Ala. Code §§ 21-7-1, 21-7-9 § 21-7-1

Declaration of Policy; Definitions.

In Force
Verified 10/16/2026 · Next check 10/23/2026
effective 10/16/2026AlabamaService Animals (ADA)

Operative Text

Ala. Code §§ 21-7-1, 21-7-9 § 21-7-1
(a) It is the policy of this state to encourage and enable the blind, the visually impaired, and the physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in meaningful employment.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) HANDLER. Includes an individual with a disability and a trainer.

(2) HOUSING ACCOMMODATION. Any real property or portion thereof which is used or occupied, or intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more individuals, but does not include any single-family residence, the occupants of which rent, lease, or furnish for compensation not more than one room therein.

(3) INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY. As defined by 42 U.S.C. §12102, and further defined as an individual who has a physical or mental impairment, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability, that substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual.

(4) MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITY. A function such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

(5) PHYSICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT. A physiological disorder or condition, disfigurement, or anatomical loss that affects one or more bodily functions, or a mental or psychological disorder that meets one of the diagnostic categories specified in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, such as an intellectual or developmental disability, organic brain syndrome, traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, or mental illness.

(6) PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION. A common carrier, airplane, motor vehicle, railroad train, motor bus, streetcar, boat, or other public conveyance or mode of transportation, a hotel, a timeshare that is a transient public lodging establishment, a lodging place, a place of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all individuals. The term does not include air carriers covered by the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, 49 U.S.C. Section 41705, and by regulations adopted by the United States Department of Transportation to implement that act.

(7) SERVICE ANIMAL. a. As defined by 28 C.F.R. §35.104, and further defined as an animal that is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The work done or tasks performed shall be directly related to the disability of the individual and may include, but are not limited to all of the following: Guiding an individual who is visually impaired or blind; alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, assisting with mobility or balance, alerting and protecting an individual who is having a seizure, retrieving objects; alerting an individual to the presence of allergens; providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to an individual with a mobility disability; helping an individual with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors; reminding an individual with mental illness to take prescribed medications; calming an individual with post traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack; and doing other specific work, or performing other special tasks. b. The term shall include a dog owned, used, or in training by any police or fire department, rescue or first response squad, ambulance corps, or search and rescue organization for the purpose of locating criminals and lost individuals, or detecting illegal substances, explosives, cadavers, accelerants, or school or correctional facility contraband. A service animal may not be a pet. For the purposes of Sections 21-7-3, 21-7-4, and 21-7-5, the term is limited to a dog or a miniature horse. The crime-deterrent effect of the presence of an animal and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

(8) TRAINER. Any of the following:

a. An owner with a disability who is actually involved in the training process.

b. An individual who is competent and qualified to train a service animal, has at least one year’s experience training animals, and who is actually involved in the training process.

c. An individual having photo identification stating that he or she is an employee, volunteer, agent, or graduate of a school for seeing eye, hearing, service, or guide dogs or an organization generally recognized by agencies involved in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities as reputable and competent to provide dogs with training, and who is actually involved in the training process.

(9) TRANSIENT PUBLIC LODGING ESTABLISHMENT. Any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of buildings that is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or that is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Alabama Code §§ 21-7-1 and 21-7-9 establish the state's foundational policy of enabling blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled individuals to participate fully in social, economic, and employment life. The provisions also lay out precise definitions—such as 'service animal,' 'individual with a disability,' 'housing accommodation,' and 'public accommodation'—that govern how the rest of Chapter 21-7 is interpreted and applied. These definitions draw on both federal standards (including the ADA and 28 C.F.R. § 35.104) and Alabama-specific language, and they determine which animals, people, and places fall within the chapter's protections.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 16, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers overseeing housing accommodations as defined under Ala. Code §§ 21-7-1 and 21-7-9 generally familiarize themselves with the chapter's definitions—particularly what qualifies as a 'service animal,' who counts as a 'handler,' and what types of properties constitute a 'housing accommodation'—because these terms directly shape obligations throughout the rest of Chapter 21-7. Compliant operators typically note that emotional support animals and pets do not meet the statutory definition of 'service animal' under this chapter, and that the definition is limited to dogs and miniature horses in the contexts covered by §§ 21-7-3 through 21-7-5. Understanding these foundational definitions helps operators apply the chapter's requirements consistently across their properties.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

For tenants with disabilities in Alabama, Ala. Code §§ 21-7-1 and 21-7-9 establish the definitional framework that determines whether a person, animal, or dwelling falls within the chapter's protections. Tenants who believe they qualify as an 'individual with a disability' and whose animal meets the 'service animal' definition may find these provisions relevant when a housing issue arises under Chapter 21-7. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help individuals understand how these definitions apply to their circumstances and what enforcement paths—such as raising a violation as a defense or filing a complaint—may be available.

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 16, 2026
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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

42 U.S.C. § 12102
Not yet ingested
28 C.F.R. § 35.104
Not yet ingested
Ala. Code § 21-7-3
Not yet ingested

References In

No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.

Related Rules

§ 960.705
§ 960.705 Animals that assist, support, or provide service to persons with disabilities.
§ 20-131.04
Service animal; access to housing accommodations; terms and conditions.
§ 363A.19
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PROHIBITED.

Source Information

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Fetched:Oct 16, 2026, 11:48 AM UTC