content or images, slurs against race, religious or political beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or physical attributes.
3. You agree not to upload (or attempt to upload) content of any type to the Service.
4. You acknowledge that You have no right to the intellectual property associated with the Service and that You have only a limited right to use the Service.
5. You acknowledge that the City does not warrant the accuracy or availability of the Service.
6. You acknowledge that the City is not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury that you may have as a result of your use of the Service.
7. You agree to be bound by the laws applicable in Virginia Beach and in the Commonwealth of Virginia with respect to Your use of the Service and You agree that any court proceedings relating to Your use of the Service will take place in the circuit courts of Virginia Beach or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division.
8. You agree to grant the City all intellectual property rights in the content of any e-mail that You send to the City.
9. You acknowledge that the City does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any website content translated by third-party systems.
   

​If You do not AGREE to ALL of these terms, please log off of the Service immediately.​​​​​​

Changes to this Policy

We may update Our Policy from time to time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Policy on this page. You are advised to review this Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Policy, You can contact us by visiting this page on our website.