Does Alabama Have a Mold Law? What ADPH and State Rules Say (2026)

Published October 16, 2026 · Huntsville & North Alabama

If you have found mold in a Huntsville, Madison or Athens home, an early question is who is allowed to do this work. Many homeowners assume Alabama has a mold license to look up, the way it does for home builders or HVAC contractors. It does not. This guide covers what the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) says, which other state licenses can still apply to a mold job, and the questions worth asking any company before you sign.

Does Alabama have a mold law?

Not a mold-specific one. The ADPH Indoor Air Quality page puts it plainly: "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."

ADPH's Indoor Air Quality program says it "provides technical support to individuals based on EPA's mold and moisture control guidelines." In other words, the state points homeowners to federal EPA guidance rather than writing its own mold rules. The EPA notes that "No EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores."

In practice, there is no state mold license number to look up and no state standard for when a home is "clear."

Do mold remediation companies need to be licensed in Alabama?

Not for mold work as such. In a 2019 flood-season release, ADPH said: "Alabama does not license mold remediation services or maintain a list of approved remediators." ADPH does publish an indoor air quality contractor list, but it carries this disclaimer: "No approval, recommendation, or accreditation of any kind is implied or intended."

So if a company tells you it is "state-licensed for mold" or "ADPH-approved," ask what exactly it means, because ADPH itself says no such license or approval exists. Private credentials do exist, and ADPH points homeowners toward them. Its Mold Facts page suggests "professional cleaners who are certified by the Institute of Inspecting, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification" (IICRC). Those are private training certifications, not state licenses, and you can ask any company to show you its current ones.

When does an Alabama contractor license apply to a mold job?

The cleanup itself (containment, removal and cleaning) is one thing. Putting the house back together afterward is another, and that is where Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) can come in.

Rebuild work over $10,000

Alabama Code § 34-14A-2(16) defines a residential home builder as someone who builds, or does "the repair, improvement, or reimprovement" of, a residence "when the cost of the undertaking exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000)." The same law defines the cost of the undertaking as "the total cost of the materials, labor, supervision, overhead, and profit." HBLB rules say residential remodelers fall within that definition.

For a mold job, the practical reading is this: if the contract includes rebuild work such as new drywall, insulation, subfloor or framing, and the total runs over $10,000, the company doing that work should hold an HBLB license. HBLB guidance does not mention mold specifically, and it is not settled whether a remediation-only job counts toward the $10,000. If your job is close to that line, call HBLB and ask (the board's number is 1-800-304-0853), and use the HBLB online licensee search to check a license number.

Roof repairs over $2,500

The same definition includes "a residential roofer when the cost of the undertaking exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)." Attic mold often starts with a roof leak. If the roof repair on your job is over $2,500, the roofer should be HBLB-licensed. See our attic mold guide for more on that situation.

HVAC mold: HACR certification

Mold in ductwork or on an air handler is a separate case. Alabama's Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR) rule 440-X-3-.02(3) says: "Certification by the Board is required for work involving air duct cleaning services, filter changing services, test and balance services, and the cleaning of heating, air conditioning or refrigeration equipment or systems."

So if a quote includes cleaning ducts, coils or the air handler, ask for the company's HACR certification. The EPA adds a practical warning while you wait: "Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building." Our post on mold in AC vents goes into more detail.

Older homes: asbestos and lead paint notes

Mold removal often means cutting out drywall, flooring or ceiling material. In older homes, those materials can raise two other sets of rules:

• Asbestos. According to the University of Alabama's Safe State program, accreditation "is required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to perform asbestos related activities within the state." Older drywall joint compound, flooring and popcorn ceilings are common places it turns up. Whether a particular residential tear-out triggers these rules depends on the job, so ask ADEM or the company if your home is older.
• Lead paint (homes built before 1978). ADPH says: "All firms which perform, or offer to perform, any of the lead-based paint renovation activities described in Alabama's lead rules must have certification from the Alabama Department of Public Health." If the job will disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home, ask whether the firm holds that certification.

The American Community Survey (2020–2024) puts the median year built at 1985 in Huntsville and 1977 in Decatur, so many local homes predate 1978.

Is there a mold disclosure law in Alabama?

No Alabama statute specifically requires sellers to disclose mold. For used homes, Alabama generally follows caveat emptor ("buyer beware"), with narrow court-made exceptions: for example, where a seller knows of a defect affecting health or safety, or where a buyer asks directly and the seller must answer truthfully about known defects. Whether mold fits those exceptions depends on the facts. Our guide to buying or selling a home with mold in Alabama covers this in more depth.

What about renters?

Alabama's landlord-tenant law does not mention mold, but § 35-9A-204 requires landlords to keep the premises "in a habitable condition," and § 35-9A-401 sets out a 14-day written notice process for breaches "materially affecting health and safety." Details are in our post on Alabama landlord duties and mold.

Questions to ask any mold company in Alabama

Because there is no state mold license, your own questions do the job a license check would do elsewhere. 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.

• What mold training or certifications do your people hold, and can I see current copies? (EPA: "make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.")
• Can I see a certificate of insurance?
• Does this quote include rebuild work, and if it is over $10,000, what is the HBLB license number?
• If ducts or HVAC equipment are involved, are you HACR-certified?
• Where is the moisture coming from, and how will it be fixed? (EPA: "If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.")
• What is the written scope: containment, what gets removed, how it is cleaned, and how the work is checked at the end?
• If my home is older, how will you handle possible asbestos or lead paint?

How this site fits in

We connect Huntsville-area homeowners with independent local mold inspection and remediation companies for free, no-obligation quotes. We do not do the work or certify anyone, so use the questions above with every company. To compare prices first, see our mold remediation cost guide and our mold removal page. When you are ready, request free quotes; we usually reply the same day.

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