Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 35-9A-163 (2026)

Prohibited Provisions in Rental Agreements.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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(a) A rental agreement may not provide that the tenant:

(1) agrees to waive or forego rights or remedies established under Section 35-9A-204, 35-9A-401, or 35-9A-404, or requirements of security deposits established by this chapter or under the law of unlawful detainer;

(2) authorizes any person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the rental agreement;

(3) agrees to pay the landlord’s attorney’s fees or cost of collection; or

(4) agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord arising under law or to indemnify the landlord for that liability or the costs connected therewith.

(b) A provision prohibited by subsection (a) included in a rental agreement is unenforceable. If a landlord seeks to enforce a provision in a rental agreement containing provisions known by the landlord to be prohibited, the tenant may recover in addition to actual damages an amount up to one month’s periodic rent and reasonable attorney’s fees.

(Act 2006-316, p. 668, §1; Act 2011-700, p. 2154, §1.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2011–2022 · leading case: Robinson v. Sovran Acquisition Ltd. P'ship, 70 So. 3d 390 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011).
Robinson v. Sovran Acquisition Ltd. P'ship, 70 So. 3d 390 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 4× “Code 1975; Comment to § 35-9A-163, Ala.Code 1975 (indicating the need to protect an uninformed tenant who may surrender or waive rights against a landlord for damages arising from a landlord’s negligence); and Fuentes v.”
Ex Parte John P. Coble, 2091087 (ala.civ.app. 5-6-2011), 72 So. 3d 656 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 5× “Coble cites no authority from any other jurisdiction, and our research reveals none, construing a jury-waiver provision as a prohibited limitation of liability under a provision similar to § 35-9A-163(a)(4). The jury-waiver provision in this case is not a limitation of liability…”
Cobblestone Glen Flats LLC v. R&R-Beth LP (N.D. Ala. 2022). · cites it 5× “Section 35-9A-163 Section 35-9A-163 prohibits rental agreement provisions that require a tenant “to pay the landlord’s attorney’s fees or cost of collection.”
— Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(a)(4) — 2 cases
Ex Parte John P. Coble, 2091087 (ala.civ.app. 5-6-2011), 72 So. 3d 656 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Coble cites no authority from any other jurisdiction, and our research reveals none, construing a jury-waiver provision as a prohibited limitation of liability under a provision similar to § 35-9A-163(a)(4). The jury-waiver provision in this case is not a limitation of liability…”
Robinson v. Sovran Acquisition Ltd. P'ship, 70 So. 3d 390 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Code 1975; Comment to § 35-9A-163, Ala.Code 1975 (indicating the need to protect an uninformed tenant who may surrender or waive rights against a landlord for damages arising from a landlord’s negligence); and Fuentes v.”
— Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(b) — 3 cases
Robinson v. Sovran Acquisition Ltd. P'ship, 70 So. 3d 390 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Code 1975; Comment to § 35-9A-163, Ala.Code 1975 (indicating the need to protect an uninformed tenant who may surrender or waive rights against a landlord for damages arising from a landlord’s negligence); and Fuentes v.”
Ex Parte John P. Coble, 2091087 (ala.civ.app. 5-6-2011), 72 So. 3d 656 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Coble cites no authority from any other jurisdiction, and our research reveals none, construing a jury-waiver provision as a prohibited limitation of liability under a provision similar to § 35-9A-163(a)(4). The jury-waiver provision in this case is not a limitation of liability…”
Cobblestone Glen Flats LLC v. R&R-Beth LP (N.D. Ala. 2022). “Section 35-9A-163 Section 35-9A-163 prohibits rental agreement provisions that require a tenant “to pay the landlord’s attorney’s fees or cost of collection.”
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