Filing a Notice to Owner in Florida is not complicated, but it does require getting several details right. This guide walks through the entire process from start to finish.
Step 1: Confirm you need to file
If you are a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or material supplier on a Florida construction project and you do not have a direct contract with the property owner, you need to file an NTO. When in doubt, file. There is no penalty for filing an NTO that was not technically required.
Step 2: Gather your project information
You need the property owner's name and mailing address, the general contractor's name and mailing address, the surety's information (if a payment bond exists), the job site address, a description of your work or materials, and the name of the party who hired you. Most of this comes from the Notice of Commencement recorded with the county Clerk of Court.
Step 3: Prepare the NTO document
The Notice to Owner must follow the form prescribed by Florida Statute 713.06. It includes specific language that cannot be altered or omitted. Use the statutory form or a service like SimpleNTO that generates the form automatically.
Step 4: Send via certified mail
The NTO must be sent via USPS Certified Mail to every required recipient. Each gets their own individually addressed copy. Request a return receipt for each. Make sure you mail within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials.
Step 5: Save your records
Keep copies of the NTO, certified mail receipts, tracking numbers, and return receipts. These records are your proof of timely service.
The SimpleNTO shortcut
SimpleNTO compresses this process into about five minutes. You enter your project details, and we handle document preparation, certified mail to all recipients, and delivery confirmation. $59 per filing, and you never visit the post office.
SimpleNTO is a document preparation service, not a law firm. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
