Florida statute · Chapter 720
§720.306
Florida HOA Election & Annual Meeting Notice Requirements (Chapter 720)
This page provides general information about the Florida statutes governing HOA meetings and elections, current as of 2026-05-16. It is not legal advice and does not account for your association's specific governing documents or recent amendments. Confirm how these deadlines apply to your association with your association's counsel.
A Florida homeowners' association must give members notice of the annual meeting at least 14 days in advance, with an affidavit of mailing (§720.306(5)). Unlike condominiums, Chapter 720 does not impose a fixed 60- or 40-day election-notice schedule: an HOA's candidate-nomination and ballot windows are set by its own governing documents (§720.306(9)). An HOA election is held only if there are more candidates than open seats.
Date your HOA meeting notice
Enter your meeting date for the 14-day statutory notice. We'll mark the candidate and ballot windows as governing-document items, because Chapter 720 leaves those to your bylaws.
How much notice must a Florida HOA give for the annual meeting?
At least 14 days before the meeting, by mail, delivery, or electronic transmission to members who have consented, and the association must retain an affidavit of mailing (§720.306(5)).
Does Florida law set a fixed election-notice deadline for HOAs?
No. Chapter 720 defers the candidate-nomination and ballot timeline to the association's governing documents (§720.306(9)). Many HOA bylaws use an advance-nomination window (often around 40 days), but that comes from the documents, not the statute. Check your bylaws for the controlling dates.
Your governing documents set the HOA candidate and ballot windows — this tool does not assert a statutory date the law does not impose.
Does a Florida HOA allow proxy voting?
Yes. HOA members may vote by proxy unless the governing documents provide otherwise (§720.306(8)). A secret mail ballot is used only if the governing documents allow it. This is a key difference from condominiums and cooperatives, where proxies may not be used to elect directors.
When does a Florida HOA hold an election?
Only when there are more candidates than open seats. If candidates do not exceed vacancies, the candidates are seated without a vote.
How RecordGuards helps
This free tool dates the 14-day statutory annual-meeting notice from your meeting date and reminds you of the affidavit of mailing. It surfaces — but does not assert — your governing-document candidate and ballot windows, because Chapter 720 leaves those to your bylaws. RecordGuards, the platform it comes from, is designed to mail the notice, keep the affidavit, and record every step, while your counsel sets the legal posture.
See also: Florida condo election deadlines, cooperative election schedule, and Florida HOA compliance.
Common questions
- How many days notice does a Florida HOA need for the annual meeting?
- At least 14 days before the meeting (§720.306(5)). Notice goes to members by mail, delivery, or — for members who have consented — electronic transmission, and the association retains an affidavit of mailing.
- Does Florida law set the HOA election notice deadline?
- No. Chapter 720 leaves the candidate-nomination and ballot windows to the association's governing documents (§720.306(9)). Check your bylaws for the controlling dates — the statute does not fix a 60- or 40-day election schedule for HOAs.
- Can Florida HOA members vote by proxy?
- Yes, unless the governing documents say otherwise (§720.306(8)). HOAs differ from condominiums and cooperatives, where proxies may not be used to elect directors.
- When does a Florida HOA actually hold a board election?
- Only when the number of candidates is greater than the number of open seats. Otherwise the candidates are seated without a vote.
- Does a Florida HOA need a secret ballot for elections?
- A secret mail ballot is used only if the association's governing documents provide for it (§720.306). Chapter 720 does not mandate the secret written ballot that Chapter 718 requires for condominiums.
From checklist to done
This is the checklist. RecordGuards does the work.
This free tool dates the deadlines. The RecordGuards platform it comes from is built to carry them out — your association keeps control, the software does the toil:
- Mails the first and second notices on schedule and keeps the proof.
- Generates the ballot, envelopes, and candidate information sheets.
- Tracks who has voted and flags the 20% condo participation threshold.
- Produces the affidavit of mailing and an append-only record of every notice.
RecordGuards is a compliance platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.