Mailing & serving notices
Can a landlord serve a notice to quit by certified mail?
Updated · By the Landlord Notice Mail team
In some states, yes: Florida's statute lists mailing, Arizona treats certified mail as received within five days at the latest, and Illinois lists certified or registered mail with a return receipt. In California, Washington and New York, mail is only the second half of substituted or post-and-mail service, so a notice sent by mail alone can get the case dismissed.
| State | Mail alone? | What the statute allows |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Yes | Mailing, delivering a true copy, e-mail under 83.505, or leaving a copy at the residence if the tenant is absent (83.56(4)) |
| Arizona | Yes (certified or registered) | In hand, or registered or certified mail (33-1313) |
| Illinois | Yes (certified or registered, return receipt) | Delivery to the tenant, leaving with a person 13 or older at the premises, or certified/registered mail (9-211) |
| California | No | Hand delivery, substituted service + mail, or post + mail (self-help) |
| Washington | No | Personal, substitute + mail, or post + mail (59.12.040) |
| New York | No | Personal, substituted or conspicuous-place service plus mailing (RPAPL 735) |
Can a landlord send an eviction notice by mail online?
Where mail is a valid method, a notice mailed through an online service is ordinary USPS mail: the Certified Mail label, article number and return receipt are the same as at the counter. Where mail is only half the method (California, Washington, New York), we can handle the mailing half while you or a process server handle the hand delivery or posting.
Proof to keep
- A copy of the exact notice.
- The USPS receipt and tracking history.
- The electronic return receipt, or the record that the letter was refused or unclaimed.
- A signed proof of service for any hand delivery or posting.
Quick answers
Do I need certified mail for a notice to quit?
Illinois's mail option is certified or registered mail with a return receipt, and Arizona's mail rule covers registered or certified mail. Florida's says mailing. Even where regular mail is enough, certified mail is the proof.
Can a landlord send an eviction notice by mail online?
Yes, where the state allows mail service. The letter goes out as genuine USPS Certified Mail with tracking and a return receipt.
What if the tenant refuses the certified letter?
Keep the returned envelope and tracking. In Arizona it is deemed received 5 days after mailing anyway. Elsewhere, consider a First-Class copy or a second allowed method.
What to do next
Send the notice by Certified Mail with return receipt for $17.99, or get 5 certified notices a month, bulk upload and an address book for $29/month.
Send a certified noticeSources
- Florida Statutes 83.56
- Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1313
- Illinois 735 ILCS 5/9-211
- California Courts: Serve an eviction notice
- Revised Code of Washington 59.12.040
- New York RPAPL 735
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.