Last updated: September 2026
In Alabama, a landlord generally has 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession to mail the security deposit or the required accounting. If the landlord keeps part of the deposit, Alabama law requires an itemized statement of the amounts withheld. [1] For other Alabama legal topics, see our Alabama state laws hub.
Alabama also generally limits a residential security deposit to one month’s periodic rent, although the law has specific exceptions involving pets, changes to the premises, and increased liability risks. [1]
Alabama Security Deposit Rules: The Basics
Alabama’s residential security-deposit rules are primarily found in the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, including Ala. Code § 35-9A-201.
The statute addresses the amount of security a landlord may collect, when the deposit may be applied to rent or qualifying damages, what the landlord must send after the tenancy ends, and what happens if the tenant does not provide a forwarding address. [1]
The Alabama Law Institute identifies the security-deposit limit and return timeline as part of the tenant protections in the state’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. [2]
When Does the 60-Day Deadline Start?
The statutory period is tied to termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. In practical terms, tenants should document when they moved out, returned the keys, and surrendered possession of the rental property.
Giving the landlord a valid forwarding address in writing is also important. Alabama law specifies where the landlord may mail the deposit or accounting if the tenant does not provide one. [1]
Example
If your tenancy ends and you deliver possession on June 1, keep records showing that June 1 was the date possession was surrendered. The landlord’s statutory 60-day period is measured from the termination and delivery of possession described in the statute. [1]
How Much Can a Landlord Charge as a Security Deposit in Alabama?
Alabama generally prohibits a landlord from demanding security greater than one month’s periodic rent. However, § 35-9A-201 expressly provides exceptions for pets, changes to the premises, and increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. [1]
Because those exceptions are written into the statute, the one-month rule should not be treated as an absolute cap in every situation. If you believe the amount charged was unlawful, review the lease and the circumstances of the deposit before disputing it.
What Can a Landlord Deduct From a Security Deposit?
Under § 35-9A-201, security may be applied to accrued rent and to damages the landlord has suffered because of the tenant’s noncompliance with the tenant duties addressed by § 35-9A-301. Amounts withheld must be itemized when the entire deposit is not returned. [1]
A landlord therefore cannot simply keep the deposit without explaining the amounts withheld. Whether a particular charge is permitted depends on the lease, the condition of the property, the tenant’s legal responsibilities, and the facts.
Normal Wear and Tenant-Caused Damage
| Situation | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Ordinary aging | Routine deterioration from ordinary use is different from damage caused by a tenant’s failure to comply with the lease or tenant duties. |
| Tenant-caused damage | A landlord may have a basis to apply the deposit when the tenant is legally responsible for the damage. |
| Unpaid rent | Accrued rent may be charged against the security under § 35-9A-201. |
What Must the Landlord Send Within 60 Days?
For related Alabama issues, see our guides on Alabama landlord repair rights and Alabama eviction rules.
If the tenant is entitled to a refund, the landlord must mail the amount due within the statutory period. If the landlord does not refund the entire deposit, the landlord must provide a written itemized list of the amounts withheld within that same period. [1]
Keep the envelope, postmark, check, itemized statement, and related messages. These records can help establish when the landlord mailed the refund or accounting.
What Happens If the Landlord Misses the 60-Day Deadline?
Alabama law provides a specific remedy if the landlord fails to mail the required refund or accounting within the 60-day period. Section 35-9A-201 states that the landlord shall pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant’s original deposit when the statutory requirement is not met. [1]
This language is important: the statutory remedy refers to double the original deposit, not simply double the amount the landlord withheld.
If you believe the deadline was missed, preserve evidence showing the original deposit amount, the date possession was delivered, your forwarding-address notice, and anything the landlord sent afterward.
What If the Tenant Does Not Give a Forwarding Address?
Upon vacating, Alabama law requires the tenant to provide a valid forwarding address in writing. If the tenant does not provide one, the statute specifies alternative addresses to which the landlord may mail the deposit or accounting. [1]
Giving the address in writing is therefore one of the most important move-out steps. Keep a copy and proof that you delivered it.
What Happens If the Deposit Is Not Claimed?
Alabama also has a 90-day rule for an unclaimed deposit or outstanding refund check. Under § 35-9A-201, an unclaimed deposit or outstanding check may be forfeited by the tenant after 90 days. [1]
If you are expecting a refund, make sure the landlord has your current forwarding information and follow up promptly if you do not receive the expected mailing.
