This is general information, not legal advice. The statute text below comes from the 2006 enactment of Alabama's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Later amendments were not checked for this article, so confirm the current wording with an Alabama attorney or legal aid office before you rely on it.
Huntsville has a big rental market. In the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), 58.3% of occupied homes in the city of Huntsville were owner-occupied, which means roughly four in ten households rent. Add Huntsville's muggy summers (NOAA's 1991–2020 normals put average July dew points near 70°F at Huntsville International Airport) and it is no surprise that mold in a rental is a common question for tenants and landlords alike.
So what does Alabama law actually say about mold in a rental? The short version: Alabama has no mold-specific landlord statute, but the general duty to keep a rental habitable still applies, and tenants have a written-notice process when a problem materially affecting health and safety goes unfixed. Here is what the statutes say, quoted directly.
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Does Alabama have a mold law for rentals?
Not a specific one. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) says: "Currently, there are no Alabama laws concerning residential or commercial building mold standards or testing requirements, nor is there any contractor accreditation/certification for contractors performing mold testing or remediation activities." We cover the licensing side in Does Alabama license mold companies?
The word "mold" also does not appear in the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act text reviewed for this article. That doesn't mean mold is irrelevant to a lease. It means a mold dispute is usually framed through the landlord's general habitability and maintenance duties, not a mold rule.
The landlord's duty: Ala. Code § 35-9A-204
Section 35-9A-204(a) lists what a landlord must do. In the 2006 Act text, it reads in part:
"A landlord shall: (1) comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; (2) make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a habitable condition; … (4) maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances…"
Three pieces of that matter for mold:
- Habitable condition. Item (2) is the general duty to put and keep the unit habitable. Whether a particular mold problem makes a unit uninhabitable is a fact question, not something this article can answer.
- Plumbing. Item (4) covers plumbing. Mold almost always follows water, and a leaking supply line, drain or water heater is a common source.
- Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning. Item (4) also covers HVAC. A dripping condensate line or a unit that can't keep humidity down is a frequent cause of mold around vents and air handlers. See mold in AC vents for more.
The tenant's 14-day written notice: § 35-9A-401
When a landlord doesn't meet those duties, Section 35-9A-401 gives the tenant a written-notice process. Section 35-9A-401(a) says that for "noncompliance with Section 35-9A-204 materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 14 days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied within that period…"
Section 35-9A-401(b) adds that the tenant "may recover actual damages and obtain injunctive relief," and attorney's fees may be available if the landlord acts in bad faith.
Notice what the statute requires: the notice is written, it specifies the acts and omissions, and it names a termination date at least 14 days after the landlord receives it. The full section has more text than is quoted here. Ask an attorney or a legal aid office before you send a notice, withhold anything or move out.
Practical steps for tenants
Report it in writing, early
Tell the landlord or property manager about the mold and any leak you can see, in writing, and keep a copy. Dated photos help.
Point to the water
The EPA says: "If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back." A report that names the source (a ceiling stain under a bathroom, a sweating AC closet) gives the landlord something concrete to fix.
Limit the damage you can control
If water is actively coming in, ADPH advises: "As soon as possible, begin drying any materials that are wet." The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24–48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Be careful about cleaning it yourself
ADPH notes that people with mold allergies or asthma should not clean moldy materials. Large areas are a job for a professional; see the EPA 10-square-foot rule.
Talk to a doctor about health concerns
ADPH says people with asthma, allergies or breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. If you're worried about symptoms, a doctor is the right person to ask.
Practical steps for landlords
For an owner, the cheapest mold problem is the one found early. A few habits help:
- Respond to leak and mold reports quickly and in writing, and fix the water source first.
- Have the HVAC serviced. In Alabama, cleaning heating and air-conditioning equipment or ducts requires certification from the state HVAC board (HACR), so ask any company that will touch the system for its HACR certification.
- For small, surface spots, the EPA says a homeowner can usually handle an area under about 10 square feet. Larger areas follow the EPA's professional guidance.
- If repairs include rebuilding (drywall, insulation, subfloor), Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) licensing applies to residential work over $10,000, or over $2,500 for roofing. Ask for an HBLB license number on rebuild work over those amounts.
Alabama does not license mold companies. ADPH suggests looking for IICRC-certified firms. Ask any company for its training and certifications, insurance, and an HBLB license number for rebuild work over $10,000.
Do you need a mold test to prove the problem?
Usually not. The EPA says: "In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary," and "No EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores." ADPH goes further: "Testing for molds is not recommended." Photos of visible growth and the leak behind it are usually more useful than a lab report. Our guide Do you need mold testing? explains when testing can help, such as a clearance check after cleanup.
What does fixing mold in a rental cost?
Typical national ranges from This Old House (2026), Fixr (2025) and Bob Vila (2024) are estimates, not quotes. A typical remediation job runs about $1,200–$3,750 (This Old House average about $2,300), and Fixr puts the range at $1,500–$9,000. Per square foot of affected area, guides show about $10–$30. The mold remediation cost guide has the full table, including attics, basements and crawl spaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is a landlord responsible for mold in Alabama?
Alabama has no mold-specific landlord statute, but Ala. Code § 35-9A-204 requires a landlord to keep the premises habitable and to maintain plumbing, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning in good and safe working order. Whether a given mold problem breaches that duty depends on the facts. This is general information, not legal advice; ask an Alabama attorney or legal aid office.
What is the 14-day notice for Alabama tenants?
Under § 35-9A-401(a), for noncompliance with § 35-9A-204 materially affecting health and safety, a tenant may deliver written notice specifying the breach and that the lease will terminate on a date not less than 14 days after receipt if it isn't remedied. Later amendments were not checked for this article, so confirm the current law first.
Should a tenant get a mold test before complaining?
Usually not. The EPA says that in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary, and ADPH says testing for molds is not recommended. Dated photos of the growth and the leak or moisture source, plus a written report to the landlord, are generally more useful than a lab result.
Can a tenant clean mold themselves?
The EPA says a homeowner can usually handle a moldy area under about 10 square feet. In a rental, report it to the landlord first, since the water source is theirs to fix. ADPH advises that people with mold allergies or asthma should not clean moldy materials. Talk to a doctor about any health concerns.
Need a quote for a rental unit?
If you own or manage a rental in Huntsville, Madison or nearby, a free, no-obligation quote request takes about a minute. We usually reply the same day, and you decide whether to move forward. You can also call: Call (727) 300-6656. For what the work involves, see mold removal and how the process works.
This is general information, not legal advice.