Certified mail lines, return receipts, and the wait to confirm a tenant actually got a notice used to be part of the job. Florida changed that in 2025, and by 2026 most landlords have at least heard something about emailing notices.
The details matter more than the headline here. Florida's electronic notice law is optional, has specific paperwork requirements, and does not cover everything you might assume it does.
We help Jacksonville and St. Johns County owners set this up correctly every day. Here is what the law actually allows and how to use it without creating a new legal risk.
Key Takeaways
- Florida Statute 83.505 allows landlords and tenants to exchange required notices by email, but only if both parties sign a specific written addendum.
- Electronic delivery is opt-in. Without a signed addendum, you must still use traditional delivery methods.
- A notice sent by email is considered delivered the moment it is sent, unless it bounces back as undeliverable.
- Eviction complaints and other court filings still require formal legal service, regardless of any email addendum.
- Landlords must keep records showing a notice was sent and when, which makes documentation more important, not less.
What Florida Statute 83.505 Actually Created
House Bill 615 passed in 2025 and created Florida Statute 83.505, effective July 1, 2025. It allows a landlord or tenant to deliver required notices under Part II of Chapter 83 by email, covering things like security deposit notices, address disclosures, and lease termination notices.
This was not a small tweak. It touched several existing statutes, including the rules for security deposits, maintenance notices, and lease terminations, to make clear that email now counts as a valid delivery method when the right conditions are met.
It Is Opt-In, Not Automatic
The law only applies if both parties sign a written addendum agreeing to electronic delivery. That addendum has to follow a specific statutory format, include a valid email address for each party, and clearly state that the choice is voluntary.
Without that signed addendum, nothing changes. You still need to deliver notices the traditional way, whether that is hand delivery, mail, or posting, depending on what your lease and Florida law require.
How Delivery and Timing Actually Work
Once a valid addendum is in place, a notice sent by email is treated as delivered at the moment it is sent. The one exception is if the email bounces back as undeliverable, in which case delivery did not legally occur.
Either party can revoke their agreement to electronic delivery at any time with written notice, though that revocation does not undo any notice already sent by email before it took effect. A party can also update their email address the same way, by giving written notice of the change.
What Electronic Notice Does Not Cover
This law does not touch how eviction lawsuits themselves are served. A summons and complaint in an eviction case still requires formal legal service under Florida's civil procedure rules, not an email.
The addendum also has to be in writing and signed. It is not valid for a lease that was never put in writing, and it does not apply retroactively to notices sent before the addendum was signed.
Recordkeeping Just Became More Important
The law requires the sender of an electronic notice to keep a copy of what was sent along with evidence of when it was transmitted. Our accounting and communication systems are built to keep exactly that kind of record, which matters if a notice is ever challenged.
A missing or incomplete record can undercut an otherwise valid notice, so this is not a step to skip even though email feels informal compared to certified mail.
Clearing Up a Related Rumor
While researching this topic, you may come across mentions of a shorter, 5-day nonpayment notice supposedly replacing Florida's standard 3-day notice. That bill, Senate Bill 716, did not pass and is not law.
Florida's nonpayment notice period remains 3 days. Acting on a rule that does not exist is just as risky as missing one that does, so it is worth confirming before you change any notice templates.
Setting This Up for Your Jacksonville Rentals
If electronic notice makes sense for your properties, the addendum needs to be added to your lease package correctly the first time. Our tenant screening and leasing process already builds in the right disclosures and signatures, so nothing gets missed during move-in.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to switch to electronic notices in Florida?
No. Electronic delivery under Florida Statute 83.505 is entirely optional. You can continue using traditional delivery methods indefinitely if you prefer.
Q: Can I start emailing notices without a signed addendum?
No. Without a properly signed addendum in the statutory format, an emailed notice does not count as valid legal delivery, even if the tenant actually reads it.
Q: What happens if a tenant's email address changes?
Either party can update their designated email address by providing written notice of the change to the other party. The update takes effect once that written notice is delivered.
Q: Does this apply to eviction notices?
It can apply to certain required notices, such as a notice of lease termination, but it does not replace formal legal service for an eviction complaint filed in court.
Q: Is the 5-day nonpayment notice real in Florida?
No. That proposal, Senate Bill 716, failed to pass. Florida's nonpayment notice period is still 3 days as of 2026.
Let Us Handle the Paperwork Correctly
Florida's notice rules keep evolving, and getting the details wrong on something as basic as delivery method can slow down an eviction or void a notice entirely.
At Round Table Property Management, we build compliant lease addenda and notice procedures into every property we manage across Duval, St. Johns, and Clay counties. If you want your current leases reviewed against Florida's electronic notice rules, request a free rental analysis, or visit our owner resources page to see how we keep your paperwork current.
