Key Changes at a Glance

  • Email notices now permitted for legally required landlord-tenant communications
  • Requires a signed written addendum — cannot be done verbally or via the lease alone
  • Email is considered delivered when sent, unless returned as undeliverable
  • If email bounces, landlord must re-serve by traditional method without further notice
  • Does not replace traditional delivery — it supplements it where agreed

What Changed and Why It Matters

Before July 1, 2025, Florida’s landlord-tenant law required all legally significant notices — including 3-day notices for nonpayment of rent, 7-day notices for lease violations, security deposit claim letters, and notice of lease termination — to be delivered by physical means: hand delivery, posting on the door, or certified mail. House Bill 615, effective July 1, 2025, amended Chapter 83 of Florida Statutes to allow these notices to be sent by email — but with an important condition: both the landlord and tenant must have previously agreed in writing to accept notices electronically, using a written addendum to the lease that includes each party’s email address designated for notice purposes.

The Addendum Requirement — This Is the Critical Detail

The email notice option does not activate automatically. Both parties must sign a written addendum to the lease agreement that:
  • States that the parties agree to accept legally required notices by email
  • Specifies the designated email address for each party
  • Provides a method for updating the designated email address
  • Includes the landlord’s mailing address for notices sent by traditional means
A clause in the lease itself is not sufficient. Florida courts may require a separate, signed addendum. Landlords who embed an email notice consent clause in the body of a standard lease — without a separate addendum specifically addressing electronic notice — may find their email notices legally ineffective. When in doubt, use a standalone addendum.

How Email Delivery Works Under the New Law

Once a valid email notice addendum is in place, a notice sent to the designated email address is considered delivered when it is sent — not when it is opened or read. This is a landlord-favorable rule: you do not need to prove the tenant actually read the email. However, if an email is returned as undeliverable (a bounce), the notice has not been effectively served. The landlord must re-serve the notice using a traditional permitted method (hand delivery, posting, or certified mail) without needing to give additional notice of the re-service.

What Notices Can Be Sent by Email

  • 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate §83.56(3)
  • 7-Day Notice to Cure Lease Violation §83.56(2)(b)
  • 7-Day Notice of Unconditional Termination §83.56(2)(a)
  • Notice of Security Deposit Claim §83.49(3)
  • Notice of Lease Termination (month-to-month) §83.57
  • Landlord’s notice of intent to enter §83.53

Practical Recommendations for Landlords

  • Add the email notice addendum to all new leases and renewals signed on or after July 1, 2025. The addendum streamlines notice delivery and creates a documented electronic paper trail.
  • Keep records of every email notice sent — the transmission record, timestamp, and content. If a tenant disputes receipt, your email server logs and sent folder are your evidence.
  • Monitor for bounce-backs. If a 3-day notice email bounces, you must re-serve immediately by traditional means. Do not wait — your eviction timeline restarts from re-service.
  • Do not use email for notices if you don’t have a signed addendum. Sending a 3-day notice by email without the required addendum may invalidate your eviction filing entirely.

Practical Recommendations for Tenants

  • Read any addendum carefully before signing. Once you agree to email notices, legally required landlord communications — including eviction notices — can be sent to the designated address. Make sure you monitor that inbox reliably.
  • Keep your designated email address current. If you change email addresses, notify your landlord in writing and update the addendum. A notice sent to your old designated address may still be considered valid delivery.
  • You are not required to agree to email notices. This is an opt-in system. If you prefer traditional delivery, you can decline to sign the addendum.
ⓘ This article provides general information about HB 615 and Florida’s email notice rules. It is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your lease situation, consult a Florida-licensed attorney.