Montgomery, AL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Private dwelling minimum
- 1 toilet facility (§ 14-257(1))
- Two-family dwelling minimum
- 1 per family (§ 14-257(2))
- Class B multiple dwelling minimum
- 1 per 15 occupants (§ 14-257(4))
- Sewer connection trigger
- Within 100 ft, available 60 days (§ 14-260)
- Inspecting authority
- Health officer and authorized city agents
Summary
Montgomery, Alabama sets a minimum number of toilets landlords must install by dwelling type, from one per private dwelling up to one per 15 occupants in larger multi-family buildings, under City Code Article VII.
The owner or agent of every dwelling or building in the city of a class described in this section shall keep installed therein toilet facilities in number not less than that specified for the class to which such dwelling or building belongs: (1)Private dwelling: one.(2)Two-family dwelling: one for each family.(3)Class A multiple dwelling: one for each apartment or suite, or one for each 15 persons or fraction thereof. Where a pit privy is used, there shall be provided not less than seven cubic feet of pit space per capita.(4)Class B multiple dwelling: one for each 15 or fewer persons whom such building is designed to accommodate or who are actually occupying such building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 14-257 fixes minimum toilet counts by building class in Montgomery, Alabama: a private dwelling needs at least one toilet facility; a two-family dwelling needs one for each family; a Class A multiple dwelling needs one for each apartment or suite, or one for each 15 persons or fraction thereof if a pit privy is used, with not less than seven cubic feet of pit space per capita; and a Class B multiple dwelling needs one for each 15 or fewer persons the building is designed to accommodate or that actually occupy it.
Section 14-255 requires the owner or person in control of any toilet facility to keep it clean and sanitary at all times, free of foul or offensive odors, and § 14-254 declares any water closet, septic tank, privy or dry closet not built, located, equipped or maintained per the article to be unsanitary, a menace to public health and a nuisance subject to abatement. Section 14-256 lets the health officer and other authorized city agents inspect any premises, dwelling or building at reasonable hours to check compliance on construction, location, use and maintenance of these facilities.
Where sanitary sewer service reaches within 100 feet of the property line and has been available for 60 days, § 14-260 requires the owner to connect; § 14-261 requires a septic tank where sewer is unavailable but pressurized water is within 100 feet; and § 14-266 makes it unlawful to use a defective water closet that cannot flush completely, putting the repair duty on the owner or agent. Section 14-265 separately bars an owner or agent from disconnecting the water supply to any water closet in an apartment, suite or unit of a two-family or multiple dwelling.
Violations & Fines
Operating with fewer facilities than § 14-257 requires, or letting one become unsanitary under § 14-255, exposes the owner to abatement action under § 14-254 as a declared nuisance, plus the general Code § 1-6 penalty: a fine of $1.00 to $500.00, up to six months in jail or hard labor, or a combination, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many toilets must a Montgomery rental have?
Can the city inspect a rental's bathroom facilities?
What if my landlord lets the toilet stay unsanitary?
Must a rental connect to city sewer instead of a septic tank?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery
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