Alabama Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Alabama, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 business days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Alabama notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days
Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days
Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b)
Notice for unpaid rent7 business days
Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)
End of a fixed-term leaseA fixed-term lease ends on its end date without statutory notice unless the lease requires notice; a tenant who holds over without consent can be sued for possession and up to three months' rent if the holdover is willful (Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(c)).
How notice can be deliveredMust be written; the statute sets no specific delivery method for termination notices (the general notice rules in Ala. Code § 35-9A-144, hand delivery or mail plus 3 days, expressly do not apply to notices to terminate a tenancy, § 35-9A-144(e)). Hand delivery with proof, or posting plus first-class mail, is the safe practice.

The nonpayment notice period is 7 BUSINESS days after receipt (Act 2018-473), and must state the rent and late fees owed. Week-to-week tenancies need 7 days' notice. Notice must land at least 30 days before the rent due date that is named as the end date.

What a Alabama notice to vacate should include

  • The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
  • The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
  • A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
  • For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
  • Your name, signature and contact details
  • A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Alabama notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Alabama?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Alabama?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Alabama?

The tenant gets 7 business days to pay or move out (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Alabama?

Must be written; the statute sets no specific delivery method for termination notices (the general notice rules in Ala. Code § 35-9A-144, hand delivery or mail plus 3 days, expressly do not apply to notices to terminate a tenancy, § 35-9A-144(e)). Hand delivery with proof, or posting plus first-class mail, is the safe practice.

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Alabama?

A fixed-term lease ends on its end date without statutory notice unless the lease requires notice; a tenant who holds over without consent can be sued for possession and up to three months' rent if the holdover is willful (Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(c)).

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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