Florida Electronic Notice Rules for Landlords (HB 615)

You've been mailing 3-day notices and rent increase letters. Can you just email them?

As of July 1, 2025, yes — but only if you've got a signed addendum. Florida Statute 83.505 authorizes electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices. It was created by House Bill 615 (2025) — its Senate companion was SB 1164 — and it's part of the broader Florida landlord-tenant law updates rolling out. The catch: both parties have to agree in writing. No addendum, no email. Certified mail and hand delivery still work. But if you want to speed up notice delivery and cut down on certified mail costs, the electronic option is now available — if you set it up right.

What does Florida's electronic notice law actually allow?

Florida lets you send required landlord-tenant notices by email — but only when you and the tenant have both signed a written addendum to the lease agreeing to electronic delivery. The addendum must designate valid email addresses, state that participation is voluntary, and allow either party to revoke at any time. Once that's in place, rent increases, non-renewals, cure notices, and entry notices can go by email.

Notices sent electronically are deemed delivered the moment you transmit them — unless the email bounces. Eviction complaints and court process still require traditional service. Text messages don't count. Only email.

Why this matters for Orlando and Tampa landlords

A landlord with one rental sends a handful of notices a year — maybe a rent increase, a non-renewal, the occasional late-rent letter. Certified mail means a trip to the post office and a few dollars per notice. For an out-of-state owner, hand delivery isn't even an option. Email is instant and free, and it timestamps itself.

The new law gives you that option — but you have to get the addendum signed at lease signing or as a separate agreement. Retroactively deciding to email a 3-day notice without prior consent won't hold up in an Orange County or Hillsborough County courtroom. Set it up at move-in, and you're covered for the life of the tenancy unless either party revokes.

What notices can a Florida landlord send electronically?

Florida Statute 83.505 applies to notices "required or permitted" under Chapter 83 — once a valid addendum is signed. That covers nearly every routine notice between you and your tenant. It does not cover anything filed with a court.

Notices you can send by email with a signed addendum:

• 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (nonpayment)
• 7-day cure notice (curable lease violations)
• 7-day notice to quit (non-curable or repeat violations)
• 30-day notice of non-renewal for a month-to-month tenancy (per Florida Statute 83.57, amended in 2023 from 15 days to 30)
• Rent increase notices
• Entry notices (the 24-hour notice for non-emergency repair entry under Florida Statute 83.53)
• Other notices required by the lease or statute

What still requires traditional service: the eviction complaint, the summons, and other court process must be served by a process server or sheriff. Email doesn't substitute for that. Statute 83.505 covers pre-litigation notices between landlord and tenant — not court filings.

What does the electronic delivery addendum have to include?

The statute is specific, and a vague "we agree to email" clause won't satisfy it. A valid addendum must do five things: state conspicuously that electronic delivery is voluntary, designate a valid email for each party, tell both parties they can revoke in writing, tell both parties they can update their email in writing, and carry both signatures.

The addendum must:

1. Conspicuously state that participation in electronic delivery is voluntary
2. Designate a valid email address for each party
3. Advise both parties they may revoke the agreement at any time by written notice
4. Advise both parties they may update their email address at any time by written notice
5. Be signed by both landlord and tenant

The Florida Legislature provided a model form that can be folded into the lease. If you draft your own, make sure it hits every element. A generic "we agree to receive notices by email" without the voluntary and revocation language may not satisfy the statute. Use a form that tracks the statutory requirements, or have a lawyer review yours.

When is an emailed notice legally delivered?

An emailed notice is deemed delivered the moment it's transmitted — unless the email is returned as undeliverable. So the 3-day clock on a pay-or-quit notice starts when you hit send, not when the tenant opens the email. If the email bounces, it's not delivered, and you'd fall back to hand delivery or certified mail for that notice.

Documentation: you must keep a copy of the notice and proof of electronic transmission — the sent email, the timestamp, and any delivery receipt. If the tenant later claims they never got it, that record is what you'll show the court: you sent it to the designated address and it didn't bounce.

Can a Florida landlord send notices by text message?

No. Statute 83.505 authorizes delivery by email — text messages aren't included, even if the tenant agrees to them. A 3-day notice or rent increase sent by text isn't valid service. Stick to email for electronic delivery. For everything else, use hand delivery, mail, or posting.

What if the tenant won't sign the addendum?

Then you use the traditional methods: hand delivery, certified mail, or posting plus mailing. You can't force electronic delivery — the addendum is voluntary. If the tenant prefers a paper trail, that's their right. Many landlords offer the addendum at lease signing and let the tenant choose. Some tenants like the convenience of email; others want certified mail. Both are valid.

What happens if the tenant revokes consent?

