Eviction Laws in Madison, Alabama
Madison is one of Alabama’s fastest-growing and most affluent cities, located just west of Huntsville in Madison County. With a median household income well above the state average, Madison draws families and professionals working in the Huntsville metro’s aerospace, defense, and technology sectors — including Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park. Madison shares the same county courthouse and procedures as Huntsville. The city’s low vacancy rate and rising rents mean landlords should act quickly to protect high-value rental properties when issues arise.
Alabama landlords operate under the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AURLTA), Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 through 35-9A-603. Nonpayment of rent requires a 7-business-day Notice to Pay or Quit. Curable lease violations require a 7-business-day Notice to Cure or Quit. Non-curable violations (illegal drugs, firearms offenses, application fraud, or repeat violations within 6 months) require a 7-day Unconditional Notice to Quit. Month-to-month tenancies without cause require a 30-day notice. No breach may be cured more than twice in any 12-month period without the landlord’s written consent. Self-help evictions are illegal in Alabama — landlords who change locks, shut off utilities, or remove belongings without a court order face damages of up to three months’ rent plus attorney’s fees.
Madison — Local Rules That Affect Landlords
Same Court as Huntsville. Madison and Huntsville are both in Madison County. All eviction filings go to the Madison County District Court in Huntsville. Procedures, filing fees, and timelines are identical for both cities.
Military Tenants. Like Huntsville, Madison has a significant population of defense contractors and military families connected to Redstone Arsenal. Verify SCRA status before filing.
Writ of Possession Service Fee. The Writ of Possession service fee in Madison County is approximately $20.
No Local Rent Control. Alabama does not permit local rent control ordinances. Madison landlords set market-rate rents without municipal caps.
Madison County District Court — Where Landlords File
Madison landlords file Unlawful Detainer actions at Madison County District Court, located at 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801, phone (256) 532-3330, open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Pay the filing fee at the clerk’s window (~$247-$300 depending on service method and whether unpaid rent is also claimed). The court schedules a hearing after the tenant’s 7-day answer period. After a judgment in the landlord’s favor, a 7-day automatic stay applies before a Writ of Possession can issue. The tenant has 7 days to appeal to Circuit Court. After the stay period, the landlord requests a Writ of Possession — the sheriff schedules a lockout, typically 7-10 days after the writ issues. Self-help eviction is illegal in Alabama.
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