Alabama Eviction Process: Notice Periods, Timeline & Tenant Defenses (2026)

How eviction works step by step, and what defenses you have at each stage

At a glance

• Notice required before filing: 7 days, depending on the grounds
• Court required: Yes — possession is recovered through court, not by self-help
• Governing statute: Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)

Who this covers — and who it does not

This page covers the eviction process in Alabama for a residential tenancy — the notices a landlord must serve, the timeline, and what you can do at each stage.

It does not cover commercial leases, or mobile home parks where a separate statute applies. Where a city has its own rules, those may differ from the state statute below.

What the statute actually says

Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) — 欠租：房东可给书面通知，指明欠租 + 滞纳金，租约将于租客收到通知后不少于 7 个营业日终止（付清则续）。

阿拉巴马驱逐是司法驱逐（unlawful detainer，仅法院 writ 执行）。欠租 7 个营业日；违约 7 个营业日 cure；noncurable default 7 天（35-9A-421(d)）。月租 30 天、周租 7 天（35-9A-441）。

Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b) ↗

Notice periods by grounds

How the process runs, step by step

1. 房东送达通知（欠租 7 营业日 / 违约 7 营业日 / noncurable 7 天） (from 欠租/违约). 欠租与违约 7 个营业日，noncurable 7 天。
2. 房东向 district court 提起 unlawful detainer (from 通知期届满). 通知期届满未纠正，房东起诉；仅法院 writ 执行。
3. 判决 + writ of possession + 执行 (from 判决). 仅法院 writ 执行；房东不得自行移除。

Can the landlord use self-help?

阿拉巴马禁止自力救济（35-9A-407）：房东不得擅自换锁、断水电或搬物；仅法院 writ 执行。

Ala. Code § 35-9A-407 ↗

Common landlord claims and how to answer them

Remedies for an illegal eviction

非法自力救济的租客可恢复占有或终止租约，并追偿最高 3 个月租金或实际损害（取大）+ 律师费（35-9A-407）。

Ala. Code § 35-9A-407 ↗

Sources and how to verify them

Every figure on this page comes from the official text or a state court opinion, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked.

Statute	Last verified	Source
Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(a)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(d)	2026-10-16	official text ↗
Ala. Code § 35-9A-421	2026-10-16	official text ↗
Ala. Code § 35-9A-461	2026-10-16	official text ↗
Ala. Code § 35-9A-407	2026-10-16	official text ↗

Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Where a provision admits of more than one reading, that is flagged rather than smoothed over.

When you need a lawyer instead of a tool

A self-help guide is the right starting point for understanding your position. Get legal help if:

• You have received an eviction notice — the timeline is now court-driven
• The dispute involves discrimination, unsafe conditions or retaliation
• Your landlord has filed anything in court already
• You are unsure whether a local ordinance changes the state rule

Local legal aid organisations and tenant unions offer free help for qualifying cases. They are independent of this site — we list them because they are the right place to go, not because they link here.

More Alabama guides

Alabama Security Deposit Return · Alabama Security Deposit Rules · Alabama Rent Increase Rules · Alabama Repairs & Habitability · Alabama Landlord Retaliation

→ All Alabama tenant rights topics

Common questions