Either party can revoke at any time by giving written notice to the other, and revocation takes effect on delivery. It doesn't invalidate notices already sent electronically — if you emailed a rent increase last week and the tenant revokes today, that notice still counts. Going forward, you switch back to certified mail or hand delivery until a new addendum is signed.

Should you use email for a 3-day notice?

You can — the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit is covered by 83.505 once the addendum is in place. But courts scrutinize eviction notices closely, and a defective 3-day notice can void the whole eviction. If you go the email route, make sure the addendum was properly signed, you're sending to the designated address, the notice includes every required element (amount owed, property address), and you keep proof of transmission. When the stakes are high and you're unsure, certified mail is still the safest path for a 3-day notice. The law allows email — it just doesn't forgive a sloppy one.

How does the addendum fit with your lease?

Your Florida lease agreement should either include the electronic delivery addendum or reference a separate one. Adding it to an existing tenancy? Both parties sign it as an amendment. The addendum doesn't replace other notice requirements — it only changes the delivery method. You still give 30 days for a rent increase, 3 days for a pay-or-quit, 7 days for a cure notice. The content and timing rules don't change. Only the delivery mechanism does.

Common mistakes landlords make with electronic notices

Emailing without a signed addendum. The most common error. A verbal agreement or a lease clause that just says "notices may be sent by email" may not satisfy 83.505. You need the specific addendum with the statutory elements.

Using text instead of email. Text messages aren't authorized. Email only.

Not keeping proof of transmission. If the tenant claims they never got it, you need the sent email, the timestamp, and confirmation it didn't bounce.

Sending to the wrong address. Use the email designated in the addendum. If the tenant updates it in writing, use the new one.

Assuming court process can be emailed. Eviction complaints and summons require traditional service. 83.505 doesn't change that.

Forgetting to switch back after a revocation. Once the tenant revokes, go back to certified mail or hand delivery. The next notice sent by email after revocation could be invalid.

When to get a lawyer involved

Get a lawyer or property management support if:

• You're not sure your addendum meets the statutory requirements
• You've been emailing notices without an addendum and an eviction is now contested
• The tenant claims they never received a notice and you need to prove delivery
• You're drafting a new lease and want the electronic addendum properly integrated

For routine setup, many property managers use a standardized addendum form and have tenants sign at move-in. For a contested eviction where notice validity is at issue, an attorney can tell you whether your electronic delivery will hold up.

Frequently asked questions about Florida electronic notice rules

What is Florida Statute 83.505?

Florida Statute 83.505, effective July 1, 2025, authorizes landlords and tenants to deliver Chapter 83 notices by email. It was created by House Bill 615 (Senate companion SB 1164). Electronic delivery is allowed only when both parties sign a written addendum agreeing to it.

Can a Florida landlord email a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit?

Yes, if a valid electronic delivery addendum is signed. The 3-day notice is covered by Statute 83.505. But because courts scrutinize eviction notices closely, certified mail is often the safer choice for a contested case.

Can Florida landlord-tenant notices be sent by text message?

No. Statute 83.505 authorizes delivery by email only. Text messages are not valid service for landlord-tenant notices, even if the tenant agrees to receive them by text.

What must the electronic delivery addendum include?

The addendum must conspicuously state that participation is voluntary, designate a valid email address for each party, advise both parties they may revoke in writing and update their email in writing, and be signed by both landlord and tenant.

When is an emailed notice considered delivered in Florida?

An emailed notice is deemed delivered at the moment it is transmitted, unless the email is returned as undeliverable. The notice clock — such as the 3-day pay-or-quit period — starts when you send the email, not when the tenant opens it.

Can a tenant revoke consent to electronic delivery?

Yes. Either party can revoke at any time by written notice, effective on delivery. Revocation does not invalidate notices already sent electronically, but future notices must use certified mail or hand delivery until a new addendum is signed.

Can eviction court documents be emailed under Statute 83.505?

No. Statute 83.505 covers pre-litigation notices between landlord and tenant. The eviction complaint, summons, and other court process must still be served by a process server or sheriff.

The bottom line

Florida's electronic notice law (83.505) lets you send landlord-tenant notices by email — with written consent from both parties. Get the addendum signed, use the designated email addresses, keep proof of transmission, and follow the same timing and content rules as before. Eviction court process still requires traditional service. Text messages don't count. Set it up at lease signing, and you can stop running to the post office for the life of the tenancy.

For more on notice requirements, see our rent increase notice guide, our guide to what to do when a tenant stops paying rent, and our landlord right of entry guide. And if you'd rather not track notice rules and deadlines yourself, get a free rental analysis — we manage single Orlando and Tampa rentals, not just portfolios, and we stay current on Florida's landlord-tenant updates.