Landlord laws
Alabama landlord-tenant law
Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603, plus §§ 11-80-8.1 and 24-8-4 (official text, alison.legislature.state.al.us)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A security deposit may not exceed 1 month's rent. You may take additional deposits for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, refund the deposit, or give an itemized written list of amounts withheld for unpaid rent and tenant damage. Mail to the tenant's written forwarding address, or to their last known address or the property. Unclaimed deposits are forfeited after 90 days. Missing the 60-day deadline costs double the original deposit. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)–(f) | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Not specified in state statute. No statute requires paying interest or using a separate account. We checked every section of ch. 35-9A. | Ala. Code ch. 35-9A | Not in statute |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Alabama statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked every section of ch. 35-9A. A nonpayment notice must state the rent and any late fees owed (§ 35-9A-421(b)). Note: Late-fee limits, if any, come from the lease and contract case law, not statute. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Except in an emergency or where impracticable, give at least 2 days' notice and enter only at reasonable times. Posting a note on the main entry door with the time and purpose counts as notice. You can show the unit in the last 4 months of the lease only if the tenant signed a separate access notice. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-303 | Verified |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. We checked every section of ch. 35-9A. A month-to-month tenancy ends on 30 days' written notice before a rent date, or 7 days for week-to-week (§ 35-9A-441), so give at least that. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-441 | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted. No county, city or other local governmental unit may enact, maintain or enforce rules controlling rent on private property. | Ala. Code § 11-80-8.1 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | Give a written notice to terminate that states the rent and any late fees owed. The lease ends at least 7 business days after receipt unless the tenant pays in full within those 7 business days. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | For a material noncompliance, give a written notice to terminate specifying the breach, with termination at least 7 business days after receipt. If the tenant remedies it in time, the lease doesn't end. A material misrepresentation in the lease or application can't be cured. | Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(a) | Verified |
| Required disclosures | At or before move-in, disclose in writing the name and business address of the manager and of an owner or agent for service and notices, and keep it current. For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | Ala. Code § 35-9A-202; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Alabama's fair housing law covers the same classes as federal law: race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin. It adds none. | Ala. Code § 24-8-4 | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Alabama landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.