Jefferson County, Alabama: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $6,000 (District Court small claims division only). E-filing: Yes. Court: Jefferson County District Court - Small Claims Division.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$6,000 (District Court small claims division only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Yes
Time limit to sue in Alabama	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	60 calendar days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession.
Penalty formula	landlord must pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant's original deposit if refund or accounting is not mailed within 60 days. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Ala. Code § 35-9A-201

Where to file

Jefferson County District Court - Small Claims Division

Courthouse city: Birmingham

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Official court website

Court page check not recorded

See how to file in Alabama for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Jefferson County

County median gross rent: $1,132 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$903
1 bedroom	$1,029
2 bedrooms	$1,098
3 bedrooms	$1,271
4 bedrooms	$1,387

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,098; two months is $2,196. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,098.

State legal maximum deposit in Alabama: Not more than one month's periodic rent ($1,098 at the example rent), except additional amounts may be required for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises.

Total households in Jefferson County: 268,911.

Renter households: 97,568 (36.3% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 8%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Jefferson County, $1,098 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $6,000 (District Court small claims division only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Adamsville
Argo
Bessemer
Birmingham
Brighton
Brookside
Cardiff
Center Point
Clay
County Line
Fairfield
Fultondale
Gardendale
Graysville
Helena
Homewood
Hoover
Hueytown
Irondale
Kimberly
Lake View
Leeds
Lipscomb
Maytown
Midfield

These towns and 14 more are in Jefferson County.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Courthouse details

Address: 716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

Phone: (205) 325-5355

From the state court directory; the source is a PDF our automated check cannot read

Court contact source

Statewide help

Legal Services Alabama
free civil legal help for low-income Alabamians with evictions, security deposits, repair problems, housing discrimination, utility problems, and housing counseling
Phone: 866-456-4995

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send an Alabama security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 60 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Alabama: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Alabama law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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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.

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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.

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Free Alabama template, built from verified state data

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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

How much does it cost to file in Jefferson County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Alabama: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Jefferson County District Court - Small Claims Division. Courthouse city: Birmingham. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.