Alabama rent increase law

The Act sets no notice period and no limit for a rent increase. During a fixed term the rent is what the lease says; for a periodic tenancy the Act sets only the written notice needed to end the tenancy, not a notice for an increase.

Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603 Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(a), (b)

• A month-to-month tenancy ends on written notice given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice. Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b) See Ending a month-to-month tenancy on the Alabama page
• You may not discriminatorily increase rent to retaliate against a tenant for a protected complaint or for joining a tenants' union. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501(a) See Retaliation on the Alabama page
• Cities and counties may not adopt their own landlord and tenant ordinances, so no local rent limit applies. Ala. Code § 35-9A-121 See Rent control and local rules on the Alabama page

The Act applies to and is the exclusive remedy for the rights, obligations and remedies under a rental agreement for a dwelling unit in Alabama, though other laws such as the fair housing law still apply. No county or city may enact or enforce an ordinance on residential landlords, rental housing codes, or landlord and tenant rights, so no local rent control applies; cities and counties may still enforce building, health and other general codes that equally affect similar owner-occupied homes.

Ala. Code § 35-9A-121

• The Act does not govern some arrangements, including residence in an institution incidental to care or detention, a buyer occupying under a contract of sale, transient hotel or motel stays, an employee whose housing depends on the job, owners of condominium or cooperative units, and a seller staying up to 36 months after a sale. Ala. Code § 35-9A-122
• A separate law, effective October 1, 2026, authorizes a Class 1 municipality to adopt a registration and maintenance ordinance for vacant residential or commercial property. The program applies only if the municipality adopts an ordinance. Check the Act's vacancy definition, property exclusions and exemptions; this page has not reviewed an adopted city ordinance. Alabama Act 2026-511, § 1, 2, 5, 6, 10
• An ordinance under that Act must cap the initial annual registration fee at $250. Later annual fees may not exceed 150 percent of the preceding fee, capped at $1,000. It must provide exemptions, including time-limited relief for property marketed in good faith for sale or lease on commercially reasonable terms and specified restoration or temporary-absence situations. An ordinance may allow inspections with at least ten days' prior notice and fines up to $1,000 per violation; unpaid fees or fines become liens only after a notice is recorded. Alabama Act 2026-511, § 7(d), 8(b), 8(c)

You may not retaliate by discriminatorily increasing rent, decreasing services, or bringing or threatening an action for possession because the tenant complained to a code enforcement agency about a violation materially affecting health and safety, complained to you of a violation of your maintenance duties, or organized or joined a tenants' union or similar organization.

Ala. Code § 35-9A-501(a)

• A tenant subjected to retaliation has a defense to your action for possession and may recover possession or end the lease and recover up to three months' periodic rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501(b) Ala. Code § 35-9A-407
• You may still bring an action for possession if the code violation was caused mainly by the tenant's lack of reasonable care, the tenant is in default in rent, the required repairs would effectively deprive the tenant of use of the unit, or for another material violation of the lease. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501(c)
• Bringing such an action does not release you from liability to the tenant for damages for your own noncompliance. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501(d) Ala. Code § 35-9A-401(b)
• The section sets no time window and no presumption of retaliation. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501