Step-by-Step: How to Protect Your Alabama Security Deposit
- Review the lease. Check the deposit amount, move-out requirements, and notice provisions.
- Document the property. Take clear photos or video before leaving, especially of areas where damage could later be disputed.
- Complete your move-out obligations. Remove belongings, clean as required, and follow the lease’s reasonable move-out procedures.
- Return possession. Return keys and keep proof of the date possession was surrendered.
- Give your forwarding address in writing. Keep a copy and proof of delivery.
- Track the 60-day deadline. Mark the date on your calendar.
- Review any deductions. Compare the itemized statement with your lease, move-in records, photographs, and other evidence.
- Escalate if necessary. If the landlord does not comply, consider a written demand and, when appropriate, court or legal-aid assistance.
Practical Example: A $1,500 Alabama Security Deposit
Suppose you paid a $1,500 security deposit, moved out, returned possession, and gave the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Track the 60-day deadline. The landlord should mail the refund or required itemized accounting within that statutory period. [1]
If the landlord fails to meet the statutory requirement, preserve your lease, proof of the $1,500 deposit, move-out photographs, forwarding-address notice, and communications with the landlord. Those records can help establish the facts if you pursue a remedy.
Alabama Security Deposit Move-Out Checklist
| When | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Before moving out | Lease, move-in records, photos, and repair records |
| Move-out | Final photos, key-return proof, and possession date |
| Forwarding address | Written notice and proof of delivery |
| Within 60 days | Refund or written itemized accounting |
| If disputed | Lease, deposit proof, photos, statements, and communications |
What Should You Do If Your Landlord Keeps Your Deposit?
Start with the dates. Confirm when the tenancy ended, when you delivered possession, when you gave the forwarding address, and whether the landlord mailed a refund or itemized accounting within the statutory period.
If a deduction is disputed, compare each charge with your lease and evidence of the property’s condition. Ask the landlord in writing for an explanation and keep a copy of your request.
If the landlord missed the statutory deadline or the dispute cannot be resolved, review the remedies available under Alabama law. For a significant or complicated dispute, consider consulting a qualified Alabama attorney or legal-aid organization.
Can You Take a Security-Deposit Dispute to Small Claims Court?
A qualifying money dispute may be brought through Alabama’s small-claims process, depending on the facts and amount involved. The Alabama Judicial System publishes the current Small Claims Rules and official forms, including the statement of claim and answer forms. [3]
Before filing, organize the lease, proof of the deposit, move-in and move-out photographs, forwarding-address notice, itemized deductions, correspondence, and evidence of the 60-day deadline. Good documentation can make it easier to present the dispute clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alabama?
Generally, the landlord has 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession to mail the refund or required accounting under Ala. Code § 35-9A-201. [1]
Does Alabama require an itemized list of deductions?
Yes. When the landlord does not refund the entire deposit, § 35-9A-201 requires an itemized list of the amounts withheld within the applicable 60-day period. [1]
Can a landlord use the security deposit for unpaid rent?
Yes. Alabama law allows security to be applied to accrued rent, subject to § 35-9A-201 and the facts of the tenancy. [1]
What happens if my landlord does not return the deposit within 60 days?
Section 35-9A-201 provides a statutory remedy requiring double the tenant’s original deposit when the landlord fails to meet the required mailing requirement. The facts and proof of the statutory deadline still matter. [1]
Do I have to give my landlord a forwarding address?
Yes. Alabama law requires a tenant, upon vacating, to provide a valid forwarding address in writing. [1]
Where can I find Alabama small-claims information?
The Alabama Supreme Court and State Law Library publishes official small-claims rules, forms, and self-help information. [3]
Related Alabama Landlord-Tenant Guides
Alabama Landlord Repair Laws: Tenant Rights & 14-Day Rule
How Eviction Works in Alabama: Notice Periods, Tenant Rights & Court Steps
What Should You Do Next?
If you are moving out of an Alabama rental, document the property’s condition, return possession properly, and give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Then track the 60-day deadline and keep the refund or itemized accounting with your move-out records. If there is a dispute, organized documentation can make it much easier to determine what happened and what remedies may be available.
Official Alabama Sources
- Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 — security-deposit limits, deductions, refund/accounting requirements, forwarding address, and statutory remedy.
- Alabama Law Institute — Uniform Residential Landlord/Tenant Act overview — summary of tenant protections, including security-deposit timelines.
- Alabama Supreme Court and State Law Library — Small Claims Court — official small-claims rules, forms, and self-help information.