Ala. Code §§ 6-5-155 to 6-5-156.5 § 6-5-155.9
Previous Conviction Not Required.
Operative Text
A previous conviction of the defendant, or anyone, shall not be required to demonstrate a drug-related nuisance.
Under Ala. Code § 6-5-155.9, a property or activity can be declared a drug-related nuisance without anyone first having been criminally convicted of a drug offense. The civil nuisance standard operates independently of the criminal justice process, meaning a court can find that a nuisance exists based on the evidence presented in the civil proceeding alone. This separates the civil remedy from any parallel criminal case that may or may not be pending.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ala. Code § 6-5-155.9, a compliant property owner or manager understands that a drug-related nuisance action can proceed against a property even if no tenant, guest, or other person has ever been criminally convicted. Operators who actively monitor their properties, respond to complaints, and document remediation efforts generally demonstrate that they are not permitting or maintaining a nuisance condition. Awareness that the civil nuisance threshold does not depend on a criminal conviction underscores the importance of proactive property management practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ala. Code § 6-5-155.9 means that a landlord or government authority seeking to have a property declared a drug-related nuisance does not need to point to a prior criminal conviction as a prerequisite. Tenants facing nuisance-based eviction or displacement actions should be aware that the absence of a criminal record does not automatically shield a property or its occupants from civil nuisance proceedings. Tenants in this situation may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Alabama's nuisance statutes to understand available defenses and options.
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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