All Fla. public notices will now appear online

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 2, 2013 – Effective yesterday, Florida newspapers that carry public notices must post those notices on their individual websites. That rule is in addition to postings on Florida Public Notices, an independent website operated by the Florida Press Association (FPA), where posting of public notices began last summer.

The change is part of legislation passed by the 2012 Florida Legislature in cooperation with the FPA. Public notices impact the real estate industry in a number of ways. They include updates about government hearings and meetings; zoning, annexation and land use changes; election notices; municipal budgets, taxes and special assessment information; requests for bids on government construction and service contracts; permit and licensing applications, land and water use regulations; judicial and executive sales, disposal of foreclosed and abandoned property and more.

“The posting to the newspapers’ websites, as well as the FPA website, are free and accessible to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” says Dean Ridings, FPA President & CEO.

The Florida Public Notices website is a statewide database of public notices for people who want information that has been published statewide. It’s operated by FPA and its members upload the information.

Florida Public Notices visitors can search public notices by keyword, date and newspaper. Once registered with the website, they can also request email notifications.