Ala. Code §§ 24-8-1 to 24-8-15 § 24-8-10
Powers of Office.
Operative Text
The office may do any of the following: (1) Promulgate regulations necessary for the enforcement of this chapter which shall not exceed the requirements of the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act (Pub. L. No. 100-430) and any subsequent amendments to it. (2) Make studies with respect to the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices in representative urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the state. (3) Publish and disseminate reports, recommendations, and information derived from the studies. (4) Cooperate with and render technical assistance to public or private agencies, organizations, and institutions within the state which are formulating or carrying on programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices. (5) Cooperate with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to achieve the purposes of that department and cooperate with other federal, state, and local agencies and departments. (6) Accept reimbursement for services rendered to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (7) Accept gifts or bequests, grants, or other donations, public or private. (8) Institute proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, for cause shown, to seek appropriate temporary or preliminary injunctive relief pending final administrative disposition of a complaint. (9) Contract with persons and organizations to perform services as it may consider reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter and to accept reimbursement for services rendered pursuant to the contract. However, the office shall not delegate its decision making authority to a nongovernmental agency. This decision making authority includes acceptance of complaints, approval of conciliation agreements, dismissal of complaints, final disposition of complaints, or other enforcement powers granted by this chapter. (10) Make contractual agreements within the scope and authority of this chapter with any agency of the federal government. An agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development may include provisions under which the office shall refrain from processing a charge in this state in any class specified in the agreement. (11) Affirmatively administer the programs and activities to further the policies of this chapter.
Section 24-8-10 of the Alabama Fair Housing Act enumerates the powers granted to the state office responsible for enforcing fair housing law. These powers include issuing regulations (capped at federal Fair Housing Amendments Act standards), conducting research on discriminatory housing practices, publishing findings, providing technical assistance, cooperating with federal and state agencies including HUD, accepting funding and donations, seeking emergency court relief during pending complaints, and entering into contracts. Critically, the office may not hand off its core decision-making authority—such as accepting or dismissing complaints and approving settlements—to any non-governmental entity.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 24-8-10, the Alabama fair housing office has broad investigative and enforcement tools at its disposal, including the ability to seek temporary or preliminary injunctive relief in court while a complaint is still being processed. Property owners and managers operating in Alabama generally maintain practices that align with both state fair housing regulations and the federal 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, since the office's rules cannot exceed those federal standards. Staying informed about the office's published reports and recommendations—authorized under § 24-8-10(3)—can help operators understand where enforcement attention is focused across urban, suburban, and rural markets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 24-8-10 establishes that the Alabama fair housing office holds meaningful enforcement authority, including the power to go to court to seek emergency injunctive relief on behalf of complainants before a case is fully resolved. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices may file a complaint with the office, which retains sole authority under § 24-8-10(9) to accept, process, and make final decisions on those complaints—it cannot delegate that responsibility away. Tenant-rights organizations and fair housing advocacy groups, some of which may receive technical assistance under this same provision, can be a resource for understanding how the complaint process works.
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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