Alabama Security Deposit Law
Alabama rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: One month's periodic rent. Additional deposits are allowed only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a)
The rules in Alabama
| Security deposit limit | One month's periodic rent. Additional deposits are allowed only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. Last amended by Act 2014-279. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession. The landlord mails the refund and/or itemized accounting by first-class mail to the forwarding address the tenant gave in writing, or to the last known address or the rental address if none was given. Deposits or checks the tenant leaves unclaimed for 90 days are forfeited. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(e) |
| Itemized deductions | If the landlord does not refund the whole deposit, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized list of the amounts withheld within the 60-day period. Deductions are limited to accrued rent and damages from the tenant's failure to meet the duties in § 35-9A-301. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(c) |
| Interest on deposits | No statute requires the landlord to pay interest on a security deposit. § 35-9A-201 is the deposit statute and says nothing about interest. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 |
| Penalty for withholding | If the landlord does not mail a timely refund or accounting within 60 days, the landlord must pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant's original deposit. The penalty is triggered by missing the deadline. No showing of bad faith is required. Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(f) |
Free calculators
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator — See when your landlord must return your deposit, and the penalty your state sets if they don't.
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Related questions
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?
- What can a landlord charge for at move-out (cleaning, painting, carpet)?
Alabama vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | One month's periodic rent. Additional deposits are allowed only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) | Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession. The landlord mails the refund and/or itemized accounting by first-class mail to the forwarding address the tenant gave in writing, or to the last known address or the rental address if none was given. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(e) | If the landlord does not refund the whole deposit, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized list of the amounts withheld within the 60-day period. Deductions are limited to accrued rent and damages from the tenant's failure to meet the duties in § 35-9A-301. Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(c) |
| Florida | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. Fla. Stat. § 83.49 | 15 days after the lease ends if the landlord makes no claim. If the landlord intends to keep any part, written notice of the claim must be sent within 30 days (certified mail to last known address, or e-mail under § 83.505); tenant then has 15 days to object, and the balance is due within 30 days of the notice. Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a)-(b) | Written notice of intention to impose a claim, stating the amount and reason, sent within 30 days of termination in the statutory form; tenant has 15 days after receipt to object in writing. Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a)-(b) |
| Georgia | 2 months' rent. No landlord may demand or receive a security deposit that exceeds the equivalent of two months' rent. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1 (added by HB 404, 2024 Safe at Home Act, Act 392) | Within 30 days after the landlord obtains possession of the unit. The landlord complies by mailing the statement and any refund by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address. If the mailed refund is returned undeliverable and the tenant cannot be located after reasonable effort, it becomes the landlord's property 90 days after mailing. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-34(a) | If any amount is kept, the landlord must give a written statement of the specific reasons within 30 days, with the itemized damage list if damage is claimed, and the balance due. No deduction for normal wear and tear. Landlords with more than 10 units or a fee-paid management agent must also give a move-in damage list and do a move-out inspection within 3 business days, giving the tenant a signed damage list; the tenant may inspect within 5 business days and sign or note disagreements. O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-33, 44-7-34 |
| Mississippi | No statutory cap. § 89-8-21 governs how deposits are held and returned but sets no maximum amount. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 | Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession, and the tenant demands return. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) | Required. To keep any part of the deposit, the landlord must send the tenant a written notice itemizing each amount claimed. The landlord may keep only what is reasonably necessary for unpaid rent, damage the tenant caused beyond ordinary wear and tear, cleaning at the end of the tenancy, or other reasonable and necessary expenses caused by the tenant's default. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) |
| Tennessee | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. Outside URLTA counties, no statute regulates security deposits; the lease governs. T.C.A. 66-28-301; ch. 66-7 (checked) | No fixed number of days for returning the deposit. In URLTA counties, if the tenant leaves owing no rent and is due a refund, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably determinable address. If the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord may keep the deposit. Move-out inspection: on the move-out day or within 4 calendar days after it. T.C.A. 66-28-301(b)(1)(A), (f) | Deductions must be supported by a written listing of damages with estimated repair costs. The tenant has the right to inspect: after a request to vacate, or within 5 days of the tenant's notice to vacate, the landlord may notify the tenant of the right to attend the inspection. At a mutual inspection, both parties sign the listing, and their signatures are conclusive evidence that it is accurate. A tenant who refuses to sign must list in writing the items they dispute. The landlord may inspect alone if the tenant left without written notice, abandoned the unit, was judicially removed, did not respond, did not show up, or did not request an inspection. In that case, on the tenant's written request, the landlord must send a copy of the listing by certificate of mailing. The deposit may also be applied to unpaid rent. T.C.A. 66-28-301(b), (e) |
City rules that may add to state law
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- Free legal help in Alabama
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Alabama Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Alabama?
One month's periodic rent. Additional deposits are allowed only for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alabama?
Within 60 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession. The landlord mails the refund and/or itemized accounting by first-class mail to the forwarding address the tenant gave in writing, or to the last known address or the rental address if none was given. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(e))
Does a landlord in Alabama have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
If the landlord does not refund the whole deposit, the landlord must give the tenant an itemized list of the amounts withheld within the 60-day period. Deductions are limited to accrued rent and damages from the tenant's failure to meet the duties in § 35-9A-301. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(c))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Alabama?
No statute requires the landlord to pay interest on a security deposit. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201)
What happens if a landlord in Alabama wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
If the landlord does not mail a timely refund or accounting within 60 days, the landlord must pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant's original deposit. (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(f))
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.