Home · Landlord-tenant rules · Alabama
Deposit, notice, and late-fee figures cited to the state statute.
| Rule | Rule text |
|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | A landlord may not demand or receive money as security, in an amount in excess of one month's periodic rent, except for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises, for the tenant's obligations under a rental agreement. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Deposit return deadline | Upon termination of the tenancy, money held as security may be applied to accrued rent and to damages from the tenant's noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301, as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. If the landlord does not refund the entire deposit, the landlord shall, within that 60-day period, provide an itemized list of amounts withheld. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b), (c). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice to end a tenancy | The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by written notice given to the other at least seven days before the termination date specified in the notice. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by written notice given to the other at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(a), (b). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Notice before entry | Except as Section 35-9A-303 provides, or unless it is impracticable to do so, the landlord may show the premises at any reasonable time by giving the tenant at least two days' notice of the landlord's intent to enter, and may enter only at reasonable times. If the landlord gives a general notice or an advance schedule of more than two days for repairs, maintenance, pest control, or service relating to health or safety, no additional day's notice is required. A tenant may consent to access with less than two days' notice. Ala. Code § 35-9A-303(c), (d). As of 2026-10-09. |
| Eviction notice | If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver a written notice to terminate the lease specifying the amount of rent and any late fees owed and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice. If the breach is not remedied within the seven business days, the rental agreement shall terminate. For material noncompliance with the rental agreement, or noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord may deliver a written notice that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice. Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(a), (b). As of 2026-10-09. |
A landlord may not demand or receive money as security, in an amount in excess of one month's periodic rent, except for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises, for the tenant's obligations under a rental agreement.
Upon termination of the tenancy, money held as security may be applied to accrued rent and to damages from the tenant's noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301, as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. If the landlord does not refund the entire deposit, the landlord shall, within that 60-day period, provide an itemized list of amounts withheld.
If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver a written notice to terminate the lease specifying the amount of rent and any late fees owed and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice. If the breach is not remedied within the seven business days, the rental agreement shall terminate. For material noncompliance with the rental agreement, or noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord may deliver a written notice that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice.
Figures are from Alabama statutes, retrieved 2026-10-09. Primary sources: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-201%22%7D, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-303%22%7D, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-421%22%7D, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-441%22%7D.
A landlord may not demand or receive money as security, in an amount in excess of one month's periodic rent, except for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises, for the tenant's obligations under a rental agreement. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-201%22%7D, as of 2026-10-09.
Upon termination of the tenancy, money held as security may be applied to accrued rent and to damages from the tenant's noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301, as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. If the landlord does not refund the entire deposit, the landlord shall, within that 60-day period, provide an itemized list of amounts withheld. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b), (c), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-201%22%7D, as of 2026-10-09.
The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by written notice given to the other at least seven days before the termination date specified in the notice. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by written notice given to the other at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(a), (b), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-441%22%7D, as of 2026-10-09.
Except as Section 35-9A-303 provides, or unless it is impracticable to do so, the landlord may show the premises at any reasonable time by giving the tenant at least two days' notice of the landlord's intent to enter, and may enter only at reasonable times. If the landlord gives a general notice or an advance schedule of more than two days for repairs, maintenance, pest control, or service relating to health or safety, no additional day's notice is required. A tenant may consent to access with less than two days' notice. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-303(c), (d), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-303%22%7D, as of 2026-10-09.
If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver a written notice to terminate the lease specifying the amount of rent and any late fees owed and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice. If the breach is not remedied within the seven business days, the rental agreement shall terminate. For material noncompliance with the rental agreement, or noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301 materially affecting health and safety, the landlord may deliver a written notice that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than seven business days after receipt of the notice. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(a), (b), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/graphql?query=query+codeOfAlabamaSection%28%24displayId%3A+String%21%29+%7B+codesOfAlabama%28where%3A+%7B+type%3A+%7B+eq%3A+Section+%7D%2C+displayId%3A+%7B+eq%3A+%24displayId+%7D+%7D+includeAllVersions%3A+true%29+%7B+data+%7B+displayId+title+content+%7D+%7D+%7D&variables=%7B%22displayId%22%3A%2235-9A-421%22%7D, as of 2026-10-09.
Estimates for planning; not tax/legal advice.