Alabama Late fees
Can a landlord charge a late fee in Alabama, and how much?
Alabama's landlord-tenant act (full-text search of the act) sets no late-fee cap. Late fees are mentioned only as an amount a nonpayment notice may list (§ 35-9A-421(b)); the lease controls.
Verified Source: Ala. Code ch. 35-9A (incl. § 35-9A-421), §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603 (full-text search of the act) · last checked 2026-10-23
How this works in Alabama
Alabama's landlord-tenant act sets no late-fee cap. The only place late fees come up is the nonpayment notice, which may list the rent and any late fees owed. So the fee, its amount and when it applies come from your lease.
Worked example for Alabama
Say your lease charges $50 if rent isn't paid by the 5th, and rent of $1,100 is still unpaid on the 10th. Your nonpayment notice can specify the $1,100 rent and the $50 late fee as the amount owed to remedy the breach. If the lease has no late fee, the act gives you no default fee to charge.
Alabama timelines and limits
| State late-fee cap | None in Ala. Code ch. 35-9A |
|---|---|
| Where late fees appear | A nonpayment notice may list rent and late fees owed (§ 35-9A-421(b)) |
| What governs | The lease |
Alabama FAQ
Is there a late-fee limit in Alabama?
Alabama's landlord-tenant act sets no late-fee cap. The lease controls.
Can I include late fees in a nonpayment notice?
Yes. The notice may specify the amount of rent and any late fees owed to remedy the breach.
What governs late fees in Alabama?
The lease.
Sources for this section: Ala. Code ch. 35-9A (incl. § 35-9A-421), §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603 (full-text search of the act) (checked 2026-10-23)
Same topic in neighboring states
All Alabama landlord-tenant law · Alabama landlord FAQ · Security deposit limit · Deposit return deadline · Notice to enter · Required lease disclosures · Required disclosures (mold, lead, radon, bedbug, asbestos, flood zone)
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