> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://withforerunner.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Public user accounts

> Create an account to track submissions and access additional features

Public user accounts allow residents to create a login for your community's public website. With an account, residents can track their submissions, receive status updates, and access features that require authentication.

<Note>
  Public user accounts are an optional feature. Not all communities enable account creation on their public website. If you don't see a sign-up option, your community may offer guest-only access.
</Note>

## Creating an account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to sign up">
    From your community's public website, click **Sign Up** or **Create Account** in the navigation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your information">
    Provide your:

    * First and last name
    * Email address
    * Password (following security requirements)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit registration">
    Click **Create Account** to register.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm your email">
    Check your email for a confirmation link. Click the link to verify your email address and activate your account.

    <Warning>
      The confirmation link expires after 30 minutes. If it expires, you can request a new confirmation email from the sign-in page.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in">
    Once confirmed, sign in with your email and password to access your account.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Signing in

After creating your account:

1. Navigate to your community's public website
2. Click **Sign In** in the navigation
3. Enter your email address
4. Enter your password
5. Click **Sign In**

You'll be redirected to the public website with access to your account features.

## My Submissions

Once signed in, access **My Submissions** from the navigation to view your submissions:

### What you can see

* **Submission type** - What kind of form or request
* **Property** - Which property it's linked to
* **Date submitted** - When you submitted it
* **Status** - Current status (submitted, under review, completed, etc.)

### Filtering and searching

* Filter by submission type
* Search by property address
* Sort by date or status
* View older submissions

### Submission details

Click any submission to view:

* Full submission information
* Status history
* Any responses or notes from staff
* Linked property information

<Tip>
  Bookmark the My Submissions page for quick access to track your requests without navigating from the homepage each time.
</Tip>

## Password management

### Forgot your password?

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to password reset">
    From the sign-in page, click **Forgot Password** or **Reset Password**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your email">
    Provide the email address associated with your account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your email">
    Look for a password reset email with a link to create a new password.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create new password">
    Click the link and enter a new password following the security requirements.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in">
    Use your new password to sign in to your account.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Password requirements

Passwords must meet security requirements:

* Minimum length (typically 8+ characters)
* Mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
* Include numbers or special characters

## Email confirmation

### Why email confirmation is required

Email confirmation ensures:

* You own the email address
* Important notifications reach you
* Your account is secure
* No one else uses your email

### Confirmation process

After registration, you receive an email with a confirmation link:

1. Open the email from your community's public website
2. Click the confirmation link
3. Your account is activated
4. You can now sign in

### Resending confirmation email

If you didn't receive the confirmation email:

1. Go to the sign-in page
2. Look for "Resend confirmation" or similar option
3. Enter your email address
4. Check your inbox (and spam folder)

<Note>
  Confirmation links expire after 30 minutes. If the link has expired, request a new confirmation email.
</Note>

## Account security

### Protect your account

* Use a strong, unique password
* Don't share your password
* Sign out on shared computers
* Keep your email address secure

### Automatic session timeout

For security, you may be automatically signed out after a period of inactivity. Simply sign in again to continue.

### If you suspect unauthorized access

Contact your community's office immediately if you believe someone has accessed your account without permission.

## Account vs. guest access

Not sure whether to create an account? Consider:

### Create an account if you:

* Plan to submit multiple forms or requests
* Want to track submission status
* Prefer to receive email updates
* Don't want to enter contact info each time
* Need access to account-only features

### Use guest access if you:

* Have a one-time question or request
* Just want to look up flood information
* Prefer not to create another account
* Don't need to track submissions

Both options provide access to property search, flood information, and public records.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Confirmation email not received">
    **Check:**

    * Spam or junk folder
    * Correct email address was entered
    * Email isn't being blocked by filters

    **Try:**

    * Request a new confirmation email
    * Add the sender to your contacts
    * Use a different email address
    * Contact your community's office for help
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Confirmation link expired">
    **Solution:**

    * Request a new confirmation email from the sign-in page
    * Complete confirmation within 30 minutes
    * Contact your community's office if you continue having issues
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can't sign in after confirming email">
    **Try:**

    * Verify you're using the correct email address
    * Check that you're entering the password correctly
    * Use the password reset option
    * Clear browser cache and cookies
    * Try a different browser
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Password reset email not received">
    **Check:**

    * Spam or junk folder
    * Email address matches your account
    * Email isn't being blocked

    **Try:**

    * Wait a few minutes and check again
    * Request another reset email
    * Contact your community's office for assistance
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My Submissions is empty">
    **This means:**

    * You haven't submitted anything with this account
    * Previous submissions were made as a guest
    * You're signed into a different account

    Guest submissions are not linked to accounts created later.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't see the sign-up option">
    **This may be because:**

    * Your community hasn't enabled public accounts
    * The feature is only available for certain users
    * You need to navigate to a different page

    Contact your community's office to ask about account availability.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Deleting your account

If you need to delete your account:

1. Contact your community's office
2. Request account deletion
3. Staff will process the request
4. Your account and associated data will be removed

<Warning>
  Account deletion is permanent. Your submission history will no longer be accessible through My Submissions after deletion.
</Warning>

## Related topics

* [Accepting submissions](/public-website/accepting-submissions) - Process forms from residents
* [Managing resident logs](/public-website/managing-resident-logs) - Handle Get Help requests
* [Overview](/public-website/overview) - Public website features and capabilities