Damage, Cleaning & Missing Equipment Policy

Last Updated: 05/04/2026

This Damage, Cleaning & Missing Equipment Policy explains customer responsibility for cleaning, damage, loss, theft, missing items, replacement costs, and related fees for rentals and services provided by Backyard Starz, LLC (“Backyard Starz,” “Starz,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By booking a rental, submitting payment, signing a booking agreement, checking an acceptance box, accepting delivery, allowing setup, taking possession of equipment, or using our equipment or services, you agree to this Damage, Cleaning & Missing Equipment Policy.

1. Customer Responsibility for Equipment

Customer is responsible for all Backyard Starz equipment during the rental period, including any time the equipment is delivered, set up, in use, stored, awaiting pickup, or otherwise outside Backyard Starz’s possession.

Customer agrees to return or make available all rental equipment in substantially the same condition as received, except for ordinary wear and tear.

Customer is responsible for all damage, loss, theft, destruction, missing items, excessive cleaning, or improper return involving rental equipment while the equipment is outside Backyard Starz’s possession or otherwise under Customer’s control.

2. Equipment Covered by This Policy

This policy applies to all Backyard Starz equipment and accessories, including but not limited to:

• Inflatable movie screens;
• Projectors;
• Speakers;
• DVD players or media players;
• Inflatable lounge chairs;
• Side tables;
• Extension cords and electrical cords;
• Air pumps;
• Stands;
• Stakes;
• Weights;
• Remotes;
• Adapters;
• Cables;
• Storage bags;
• Storage bins;
• Boxes;
• Instructions;
• Any other rental equipment, accessories, or add-ons provided by Backyard Starz.

3. Ordinary Wear and Tear

Customer is not responsible for ordinary wear and tear resulting from normal, proper use of the equipment.

Ordinary wear and tear does not include damage, stains, missing parts, misuse, weather exposure, water exposure, punctures, tears, burns, mildew, wax, permanent stains, broken items, equipment returned wet or dirty, or equipment that requires unusual cleaning, repair, or replacement.

4. Cleaning Expectations

All equipment must be returned or made available for pickup clean, dry, organized, and free from excessive dirt, food, drinks, stains, residue, odors, pet hair, or debris.

Customer is responsible for keeping equipment away from:

• Food and drinks;
• Gum, candy, chocolate, sticky residue, and grease;
• Paint, markers, crayons, slime, glitter, confetti, and silly string;
• Pets and pet hair;
• Mud, dirt, sand, grass clippings, and landscaping debris;
• Rain, sprinklers, hoses, pools, standing water, and wet ground;
• Smoke, wax, candles, fire pits, grills, and open flames;
• Sharp objects, rocks, thorns, glass, rough surfaces, and tools.

5. Refundable Cleaning Fee

Backyard Starz may charge a refundable cleaning fee, including a $30 refundable cleaning fee for inflatable chairs or other applicable rental items.

The cleaning fee will be refunded after inspection if the applicable equipment is returned:

• Clean;
• Dry;
• Stain-free;
• Odor-free;
• Free from food, drinks, gum, candy, pet hair, mud, slime, markers, paint, wax, mildew, excessive dirt, or other residue;
• In substantially the same condition as received, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

Backyard Starz may withhold all or part of the refundable cleaning fee if additional cleaning is required.

6. Damage

Customer is responsible for any damage to rental equipment beyond ordinary wear and tear.

Damage may include, but is not limited to:

• Punctures;
• Tears;
• Rips;
• Broken parts;
• Cracked or damaged equipment;
• Damaged valves or missing caps;
• Damaged cords or plugs;
• Damaged screens;
• Damaged projectors;
• Damaged speakers;
• Damaged media players;
• Damaged tables;
• Damaged storage bins, bags, or boxes;
• Water damage;
• Sprinkler damage;
• Electrical damage;
• Smoke, fire, heat, or burn damage;
• Pet damage;
• Mud, mildew, wax, or permanent stains;
• Food, drink, grease, gum, slime, paint, marker, or sticky residue;
• Damage caused by improper setup, improper takedown, moving equipment after setup, misuse, rough play, weather exposure, or failure to follow instructions.

Any wax, mildew, or permanent stains may be treated as damage.

7. Inflatable Chairs and Inflatable Equipment

Inflatable chairs and inflatable equipment must be used only as intended.

Inflatable chairs are for normal seated use only. They may not be used as pool floats, bounce toys, climbing toys, wrestling mats, beds, slides, or rough-play equipment.

Customer is responsible for damage to inflatable items, including but not limited to punctures, tears, seam damage, overinflation, underinflation caused by misuse, valve damage, missing caps, stains, burns, pet damage, water exposure, or damage caused by sharp or rough surfaces.

If multiple inflatable items are damaged, Backyard Starz may charge an administrative and overhead fee of $70 per damaged item, in addition to the cost to repair or replace the damaged items.

8. Weather, Water, and Sprinkler Damage

Backyard Starz equipment must be protected from water and unsafe weather conditions.

Customer is responsible for damage caused by:

• Rain;
• Sprinklers;
• Hoses;
• Pools;
• Water features;
• Standing water;
• Mud;
• Wet ground;
• Lightning or electrical exposure;
• High winds or wind gusts;
• Failure to stop use during unsafe weather;
• Failure to protect equipment from weather or water exposure;
• Failure to follow Backyard Starz’s Weather Policy or instructions.

Customer must turn off all sprinklers before and during the event.

