diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 12de6ff..312d31b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ content/output/*
 public/content/output/*
 public/content/output/shifts 2024.1.json
 !public/content/uploads/*
+# Exclude the permits folder content from Git tracking but keep the folder itself
+public/content/permits/*
+!public/content/permits/.gitkeep
 .aider*
 /shift_generate_log_*.txt
 .env
diff --git a/_deploy/entrypoint.sh b/_deploy/entrypoint.sh
index be9f2b6..49b7946 100644
--- a/_deploy/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/_deploy/entrypoint.sh
@@ -27,11 +27,16 @@ if [ "$UPDATE_CODE_FROM_GIT" = "true" ]; then
 
 
     ########################################################################################
+    # Backup permits folder if it exists
+    mkdir -p /tmp/content
     if [ -d "/app/public/content/permits" ]; then
-        mv /app/public/content/permits /tmp/content/permits
+        echo "Backing up permits folder..." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        cp -r /app/public/content/permits /tmp/content/
         echo "Permits folder backed up successfully." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        ls -la /tmp/content/permits >> /app/logs/deploy.txt 2>&1
     else
-        echo "Permits folder not found, skipping backup." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        echo "Permits folder not found, will create it after deployment." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        mkdir -p /tmp/content/permits
     fi
 
     # Run rsync with verbose output and itemize-changes
@@ -55,13 +60,16 @@ if [ "$UPDATE_CODE_FROM_GIT" = "true" ]; then
 
     # Restore permits folder
     echo "Restoring permits folder..." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+    # Always ensure the destination directory exists
+    mkdir -p /app/public/content
+    # Make sure the backed up permits exist before copying
     if [ -d "/tmp/content/permits" ]; then
-        # Ensure the destination directory exists
-        mkdir -p /app/public/content
-        mv /tmp/content/permits /app/public/content/permits
+        cp -r /tmp/content/permits /app/public/content/
         echo "Permits folder restored successfully." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        ls -la /app/public/content/permits >> /app/logs/deploy.txt 2>&1
     else
-        echo "No permits folder to restore." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        echo "ERROR: Backup permits folder not found. Creating empty directory." | tee -a /app/logs/deploy.txt
+        mkdir -p /app/public/content/permits
     fi
 
     # Check contents after restoration
diff --git a/public/content/permits/.gitkeep b/public/content/permits/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29