Quick answer: In Alabama, a landlord who wants to end a lease for unpaid rent or a curable violation must give written notice and wait at least seven business days after the tenant receives it. Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes written notice at least 30 days before the rental date. The landlord must then go to court to evict.
This Alabama eviction notice calculator applies Ala. Code 35-9A-421 and 35-9A-441. Choose the reason, enter the date the tenant receives the notice and, for a month-to-month tenancy, the day rent is due: it shows the earliest date the lease can end. It does not say how long the court process takes: see the Alabama eviction timeline calculator.
Alabama eviction notice rules at a glance
| Rule | What Alabama says |
|---|---|
| Unpaid rent | Written notice stating the rent and any late fees owed; the lease ends not less than seven business days after receipt if not remedied (Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b)) |
| Curable lease violation | Written notice describing the acts or omissions; ends not less than seven business days after receipt unless remedied (421(a)) |
| Violation that cannot be cured | Illegal drugs, certain firearm acts, criminal assault, or a repeat within six months: seven-day notice, no right to cure unless the landlord consents (421(d)) |
| Limit on cures | No breach may be cured more than two times in any 12-month period without the landlord’s express written consent (421(d)) |
| Month-to-month | Written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified (35-9A-441(b)) |
| Week-to-week | Written notice at least seven days before the termination date (441(a)) |
| Removing a tenant | Eviction is a civil action; a landlord may not exclude a tenant on its own (35-9A-407, 35-9A-461) |
| Federal rule | Covered dwellings: no requirement to vacate before 30 days after a notice to vacate (15 U.S.C. 9058(c)) |
How does the Alabama eviction notice work?
- Unpaid rent. See the Alabama eviction notice for nonpayment of rent.
- Other lease violations. See the Alabama cure-or-quit notice.
- What a landlord may not do. See Alabama self-help evictions and lockouts.
What does this eviction notice calculator check?
For unpaid rent and curable breaches it counts seven business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and the state holidays in Ala. Code 1-3-8 (Thanksgiving taken as the fourth Thursday of November). The statute does not define “business day,” so treat the result as the earliest safe date and confirm it with the court clerk or an attorney. For a month-to-month tenancy it finds the first rental date at least 30 days after the notice. It also shows the federal 30-day date for a covered dwelling. It does not check whether the notice has the required content or was properly delivered, and it cannot tell whether a breach is one the statute treats as not curable.
Related Alabama landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Alabama security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Alabama security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit and the Alabama eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Alabama statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How many days’ notice does an Alabama landlord have to give for unpaid rent?
A written notice that ends the lease not less than seven business days after the tenant receives it. If the tenant pays what is owed within that time, the breach is remedied.
What must an Alabama notice for unpaid rent say?
It must specify the amount of rent and any late fees owed to remedy the breach and state that the rental agreement will terminate on a date not less than seven business days after receipt.
Can a tenant fix the problem and stay?
For unpaid rent and curable violations, yes, by remedying the breach before the date in the notice. A tenant cannot cure the same lease breach more than two times in any 12-month period without the landlord’s written consent.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Alabama?
Written notice given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. A week-to-week tenancy needs at least seven days before the termination date.
Can a landlord change the locks after the notice period?
No. Eviction is a civil action, and a landlord that unlawfully removes or excludes a tenant can owe up to three months’ rent or actual damages plus attorney fees.
Does the federal CARES Act add a 30-day notice in Alabama?
For a dwelling the Act defines as covered, the lessor may not require the tenant to vacate before 30 days after giving a notice to vacate. Ask a licensed attorney whether your home is covered.
Official sources
- Ala. Code 35-9A-421: noncompliance with the rental agreement; failure to pay rent
- Ala. Code 35-9A-441: periodic tenancy; holdover remedies
- Ala. Code 35-9A-141: definitions, including how a day is counted
- Ala. Code 35-9A-407: tenant’s remedies for unlawful ouster or exclusion
- Ala. Code 35-9A-461: landlord’s action for eviction
- Ala. Code 1-3-8: official state holidays
- 15 U.S.C. 9058(c): 30-day notice to vacate for covered dwellings