MailProof · How-to

How to comply with CAN-SPAM email marketing

The US CAN-SPAM Act requires honest headers, a clear unsubscribe, a physical postal address, and honoring opt-outs within 10 business days — up to $53,088 per email.

Step by step

Work through these — each is a place compliance is won or lost. MailProof's checker verifies every one for you in about a minute.

  1. Is there a clear unsubscribe link in every marketing email?
  2. Are opt-outs honored within 10 business days?
  3. Does every email include a valid physical postal address?
  4. Are From / Reply-To and routing accurate (not deceptive)?
  5. Are subject lines honest about the content?
  6. If you send adult content, is it labeled?

The fast way

🪿 Don't do it by hand. The free MailProof checker walks you through each step, flags exactly what's missing, and Clause drafts the fix for you — then re-check until you're clear. No signup, runs in your browser.

What's at stake if you skip it

⚠️ Exposure: up to $53,088 per email (FTC) · Status: In force. Every rule's penalty →

The source

RuleGoose checks this against the US CAN-SPAM Act (15 U.S.C. 7701) + FTC Rule. Read it yourself: eCFR — 16 CFR Part 316 (CAN-SPAM Rule) →

Check your CAN-SPAM email marketing compliance — free.
See exactly which steps you've missed and draft the fix in about a minute. Run the MailProof checker →

or read the full CAN-SPAM email marketing guide, or get one RuleGoose Score across every rule.

Informational only, not legal advice, and not affiliated with the FTC. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.