Alabama Security Deposit Deductions

In Alabama, deposit deductions are limited to the uses in the supplied statute. The landlord must give an itemized statement within 60 days. The record does not include a statutory definition of wear and tear. Ordinary wear is not a lawful charge. The table lists each supplied item rule and citation.

Wear and tear in this record

The supplied Alabama record does not include a statutory definition of wear and tear. Normal wear and tear is the expected aging of a rental from ordinary living, such as faded paint or carpet worn from walking. Damage is harm beyond that ordinary use, such as a large stain, a burn, or a hole. A landlord can usually charge for tenant-caused damage. A landlord cannot charge for ordinary wear.

Item rules

Item	Allowed	Rule
Cleaning	Conditional	Upon termination, security may be applied to accrued rent and damages suffered by reason of the tenant’s noncompliance with Ala. Code § 35-9A-301, all as itemized. Tenant must keep the occupied premises as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permits. No independent turnover-cleaning statute; 'wear and tear' is not used in the deposit section. (Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-201(b), 35-9A-301)
Carpet replacement	Not stated	No item-specific rule; the general standard applies. No rule specific to this item. A deduction is lawful only for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or for amounts the deposit statute allows (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201). (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201)
Painting	Not stated	No item-specific rule; the general standard applies. No rule specific to this item. A deduction is lawful only for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or for amounts the deposit statute allows (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201). (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201)
Nail holes and wall damage	Not stated	No item-specific rule; the general standard applies. No rule specific to this item. A deduction is lawful only for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or for amounts the deposit statute allows (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201). (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201)
Pet damage	Not stated	No item-specific rule; the general standard applies. No rule specific to this item. A deduction is lawful only for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or for amounts the deposit statute allows (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201). (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201)
Unpaid rent and fees	Yes	Security may be applied to the payment of accrued rent and the amount of damages that the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant’s noncompliance with Section 35-9A-301. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b))

Itemization duty

Itemization required	Yes
Deadline	60 days
Receipts required	No
Rule	Itemized written notice of accrued rent and damages, together with the amount due, must be delivered 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. If the entire deposit is not refunded, an itemized list of amounts withheld is due within that 60-day period. Receipts are not required.
Citation	Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b) - (c)

Burden of proof

No statutory sentence allocating the burden of proof on the lawfulness of a deduction. Ala. Admin. Code r. 790-X-3-.03 directs qualifying brokers to Code of Ala. §§ 35-9A-201 and 35-9A-205.

Statute says

Upon termination of the tenancy, money held by the landlord as security may be applied to the payment of accrued rent and the amount of damages that the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with

Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)

What this means

Source accessed: 2026-09-20.

If it was deducted anyway

Use the Alabama demand letter page to ask for the itemized statement and the return of any amount that bills ordinary wear. Cite only a rule listed on this page.

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Alabama letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Alabama small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Alabama kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Free Alabama template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Alabama law (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 60 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession.

FAQ

What security deposit deductions are allowed in Alabama?

Only the uses in the supplied Alabama record. The table on this page lists each item with its rule and citation. A general wear-and-tear row is not an item-specific statute.

Does a Alabama landlord have to itemize deductions?

Yes. Itemized written notice of accrued rent and damages, together with the amount due, must be delivered 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. If the entire deposit is not refunded, an itemized list of amounts withheld is due within that 60-day period. Receipts are not required.

Who has the burden of proof for a Alabama deduction?