Landlord tools · Alabama
Everything a Alabama lease must get right in 2026 — deposit limits, late fees, notice periods, and required disclosures — plus a free builder that applies each rule for you and outputs a signable PDF.
These rules are applied automatically. About 5 minutes, PDF download, no account.
Alabama caps security deposits at 1 month of rent. One month's rent; extra allowed for pets, alterations, or increased liability risk After the tenancy ends, the deposit must be returned within 60 days. Itemized statement of deductions required within 60 days Returning one now? Use the free Alabama deposit return letter generator — it computes the deadline and itemizes deductions for you.
Alabama sets no statutory dollar cap on late fees, but courts require them to be reasonable and they must appear in the written lease. No grace period is required by statute, though many leases include one. No statutory cap; must be in lease and reasonable. No required grace period.
Landlords must give at least 48 hours' notice before entering, except in emergencies. 2 days' notice, reasonable times (Ala. Code § 35-9A-303). Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes 30 days' written notice (30 days' written notice by either party). No specific statute; in practice 30 days via month-to-month change-of-terms notice. Planning an increase? The free Alabama rent increase notice generator applies the notice period automatically.
Utilities: Self-help utility shutoff prohibited; no ratio-billing statute. Pets: Pet deposit may be charged on top of the 1-month cap.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Alabama?
Alabama caps security deposits at 1 month of rent. One month's rent; extra allowed for pets, alterations, or increased liability risk
How long does a Alabama landlord have to return the deposit?
60 days after the tenancy ends. Itemized statement of deductions required within 60 days
Are late fees limited in Alabama?
There's no statutory dollar cap, but fees must be reasonable and stated in the lease. No statutory cap; must be in lease and reasonable. No required grace period
How much notice before a landlord can enter the unit in Alabama?
At least 48 hours, except in emergencies. 2 days' notice, reasonable times (Ala. Code § 35-9A-303)
Does Alabama have rent control?
No statewide rent control. Local rent control preempted (Ala. Code § 11-80-8.1)
The builder pre-loads every Alabama rule on this page.
Key statutes: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 · Ala. Code § 35-9A-303 · Ala. Code § 35-9A-441. Last reviewed 2026-07. This guide summarizes state law for convenience and is not legal advice; cities and counties may add their own rules.