Alabama Lease Agreement: What to Include
December 1, 2024A Alabama residential lease needs to reflect this state's actual rules on security deposits, entry notice, late fees, and required disclosures — not a generic template written for a different state. The figures below come from Alabama's residential landlord-tenant statute; where the state sets no fixed number, that's stated plainly rather than glossed over, since "the state doesn't specify" is itself something you need to know.
Security deposit
Security deposit limit: 1 month rent; additional pet/alteration/increased-liability deposits may be allowed. Alabama does not require interest on held deposits. Return deadline after move-out: 60 Days.
Entry notice, late fees, and rent increases
Entry notice: 48 Hours. Late fees: No specific statewide cap; should be reasonable and stated in lease; no statewide grace period requirement. Rent increase notice for month-to-month tenancies: 30 days. (Entry notice citation: Ala. Code § 35-9A-303.)
Required disclosures
A Alabama lease should include or accompany:
- • Federal lead-based paint
- • owner/agent identification
- • move-in condition and other lease-specific disclosures
Eviction notice for nonpayment
For nonpayment of rent, Alabama's standard notice period is 7 days. This is the minimum notice before you can move to the next step in the eviction process — actual court timelines run longer once a case is filed. (Eviction notice citation: Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b).)
What actually distinguishes Alabama
Alabama caps the security deposit at: 1 month rent; additional pet/alteration/increased-liability deposits may be allowed.
Alabama requires 48 hours notice before a landlord enters an occupied unit for routine, non-emergency purposes.
Sources and the bottom line
The figures above reflect Alabama's residential landlord-tenant statute as summarized on LeasePilot HQ's Alabama landlord-tenant law page, which lists the specific sources behind each number. Security deposit rules specifically are codified at Ala. Code § 35-9A-201. Primary and cross-reference sources used in compiling this page:
- • https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/security-deposits
- • https://www.justia.com/real-estate/landlord-tenant/information-for-landlords/right-of-entry/
- • https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/state-landlord-tenant-laws
State landlord-tenant law changes through legislative sessions and court decisions — treat the numbers above as a starting point, verify against Alabama's current statute (linked above) before relying on them for an actual lease, and see LeasePilot HQ's full Alabama landlord-tenant law summary for the complete breakdown, or generate a lease with Alabama-specific clauses built in automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I charge as a security deposit in Alabama?
1 month rent; additional pet/alteration/increased-liability deposits may be allowed. No interest is owed on the deposit.
How much notice do I need to evict a tenant for nonpayment in Alabama?
7 days notice before filing, under Alabama's standard nonpayment procedure. Court timelines add additional time once a case is filed.
What disclosures does Alabama require in a lease?
At minimum: Federal lead-based paint, owner/agent identification, move-in condition and other lease-specific disclosures. Cities and counties can require additional disclosures on top of state law.