Last reviewed September 2026
Written by LawLease Editorial
Free template
Download a free Rent Receipt template
A blank, printable form — fill it in by hand. Or build a guided version with Alabama set as the governing state. Create a free account to download.
Alabama Rent Receipt
This Rent Receipt is built with Alabama as the governing state. These are the Alabama landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.
Alabama rules at a glance
| Late fees | No statutory cap or grace period; set by the lease |
|---|---|
| Late fees in the notice | Since the 2018 amendments, a nonpayment notice must state the amount of rent and any late fees owed to cure the breach (§35-9A-421(b)) — so the fee needs to be spelled out in the lease to be collectible this way. |
| Security deposit limit | 1 month’s rent, plus extra security allowed for pets, alterations, or higher-liability activitiesAla. Code §35-9A-201 |
| Deposit return | 60 days after the tenancy ends and possession is returned; late = double the depositAla. Code §35-9A-201 |
| Double-deposit penalty | A landlord who misses the 60-day window owes the tenant double the amount of the original deposit — not double the amount withheld (§35-9A-201(f)). |
Security deposits in Alabama
Alabama caps the security deposit at one month’s periodic rent (§35-9A-201). Unlike most capped states, the statute expressly lets a landlord collect additional security on top of that ceiling in three situations — so a flat “one month, no exceptions” rule overstates the limit.
- Carve-outs above the cap — Extra security may be required for pets, for changes the tenant makes to the premises, and for tenant activities that increase the landlord’s liability risk (§35-9A-201).
- What can be deducted — The deposit may be applied to accrued rent and to damages the landlord suffers because the tenant failed to meet the tenant’s statutory maintenance duties (§35-9A-201(b), §35-9A-301).
- 60-day return — Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession, the landlord must mail the refund, or an itemized list of amounts withheld with any balance, to the tenant’s forwarding address (or last known address if none was given).
- Double-deposit penalty — A landlord who misses the 60-day window owes the tenant double the amount of the original deposit — not double the amount withheld (§35-9A-201(f)).
- Unclaimed refunds — If a refund mailed to the tenant goes unclaimed for 90 days, it becomes the landlord’s property.
Rent, late fees & rent increases
Alabama has no statute capping late fees or requiring a grace period, so the lease controls. Because courts can refuse to enforce a charge that works as a penalty rather than a reasonable estimate of the landlord’s loss, the fee should be stated in the lease and kept proportionate.
- Late fees in the notice — Since the 2018 amendments, a nonpayment notice must state the amount of rent and any late fees owed to cure the breach (§35-9A-421(b)) — so the fee needs to be spelled out in the lease to be collectible this way.
- Rent increases — Alabama sets no separate rent-increase notice period. A fixed-term lease can’t be changed mid-term without agreement; for a month-to-month tenancy, an increase should be given at least the 30 days required to end the tenancy (§35-9A-441).
- Rent control — Cities and counties are barred from adopting any ordinance that controls the amount of rent on private property (§11-80-8.1), so there’s no statutory cap on the size of an increase.
Alabama Rent Receipt FAQs
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Alabama?
No more than one month’s periodic rent. Alabama does allow additional security beyond that cap for pets, for alterations the tenant makes to the premises, and for activities that increase the landlord’s liability risk (Ala. Code §35-9A-201).
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alabama?
Sixty days after the tenancy ends and the tenant returns possession. The landlord must mail the refund, or an itemized list of deductions with any balance, within that window — missing it makes the landlord liable for double the original deposit (§35-9A-201).
Is there a limit on late fees in Alabama?
No. Alabama has no statutory late-fee cap or mandatory grace period — the amount is whatever the lease specifies, though an excessive fee risks being struck as a penalty. The fee should be written into the lease, since a nonpayment notice must state the rent and late fees owed (§35-9A-421(b)).
More Alabama landlord documents
- Alabama Residential Lease Agreement
- Alabama Eviction Notice
- Alabama Security Deposit Return Letter
- Alabama Rent Increase Notice
- Alabama Notice to Vacate
- Alabama Application Approval Letter
- Alabama Application Denial Letter
- Alabama Background & Credit Check Authorization
- Alabama Rental Application
- Alabama Co-Signer Guarantor Agreement
- Alabama Bed Bug Addendum
- Alabama Mold & Mildew Addendum
- Alabama No-Smoking Addendum
- Alabama Parking & Storage Addendum
- Alabama HOA & Community Rules Addendum
- Alabama Crime-Free Housing Addendum
- Alabama Utilities & Services Addendum
- Alabama Early Termination Addendum
- Alabama Lease Extension Addendum
- Alabama Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
- Alabama Military Clause (SCRA)
- Alabama Pet Addendum
- Alabama Cash for Keys Agreement
- Alabama Mutual Lease Termination Agreement
- Alabama Lease Renewal Agreement
- Alabama Notice of Non-Renewal
- Alabama Late Rent Notice
- Alabama Lease Violation Notice
- Alabama Notice of Entry
- Alabama Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
- Alabama Rent Verification Letter
- Alabama Tenant Welcome Letter
- Alabama Property Management Agreement
- Alabama Commercial Lease
- Alabama Rent-to-Own Agreement
- Alabama Short-Term Rental Agreement
- Alabama Room Rental Agreement
- Alabama Roommate Agreement
- Alabama Spanish Lease Agreement
- Alabama Sublease Agreement
- Alabama Lease Amendment
Rent Receipt in other states
- Alaska Rent Receipt
- Arizona Rent Receipt
- Arkansas Rent Receipt
- California Rent Receipt
- Colorado Rent Receipt
- Connecticut Rent Receipt
- Delaware Rent Receipt
- Florida Rent Receipt
- Georgia Rent Receipt
- Hawaii Rent Receipt
- Idaho Rent Receipt
- Illinois Rent Receipt
- Indiana Rent Receipt
- Iowa Rent Receipt
- Kansas Rent Receipt
- Kentucky Rent Receipt
- Louisiana Rent Receipt
- Maine Rent Receipt
- Maryland Rent Receipt
- Massachusetts Rent Receipt
- Michigan Rent Receipt
- Minnesota Rent Receipt
- Mississippi Rent Receipt
- Missouri Rent Receipt
- Montana Rent Receipt
- Nebraska Rent Receipt
- Nevada Rent Receipt
- New Hampshire Rent Receipt
- New Jersey Rent Receipt
- New Mexico Rent Receipt
- New York Rent Receipt
- North Carolina Rent Receipt
- North Dakota Rent Receipt
- Ohio Rent Receipt
- Oklahoma Rent Receipt
- Oregon Rent Receipt
- Pennsylvania Rent Receipt
- Rhode Island Rent Receipt
- South Carolina Rent Receipt
- South Dakota Rent Receipt
- Tennessee Rent Receipt
- Texas Rent Receipt
- Utah Rent Receipt
- Vermont Rent Receipt
- Virginia Rent Receipt
- Washington Rent Receipt
- West Virginia Rent Receipt
- Wisconsin Rent Receipt
- Wyoming Rent Receipt
Create your document in under 5 minutes
Answer a few plain questions, then download or e-sign. Built for landlords and tenants.
Get started