CAN-SPAM Act
CAN-SPAM Act
Email Marketing
The CAN-SPAM Act is the US law that sets rules for commercial email: honest headers and subject lines, a postal address and a working opt-out.
What is CAN-SPAM Act?
CAN-SPAM covers any email whose main purpose is commercial. Per the FTC's compliance guide (checked October 19, 2026), it requires:
- No false or misleading header information or subject lines
- Identifying the message as an ad where required
- Your valid physical postal address
- A clear way to opt out, honored within 10 business days
What it doesn't require is opt-in consent. Inbox providers do, in practice: Gmail's sender guidelines tell senders to email only people who signed up. Canada (CASL) and the EU (GDPR) are stricter and do require consent.
Example
A store adds its warehouse address to every marketing email footer and removes unsubscribers right away, well within the 10-day limit.
Why CAN-SPAM Act Matters
Each email that breaks CAN-SPAM can bring a penalty, per the FTC, so the footer basics matter.
CAN-SPAM Act FAQ
Does CAN-SPAM apply to small stores?
Yes. It applies to any business sending commercial email, with no size exemption.
What does the CAN-SPAM Act require?
Honest headers and subject lines, a valid postal address and a clear opt-out honored within 10 business days, per the FTC's guide. This is a summary, not legal advice.
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