New Florida HOA Website Law Requires Websites by 2025

HOA leaders are busy people, sacrificing countless hours to serve their neighbors. They make those sacrifices because they care about building community connections, maintaining outstanding properties, and preserving homeowners’ property values. If you serve as an HOA volunteer or leader, chances are, your heart is big and your to-do list is long. HOA leaders in Florida are adding new responsibilities to that list, thanks to a new Florida HOA website law. Among other mandates, the law requires HOAs to have websites or mobile applications by 2025, with specific content requirements. With January 1, 2025 right around the corner, you don’t have much time to comply. But before you panic, let us ease your mind: Creating a compliant website isn’t as difficult as you think. HOA-specific software can help you design a website or build an HOA app so your HOA is ready to celebrate its compliance when the ball drops on January 1. 

Breaking down the new Florida HOA website law 

So what exactly does the Florida HOA website law require? While the new statute has multiple facets, the most important thing to know is this: The Florida HOA website law requires every HOA in Florida to maintain a website or mobile application. Any association that manages more than 100 parcels must have a website or HOA app where they post certain documents. Some of these documents include: 

• Current lists of covenants, rules, bylaws, and amendments
• The annual budget and any budget to be proposed at your annual meeting
• The association’s insurance policy
• Your existing contracts and, after bidding has closed, a list of any bids you received 
• Notice of scheduled meetings and meeting agendas
• A protected electronic location where some information is accessible only to your employees and parcel owners
• Your directors’ certifications

For a complete list of documents you’ll need to post, along with the statute’s other requirements, consult the statute directly. 

If your HOA doesn’t have a website, you’re going to need one

If some members of your association have been reluctant to abandon their old-school ways, clinging to paper trails and full-to-bursting file cabinets, this statute is going to force your team into the digital age, ready or not. We know change can feel intimidating–even overwhelming–but it doesn’t have to be. We at PayHOA want to help make your transition seamless and stress-free. Here are some ways we can help: 

• PayHOA is an online software portal, so the app can function as the website for an HOA in Florida under the new law. 
• Our software makes it easy to store and post digital documents. 
• You can differentiate between public information and information that can only be accessed by specific groups or individuals.
• PayHOA also has a website builder function if you need more than just a portal. 
• Don’t worry about design or branding—our templates are HOA-specific, and we’ll help you create a branded landing page specific to your association. 
• We don’t charge for onboarding, and we are happy to import your data as you get started.
• We can train your team on the new software so everyone feels comfortable and confident. We offer free unlimited training, so you can contact us anytime you have new team members or simply need a refresher.

If you want to launch your own website for your HOA, you certainly can! But building a website is a big undertaking. Here are some steps you’ll need to take to build a website: 

• Securing a domain
• Branding and design
• Making your site legally compliant
• Uploading and storing required documents
• Ensuring security for private information 

Keep in mind that while tools exist to help you build a website on your own, they aren’t necessarily designed to meet HOA needs or host owner portals. Because the Florida HOA website law specifically requires you to maintain a secure part of your site or application that is only accessible to residents and employees using a password, your site will need specific programming and security features. PayHOA’s highly-rated software is designed with your particular needs in mind. Our app allows you to:

• Protect sensitive information with military-grade encryption.
• Set up communication channels for different groups.
• Create bulletin boards where you can fulfill the legal requirements to post information about upcoming meetings and agendas.
• Post covenants, rules, and budgets for owners to access.
• Solicit resident feedback through digital voting and surveys.

Turn the new legal requirement into an opportunity

Maybe the new Florida HOA website law isn’t such a bad thing. Building an online portal will bring your association into the digital age, which is a great step forward. But it can also benefit your HOA in many ways:

Better Communications

Modern communication moves fast, and if you’ve been struggling to keep up with your owners’ “I-needed-an-answer-yesterday” expectations, an HOA app can make communication much easier. PayHOA’s app allows HOA leaders to send mass communications via email and text, and we can even help you send snail mail. And the communication will go both ways: Neighbors can connect easily with board members and other leaders, sending questions, concerns, and maintenance requests with a few clicks. Facilitating easy communication like this builds trust and community engagement. 

Increase Transparency

Where exactly are my dues going? What’s on the agenda for the next meeting? How can I give feedback about the proposed policy changes? Residents have many questions, and dedicated HOA leaders spend a lot of time fielding them. The Florida HOA website law emphasizes the importance of transparency, which helps to thwart frustration, misunderstandings, conflict, and even lawsuits. A website or mobile application makes it easy to share covenants, rules, policies, budgets, proposals, and other information required by the statute. Once you set up an online portal, your residents can easily find information on the website or app. This means HOA leaders can spend less time answering redundant questions and more time moving the community forward. 

Owner Portals

Generic websites won’t have many of the features you need, but the PayHOA app offers tools specifically designed to meet the unique needs of homeowners associations. From their owner portals, residents can perform practical tasks like paying HOA bills and fees, updating forms and information, and submitting maintenance requests. They can also use the app to engage with the community by answering surveys or polls, voting on issues, asking questions, and joining social groups to connect with their neighbors.  

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Money management is one of an HOA’s weightiest and most complex responsibilities. HOA-specific software can make this part of your burden significantly lighter. Bookkeeping software can help with: 

• Budgeting so you can plan for the future
• Tracking dues and fees
• Completing your payroll
• Keeping accurate records of income and expenses
• Protecting sensitive financial information
• Sharing records safely and conveniently with appropriate parties
• Filing taxes correctly and on time
• Compiling monthly and yearly reports

If you and your overworked team are spending countless hours crunching numbers and stressing over a never-ending pile of paperwork and bills, you don’t have to stay stressed. PayHOA’s accounting and bookkeeping software automates many of your regular tasks and gives you access to a support team you can call anytime you need help. Our job is to make your job easier. 

Build a better online HOA with PayHOA

We’ll be watching the ball drop on January 1, 2025 before we know it. Taking your HOA online and complying with the Florida HOA website law doesn’t have to be overwhelming. PayHOA’s software can help you make the transition seamlessly so your community can enter the new year with confidence. Contact us to get started today.