Alabama Housing Resources & Tenant Rights

Alabama’s rules come from the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Ala. Code Title 35, Chapter 9A). It is relatively landlord-friendly — short notice periods, fast evictions, no rent control (preempted by Ala. Code § 11-80-8.1) — but tenants keep real protections: a one-month deposit cap, a 60-day return with double-damages, an implied warranty of habitability, and anti-retaliation. There is no statewide voucher administrator (vouchers run through local authorities) and no state fair-housing agency, so discrimination complaints go to HUD. This page covers the authorities to apply to, the tenant-law framework, and where to get help.

Major Alabama public housing authorities

Alabama has no statewide voucher administrator — Housing Choice Vouchers run through roughly 130 local authorities, with the HUD Birmingham Field Office providing oversight. The largest city authorities are:

• Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) — PHA AL001, 205-521-0774 (voucher line 205-974-4440); the largest in the state; most lists have been closed, though it opened one- and two-bedroom public-housing applications in June 2026
• Mobile Housing Authority — PHA AL002, 251-434-2212
• Housing Authority of the City of Montgomery — PHA AL006, 334-206-7200
• Huntsville Housing Authority — PHA AL047, 256-539-0774

Waitlist status changes often, so confirm on each authority’s site. Use HUD’s PHA directory and read how to find your PHA. For tax-credit apartments, search HUD’s LIHTC database.

Alabama Housing Finance Authority & state programs

The Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) (334-244-9200 or 800-325-2432, ahfa.com) is the state finance agency and does not run vouchers. It allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME and HOME-ARP funds, and multifamily bond financing, and runs homeownership programs (Step Up, First Step, and an Affordable Income Subsidy grant). For a voucher, you apply to a local authority.

Emergency rent & utility help in Alabama

• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — administered by ADECA through local Continuums of Care; some counties (such as Jefferson) and the City of Mobile also run remaining rent-assistance programs
• LIHEAP — ADECA funds heating and cooling help through Community Action Agencies; dial 211 or ADECA at 1-800-392-8098; see utility assistance programs
• Community Action Agencies — coordinated by the Community Action Association of Alabama for utility and rent aid; also see emergency rental assistance

Alabama tenant law: key protections at a glance

Security deposits

Alabama caps the base deposit at one month’s rent, though a landlord may add amounts for pets, tenant alterations, or increased liability risk (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201). After you move out, the landlord has 60 days to return the deposit with a written itemized list of any deductions; missing that deadline or failing to itemize can make the landlord liable for double the deposit. Read how to recover your security deposit.

Eviction process & how long it takes

For nonpayment and for material lease violations, Alabama requires a notice of “not less than seven business days” (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421); certain acts involving illegal drugs, firearms, or assault are non-curable with a 7-day notice. After the notice, the landlord files an unlawful-detainer case, and the process commonly runs four to eight weeks from notice to a writ of possession. Get help from Legal Services Alabama (1-866-456-4995), and read how to avoid eviction. Note that Alabama also has an implied warranty of habitability and anti-retaliation protection (Ala. Code § 35-9A-204).

Source of income & fair housing

Alabama has no source-of-income protection, so a landlord may legally decline a Housing Choice Voucher. Alabama also has no state fair-housing enforcement agency, so discrimination complaints go directly to HUD’s Region IV office in Atlanta (1-800-669-9777); private HUD-funded centers such as the Central Alabama Fair Housing Center can also help. See our source-of-income protections guide.

Veteran & supportive housing in Alabama

• HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Coordinated Entry — reach rapid re-housing and supportive housing through 211 and your local Continuum of Care
• Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains defenses and what to do before your court date

Nearby states

Comparing states or planning a move? Alabama’s neighbors handle deposits, notice, and vouchers differently:

• Mississippi tenant rights — a 3-day notice and eight regional housing authorities
• Georgia tenant rights
• Tennessee tenant rights
• Florida tenant rights
• South Carolina tenant rights — a 5-day notice and no deposit cap

Where to get help in Alabama

Tenant help & legal aid: Legal Services Alabama (central intake 1-866-456-4995) provides free civil legal aid for housing statewide.

Discrimination complaints: Alabama has no state fair-housing agency, so file with HUD (1-800-669-9777); the Central Alabama Fair Housing Center also assists.

Vouchers & local PHAs: apply to Birmingham (HABD), Mobile, Montgomery, or Huntsville, or find yours in the HUD PHA directory.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 for rent, utility, and shelter help statewide.

Next Steps

Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool maps Alabama programs to your situation in about two minutes.

If you get a seven-business-day notice, call Legal Services Alabama (1-866-456-4995) and read eviction prevention for your next moves.