Alabama · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Alabama security deposit law

How much a landlord in Alabama can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Alabama, the deposit limit is: One month's rent. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you give back possession, the landlord must refund the deposit and, if anything is kept, send an itemized list of what was withheld.

deposit limit
1 month's rent
to return a deposit
60 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2×

Security deposit in Alabama

Limit
One month's rent. The landlord may charge extra deposits for pets, changes to the unit, or increased liability risk.
Deadline to return it
Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you give back possession, the landlord must refund the deposit and, if anything is kept, send an itemized list of what was withheld. When you move out, you must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing; mailing by first-class mail to that address on time is enough. If you give no address, the landlord mails it to your last known address or the rental's address. Money you do not claim within 90 days is forfeited.
Itemized list
Yes. If the landlord does not refund the whole deposit, it must provide an itemized list of the amounts withheld within the 60 days. Receipts are not required by the statute.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent and damages the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under § 35-9A-301 (for example, damage beyond normal wear, not keeping the unit clean and safe).
Interest
No. The statute does not require interest.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord does not mail a refund or itemized accounting within 60 days, it must pay you double the amount of your original deposit.
Law
Ala. Code § 35-9A-201

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Alabama: When you move out, you must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing; mailing by first-class mail to that address on time is enough.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you give back possession, the landlord must refund the deposit and, if anything is kept, send an itemized list of what was withheld.
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $6,000 (same for people and businesses). Small claims court in Alabama on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Alabama

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Alabama

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Alabama

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $6,000 (same for people and businesses).

How to file in Alabama

Questions about security deposits in Alabama

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Alabama?

One month's rent. The landlord may charge extra deposits for pets, changes to the unit, or increased liability risk.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alabama?

Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you give back possession, the landlord must refund the deposit and, if anything is kept, send an itemized list of what was withheld. When you move out, you must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing; mailing by first-class mail to that address on time is enough. If you give no address, the landlord mails it to your last known address or the rental's address. Money you do not claim within 90 days is forfeited.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Alabama?

If the landlord does not mail a refund or itemized accounting within 60 days, it must pay you double the amount of your original deposit.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Alabama?

Unpaid rent and damages the landlord suffered because you did not meet your duties under § 35-9A-301 (for example, damage beyond normal wear, not keeping the unit clean and safe).

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Alabama?

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Alabama?

$6,000 (same for people and businesses).

More for Alabama renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.