Winston County Landlord-Tenant Law

Alabama landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Winston County Rental Market Overview

Winston County sits in the rugged Cumberland Plateau of northwest Alabama, a county of forested ridges, hardwood hollows, and the William B. Bankhead National Forest — one of Alabama’s most significant national forest lands — that covers a substantial portion of the county’s terrain. Known historically as the “Free State of Winston” for its staunchly Unionist population that refused to secede during the Civil War, the county retains an independent, self-reliant character that shapes its culture and economy today. Double Springs, the county seat with a population of roughly 1,000, is a small government and commercial town. Haleyville, the county’s largest city at approximately 4,200 residents, is the commercial hub and center of most rental activity. With a total population near 24,000, Winston County is a small rural county whose economy rests on timber, light manufacturing, and a small healthcare sector. Average two-bedroom rents in Haleyville and Double Springs range from approximately $600–$850, and the rental market is modest, working-class, and consistent rather than growing.

Landlord-tenant relationships in Winston County are governed by the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), Ala. Code § 35-9A-101 et seq. The county has no rent control ordinances and Alabama’s state preemption law prohibits local rent stabilization. Eviction actions are filed as Unlawful Detainer proceedings at Winston County District Court in Double Springs. The county sheriff executes writs of possession following a court judgment for the landlord.

Winston County Ordinances & Local Rules

Alabama State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

7

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

7

Days Notice (Violation)

21-35

Avg Total Days

$256

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 7-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate

Notice Period 7 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes

Days to Hearing 7-14 days

Days to Writ 7 days

Total Estimated Timeline 21-35 days

Total Estimated Cost $300-$500

⚠️ Watch Out

Alabama uses 7 BUSINESS days (not calendar days) for the nonpayment notice per §35-9A-421(b). No breach can be cured more than 2 times in any 12-month period (§35-9A-421(d)). Filing fees typically range from $200-$300 depending on county. Distraint for rent is abolished in Alabama (§35-9A-425).

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

Underground Landlord

📝 Alabama Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$256).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Alabama eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice. Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections. For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Alabama attorney or local legal aid organization.

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Underground Landlord

🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease: Alabama landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding tenant screening in Alabama — including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Alabama's eviction process, proper tenant screening can help you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.

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Winston County Landlord Guide: The Free State, Bankhead Forest, and North Alabama’s Plateau Country

Winston County’s identity is rooted in a history of independence and self-determination that stretches back to the Civil War, when the county’s strongly Unionist population refused to follow Alabama out of the Union — earning the region its enduring nickname, the “Free State of Winston.” Today that independent spirit manifests in a county culture that values self-reliance, community bonds, and hard work, and in an economy grounded in timber, light manufacturing, healthcare, and the natural resources of the William B. Bankhead National Forest. For landlords, Winston County offers a stable, working-class rental market in Haleyville and a sparse rural market across the rest of the county, with the steady demand that comes from an area with limited housing alternatives and residents who value consistent, decent landlords.

Haleyville: The County’s Rental Center

Haleyville, with a population of approximately 4,200, is Winston County’s commercial and employment hub, home to Northwest Alabama Medical Center, manufacturing employers, and the retail and service businesses that anchor the county’s commercial life. The city is also historically significant as the site of the world’s first 911 emergency call, placed on February 16, 1968 — a piece of local history that gives Haleyville a pride of place disproportionate to its size. For landlords, Haleyville’s employment base in healthcare, manufacturing, and retail creates a consistent demand for two- and three-bedroom single-family rental homes in the $650–$850 range. Tenant turnover in Haleyville tends to be low among stable-employment households, and well-maintained properties with responsive management experience extended tenancy durations that keep vacancy and re-leasing costs low.

Bankhead National Forest and Rural Property Considerations

The William B. Bankhead National Forest, covering over 180,000 acres primarily in Lawrence and Winston counties, creates a distinctive backdrop for rural properties in western and central Winston County. Properties adjacent to the forest boundary may appeal to outdoor recreation enthusiasts, hunters, and nature-oriented tenants who value the access to hiking trails, fishing streams, and hunting areas that the national forest provides. Landlords with rural properties near the forest should be clear in their leases about the property’s boundaries — tenants should understand exactly what land is included with the rental and that national forest land adjacent to the property is public land with its own rules, not an extension of the tenant’s private use area. Rural properties throughout Winston County likely rely on private wells and septic systems, and the landlord’s maintenance obligations under § 35-9A-204 require keeping these systems in working order throughout the tenancy.

