In Alabama, landlord entry is strictly governed by the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Ala. Code § 35-9A-303). While landlords have a right to maintain their property, they must respect tenant privacy except in specific, legally defined scenarios.
Legal Entry Without Prior Permission
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Emergencies: Landlords may enter at any time without notice or consent in case of a true emergency (e.g., fire, active flooding, or gas leaks).
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Tenant Absence: If a tenant is gone for more than 14 days, the landlord may enter the unit at “times reasonably necessary” to inspect or maintain the property.
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Court Orders: A landlord may enter if they have a specific court order granting them access.
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Abandonment: If the property is legally deemed abandoned (e.g., electric service is terminated for 7 consecutive days), the landlord may enter to secure or re-rent the unit.
Requirements for Standard Entry
For non-emergency reasons, such as inspections, improvements, or showing the property, Alabama law requires:
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Two-Day Notice: Landlords must provide at least two days’ notice of their intent to enter.
This notice can be a written note posted on the primary door. -
Reasonable Hours: Entry must occur at “reasonable times” unless the tenant agrees otherwise.
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Repair Requests: Under Ala. Code § 35-9A-303(e), if a tenant submits a request for repairs or maintenance, they are deemed to have granted consent for the landlord to enter to perform that specific work.
No additional notice is required for that visit.
The information for this answer was found on our Alabama Landlord Tenant Rights answers.