An Alabama lease agreement is a written document that sets the terms between a landlord and a tenant renting residential property in Alabama. It states the rent, the security deposit, and how long the tenancy lasts. Alabama's rules for this agreement sit in Title 35, Chapter 9A of the Code of Alabama, the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. This chapter caps the security deposit, sets the return deadline, and fixes the notice needed to end a month-to-month or week-to-week tenancy.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Alabama law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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An Alabama lease agreement is also called an Alabama residential lease agreement or an AL rental lease. All three names refer to the same document.
Alabama's landlord-tenant law lives in Title 35, Chapter 9A of the Code of Alabama, the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. This chapter caps the security deposit, sets the deadline for returning it, and fixes the notice a landlord or tenant must give before ending a month-to-month or week-to-week tenancy. The sections below cover what an Alabama lease agreement must follow under this law.
Every state in the US has its own rules for lease agreements. In Alabama, these rules are in Title 35 of the Code of Alabama, and the rights of landlords and tenants are set out in Chapters 9 and 9A.
Alabama caps a security deposit at one month's periodic rent. A landlord may charge more only for a pet, a change to the unit, or added risk. The landlord has 60 days after the tenant moves out to send back the deposit. If the landlord keeps part of it, the landlord must also send a written list of what it kept. To get that money, the tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing when they move out.[1]
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 tenant's obligations under a rental agreement.
A tenant who never claims the deposit loses it, along with any unused check, after 90 days. If the landlord misses the 60-day deadline, Alabama law says the landlord must pay the tenant double the original deposit.[1]
There are at least seven types of lease agreements in Alabama, used at different points from when a tenant moves into a property to when the tenancy ends. They include:
For example, a month-to-month agreement has no fixed end date. Either side may end it with a written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. A week-to-week agreement only needs a written notice at least seven days before the termination date specified in the notice.[2] Count either notice period with our deadline calculator.
A commercial rent agreement is related to business operations and property intended for a shop, a restaurant, or any other commercial spot.
Every type of agreement has its own features, so use the template that matches your situation.
| Document Name | Alabama Rental Lease Agreement Form |
| Other Names | AL Rental Lease, Alabama Residential Lease Agreement |
| Relevant Laws | Alabama Code, Title 35, Chapter 9A |
| Security Deposit Amount | One month's periodic rent |
| Security Deposit Return | Sixty (60) days after termination of tenancy and delivery of possession |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 18 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 119 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
After you download the PDF, Word, or OpenDocument file, fill in the property address, the names of both parties, the rent, and the other terms before signing.
The questions below answer what Alabama renters and landlords most often ask about a lease agreement, including how to end a month-to-month or week-to-week tenancy. Each answer names the Alabama Code section it comes from. Topics covered:
Your security deposit cannot be more than one month's periodic rent. The landlord has 60 days after you move out to send it back, or a written list of what it kept. Give the landlord a forwarding address in writing so the refund can reach you. If the landlord misses the deadline, it must pay you double the deposit. If you never claim your refund, you lose it after 90 days.[1]
Under Section 35-9A-201 of the Ala. Code, a landlord must return the deposit, or send a written list of what it kept, within 60 days after the tenant moves out.[1]
Alabama's security deposit law is Section 35-9A-201 of the Ala. Code. It caps the deposit at one month's periodic rent and gives the landlord 60 days to return it, or send a list of what it kept. A landlord who misses that deadline must pay double the deposit.[1]
A landlord has 60 days after you move out to send back the deposit, or a written list of any amount it kept.[1]
Tenants can expect their deposit, or a written list of what was kept, within 60 days of moving out and handing back the keys.[1]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Ala. Code.