Winston County Alabama Landlord-Tenant Law: Complete Guide for Rental Owners in Haleyville, Double Springs, and the Free State

Winston County covers approximately 615 square miles of northwest Alabama’s Cumberland Plateau, a county of forested ridges, clear creeks, and the vast natural expanse of the William B. Bankhead National Forest. With a population of approximately 24,000, Winston County is a small rural county whose economy rests on timber harvesting, light manufacturing centered in Haleyville, healthcare at Northwest Alabama Medical Center, and the county government and school system employment that anchors public sector jobs across the county. Haleyville is the county’s commercial hub, and Double Springs — the county seat — is a small governmental center of approximately 1,000 residents. The rental market is modest and working-class, concentrated primarily in Haleyville and consistent in its demand from local employment rather than driven by growth or in-migration. Average rents for two-bedroom units in Haleyville range from approximately $650 to $850, and the county’s rural communities offer even more modest options for tenants seeking the lowest-cost housing in the region.

Winston County’s Employment Base and Tenant Profiles

The employment landscape in Winston County centers on three sectors: healthcare at Northwest Alabama Medical Center in Haleyville, light manufacturing at Haleyville’s industrial employers, and public sector employment in county government, the Winston County school system, and local municipal services. Healthcare and government employment generate the county’s most stable tenant profiles — salaried positions with predictable income, health benefits, and low turnover that translate directly into reliable rent payments and long tenancy durations. Manufacturing employment at Haleyville’s industrial facilities is also a consistent income source, though it carries the cyclical risk common to light manufacturing across rural Alabama, and landlords should use three months of income documentation rather than a single pay stub when screening manufacturing applicants. Timber industry employment — logging, hauling, and processing — is seasonal and variable, and tenants whose sole income source is timber work carry higher income-volatility risk than healthcare or government employees.

Rural Property Management and Well/Septic Compliance

A substantial portion of Winston County’s rental inventory — particularly outside Haleyville — consists of rural properties on private wells and septic systems. Alabama’s URLTA habitability obligations under § 35-9A-204 require landlords to maintain functioning water supply and sewage disposal regardless of whether those systems are municipal or private. For well properties, annual bacterial testing at a minimum — and periodic testing for nitrates, heavy metals, and other contaminants depending on the property’s proximity to agricultural or industrial activity — is the standard protocol. For septic systems, regular pumping and inspection according to the system’s design capacity is required to keep the system operational. Providing tenants with written instructions about proper septic use at move-in, documenting the system’s condition, and scheduling regular service are the hallmarks of responsible rural landlord management. Winston County’s forested terrain and high water table in some areas can make septic repair expensive if a system fails — proactive maintenance is far less costly than emergency remediation.

Security Deposits, Eviction, and URLTA Compliance

Alabama’s security deposit cap of one month’s rent under Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 applies throughout Winston County. The deposit must be returned within 60 days of the end of the tenancy along with an itemized accounting of any deductions. A thorough move-in inspection checklist signed by the tenant and a complete photographic record establish the baseline condition documentation needed to defend deductions at move-out. When eviction becomes necessary in Winston County, the landlord files an Unlawful Detainer action at Winston County District Court in Double Springs, following the standard 7-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate for nonpayment under § 35-9A-421(a) or 14-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate for lease violations under § 35-9A-421(b). The Winston County Sheriff’s Office enforces writs of possession after a court judgment for the landlord. The full process typically concludes within three to six weeks. Self-help eviction is prohibited under Alabama law — no matter the circumstances, the legal process through District Court is the only lawful path.

Winston County is the final county in this complete guide to Alabama landlord-tenant law. Across all 67 Alabama counties — from the Huntsville tech corridor and Mobile’s deep-water port to the Black Belt’s rural counties and the mountain communities of the Cumberland Plateau — Alabama’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act provides a consistent framework that protects both landlords and tenants when followed correctly. The fundamentals never change: written leases, thorough move-in documentation, prompt maintenance, and the District Court process for eviction. This guide is for general informational purposes only. For questions about a specific Winston County tenancy or eviction, consult a licensed Alabama attorney or contact Winston County District Court in Double Springs.