Alabama Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
Alabama rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No. Alabama's Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and handicap only; it does not protect source of income or housing-voucher holders. Ala. Code § 24-8-4
The rules in Alabama
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No. Alabama's Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and handicap only; it does not protect source of income or housing-voucher holders. Text read 2026-10-22 from the official ALISON Code of Alabama database (the same data that renders on this page). Source: Ala. Code § 24-8-4 |
|---|---|
| Eviction record sealing | No statute — Alabama has no law sealing, masking or expunging eviction (unlawful detainer) court records. Full-text searches for sealing/expunging eviction records found no provision. Text read 2026-10-22 from the official ALISON Code of Alabama database (the same data that renders on this page). |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. No statute found; the Ch. 35-9A eviction provisions contain no appointment-of-counsel right. Text read 2026-10-22 from the official ALISON Code of Alabama database (the same data that renders on this page). |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Alabama vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No. Alabama's Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and handicap only; it does not protect source of income or housing-voucher holders. Ala. Code § 24-8-4 | No statute — Alabama has no law sealing, masking or expunging eviction (unlawful detainer) court records. Ala. Code § 35-9A-461; §§ 6-6-310 et seq. (checked) | No statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. Ala. Code § 35-9A-461 (eviction actions) |
| Florida | No. The Florida Fair Housing Act's protected classes are race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status and religion; source of income is not included. Fla. Stat. § 760.23 | No statute — chapter 83 has no eviction-record sealing or masking provision. Fla. Stat. ch. 83 | No statute — no statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. Fla. Stat. ch. 83 |
| Georgia | No statewide protection. Georgia's fair housing protected classes are race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability; source of income (including vouchers) is not among them. Georgia Fair Housing Act, O.C.G.A. § 8-3-200 et seq. (as summarized in DCA Landlord-Tenant Handbook, rev. 8-29-24, p. 4) | No statute in effect yet. Beginning January 1, 2027, a court may, on motion and after a hearing, order all court records of a dispossessory (eviction) case made unavailable to the public if the tenant won the case, the tenant paid the judgment in full with interest and costs, or seven years have passed since a dismissal or judgment (with any judgment paid in full). The landlord may still pursue amounts owed in a separate action or through collections. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50(e) (added by SB 406, 2026, Act 715, § 8; effective January 1, 2027) | Not verified yet |
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Tennessee | No. The Tennessee Human Rights Act's housing provision covers race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, familial status and national origin, but not source of income or vouchers. T.C.A. 4-21-601(a) | No statute. Tennessee has no law sealing or expunging eviction (detainer) records. A 2026 bill to make dismissed unlawful detainer cases confidential (HB1940/SB2016) failed in House subcommittee on March 18, 2026 and was not enacted. 2026 HB1940 / SB2016 (not enacted) | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases. T.C.A. Title 29, Chapter 18; Title 66, Chapters 7 and 28 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
Alabama Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in Alabama?
No. Alabama's Fair Housing Law covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and handicap only; it does not protect source of income or housing-voucher holders. (Ala. Code § 24-8-4)
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Alabama?
No statute — Alabama has no law sealing, masking or expunging eviction (unlawful detainer) court records. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-461; §§ 6-6-310 et seq. (checked))
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Alabama?
No statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-461 (eviction actions))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.