Alabama Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (7-Day)
Create a free Alabama notice to pay rent or quit. Alabama requires a 7-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Alabama requirement
Alabama requires a 7-day notice to pay rent or quit. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Alabama requires a 7-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Alabama)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 7 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under Ala. Code 35-9A-421 (noncompliance with rental agreement; failure to pay rent) and 35-9A-441 (periodic tenancy; holdover remedies), Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 35, Chapter 9A.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: The Act requires written notice 'delivered' to the tenant, and the 421 notice periods run from the tenant's RECEIPT ('after receipt of the notice'). Note that the general notice-receipt rules in Ala. Code 35-9A-144 expressly DO NOT apply to a notice to terminate a tenancy or evict a tenant (35-9A-144(e)). Service of the eviction (unlawful detainer) action and related termination notices is governed by the eviction-action statute (35-9A-461) and the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure / unlawful detainer service rules, which contemplate personal service or, where the tenant cannot be found, posting a copy on the premises door plus first-class mail by the sheriff/process server (service by posting complete as of the date of mailing). Best practice is personal delivery plus first-class mail and documenting the receipt date. (The spec's prior citation to 35-9A-161 was incorrect; 35-9A-161 covers terms and conditions of the rental agreement, not service.)
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm Alabama and local rules first.
Alabama Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Alabama requires a 7-day notice to pay rent or quit. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease. The notice is served under Ala. Code 35-9A-421 (noncompliance with rental agreement; failure to pay rent) and 35-9A-441 (periodic tenancy; holdover remedies), Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 35, Chapter 9A.
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in Alabama
The Act requires written notice 'delivered' to the tenant, and the 421 notice periods run from the tenant's RECEIPT ('after receipt of the notice'). Note that the general notice-receipt rules in Ala. Code 35-9A-144 expressly DO NOT apply to a notice to terminate a tenancy or evict a tenant (35-9A-144(e)). Service of the eviction (unlawful detainer) action and related termination notices is governed by the eviction-action statute (35-9A-461) and the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure / unlawful detainer service rules, which contemplate personal service or, where the tenant cannot be found, posting a copy on the premises door plus first-class mail by the sheriff/process server (service by posting complete as of the date of mailing). Best practice is personal delivery plus first-class mail and documenting the receipt date. (The spec's prior citation to 35-9A-161 was incorrect; 35-9A-161 covers terms and conditions of the rental agreement, not service.) A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Alabama notice to pay rent or quit?
Alabama requires a 7-day notice to pay rent or quit. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Alabama court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method Alabama allows.
Disclaimer
This Alabama notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Alabama and local requirements before serving.