The state-level rules every owner and walker in Alabama should know. Local leash lengths, licensing and off-leash rules are set by each city — find those on the city pages below.
Alabama's strict liability is property-based — it applies only when the bite is on or near the owner's property — with a first-bite damages cap, and its harsh contributory-negligence rule bars a victim even 1% at fault.
Alabama (Ala. Code § 3-6-1) has an unusual, geographically limited strict-liability rule: the owner is strictly liable only when the bite happens on property the owner owns or controls, or when the victim was just chased off that property by the dog. A bite on a public sidewalk or in a park generally falls outside § 3-6-1 and proceeds under common-law one-bite / negligence instead.
Two more features: a first-bite damages limiter (§ 3-6-3) — even when § 3-6-1 applies, if the owner proves they had no prior knowledge of the dog's viciousness, the victim recovers economic damages only (no pain and suffering) for that first incident. And the at-large companion statute (§ 3-1-5), adopted in many counties, requires dogs to be confined or accompanied off-premises — an off-property loose-dog bite is negligence per se where it is adopted. Emily's Law (§ 3-6A) is the dangerous-dog court process, with felony exposure.
⚠️ Alabama is a contributory-negligence state — a victim 1% at fault recovers nothing, which helps a defendant but is brutal if you are the one hurt. The personal-injury limit is two years (§ 6-2-38).
This is general information about Alabama law, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the official state and municipal sources.