9. Fire, Smoke, Heat, and Open Flame Damage

Customer must keep all cooking, smoking, grills, fire pits, candles, fireworks, heaters, open flames, and combustible materials at least 10 feet away from inflatable screens, inflatable chairs, and related equipment.

Customer is responsible for damage caused by fire, smoke, heat, burns, wax, fireworks, grills, cooking, smoking, heaters, candles, or combustible materials.

10. Missing Items

Customer is responsible for returning or making available all equipment, parts, accessories, containers, and related items provided by Backyard Starz.

Missing items may include, but are not limited to:

• Remotes;
• Cables;
• Adapters;
• Extension cords;
• Stakes;
• Weights;
• Air pumps;
• Speaker cords;
• Power cords;
• Storage bags;
• Storage bins;
• Boxes;
• Caps;
• Instructions;
• Media player parts;
• Projector accessories;
• Any other item provided with the rental.

Customer may be charged the cost to replace missing items, including applicable taxes, shipping, vendor fees, labor, administrative costs, and related expenses.

11. Loss or Theft

Customer is responsible for equipment that is lost, stolen, misplaced, taken, left unattended, damaged by third parties, or not returned.

This responsibility applies regardless of cause, including but not limited to theft, vandalism, guest conduct, acts of God, weather, unauthorized use, venue issues, public park issues, or failure to secure the equipment.

12. Inspection After Pickup or Return

All equipment is subject to inspection after pickup, return, or takedown.

Some damage, stains, missing items, water exposure, electrical issues, or improper packing may not be immediately visible at the event site.

Backyard Starz will make a reasonable effort to notify Customer if cleaning fees, damage fees, missing item fees, or replacement costs apply.

13. Repair and Replacement Costs

Customer agrees to pay all reasonable costs associated with cleaning, repairing, replacing, or recovering damaged, lost, stolen, missing, or excessively dirty equipment.

These costs may include:

• Cleaning fees;
• Repair costs;
• Replacement costs;
• Parts;
• Labor;
• Administrative fees;
• Vendor fees;
• Shipping;
• Taxes;
• Lost rental use;
• Collection costs;
• Attorney’s fees, if collection action is required.

Replacement costs may be based on the full current replacement cost of the item and are not limited to the original purchase price or depreciated value.

14. Deposit Retention

If equipment is damaged, missing, excessively dirty, or not returned properly, Backyard Starz may retain all or part of Customer’s deposit.

Retention of a deposit does not limit Customer’s responsibility for additional repair, replacement, cleaning, administrative, labor, shipping, collection, or related costs.

If the cost to clean, repair, replace, or recover equipment exceeds the deposit, Customer remains responsible for the additional amount owed.

15. DIY / Drop-Off Rental Responsibilities

For DIY or drop-off rentals, Customer is responsible for setup, operation, takedown, repacking, storage, protection, and making all equipment ready for pickup or return.

All equipment must be packed, organized, clean, dry, complete, and ready at the scheduled pickup time.

If equipment is not ready for pickup and Backyard Starz personnel must gather, organize, package, repack, or clean up equipment, a $75 fee may apply.

Additional fees may apply if equipment is wet, dirty, damaged, missing, inaccessible, improperly packed, or not ready at the scheduled pickup time.

16. Customer-Owned Items

Customer is responsible for removing all personal items, food, drinks, decorations, toys, devices, blankets, trash, and other customer-owned property from Backyard Starz equipment before takedown, pickup, or return.

Backyard Starz is not responsible for lost, damaged, or discarded personal items left with or inside rental equipment, storage bins, bags, boxes, chairs, tables, or containers.

17. No Unauthorized Repairs

Customer may not repair, alter, patch, tape, glue, sew, rewire, open, disassemble, modify, or attempt to fix Backyard Starz equipment unless Backyard Starz gives express permission.

Customer may be responsible for damage caused by unauthorized repairs, modifications, tampering, or attempts to fix equipment.

If equipment appears damaged, unsafe, wet, unstable, or not functioning properly, Customer should stop use and contact Backyard Starz.

18. Payment of Damage, Cleaning, and Missing Item Charges

Customer agrees to pay all amounts owed for cleaning, damage, missing items, replacement costs, repair costs, late fees, administrative fees, labor fees, collection costs, and related charges.

To the extent permitted by law and applicable payment processor rules, Backyard Starz may invoice Customer, request payment, retain a deposit, charge a payment method on file, or pursue collection for amounts owed.

Late or unpaid amounts may be subject to late fees, collection costs, and attorney’s fees as provided in the Rental Agreement / Terms of Service and Payment Policy.

19. Relationship to Other Policies

This Damage, Cleaning & Missing Equipment Policy should be read together with Backyard Starz’s:

• Rental Agreement / Terms of Service;
• Payment Policy;
• Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy;
• Weather Policy;
• Setup, Delivery & Pickup Policy;
• DIY Drop-Off / Self-Setup Policy;
• Equipment Safety Rules;
• Electrical, Power & Generator Policy;
• Waiver & Liability Release.

If there is a conflict between this policy and a signed booking agreement, invoice, or event-specific written agreement, the event-specific written agreement will control for that event, unless prohibited by law.

20. Customer Acknowledgment

By booking a rental, submitting payment, signing a booking agreement, checking an acceptance box, accepting delivery, allowing setup, taking possession of equipment, or using Backyard Starz equipment or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to this Damage, Cleaning & Missing Equipment Policy.