Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5 § 6-5-155.7
Civil Penalty.
Operative Text
In any action brought under this division, the complainants may request, and the court at its discretion may order a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day the nuisance exists, with the penalty payable to the general fund of the municipality in which the nuisance was located, or one-half to the state and one-half to the general fund of the county if situated outside the boundaries of a municipality.
Under Alabama Code § 6-5-155.7, when a nuisance action is brought under this division, a court has the discretionary authority to impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each day the nuisance continues to exist. Any penalty ordered is paid not to the complaining party but to a public fund — either the municipality's general fund if the nuisance is within city limits, or split equally between the state and the county if it is in an unincorporated area. The provision gives courts flexibility in deciding whether to impose the penalty and in what amount, up to the stated daily maximum.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a nuisance action under Alabama Code § 6-5-155.7 should be aware that a court can order penalties accumulating at up to $1,000 per day for as long as a nuisance condition persists. Operators who promptly identify and remediate conditions that could be characterized as nuisances under this division generally reduce their exposure to extended daily penalties. Maintaining documentation of inspection schedules, repair timelines, and corrective actions taken is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating good-faith compliance efforts.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Alabama Code § 6-5-155.7 is part of a division that allows complainants — which can include affected community members — to bring nuisance actions and request that a court impose daily civil penalties against those responsible for maintaining a nuisance. While the penalty itself flows to a public fund rather than directly to tenants, the provision is one tool within the broader nuisance-abatement framework that can be used to pressure resolution of ongoing harmful conditions. Tenants dealing with persistent nuisance conditions may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this provision and others in the division might apply to their circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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