Do you need a license to be a property manager in Alabama?

In Alabama, managing or renting property for others for pay is real estate work that needs a license: the real estate salesperson license, issued by the Alabama Real Estate Commission. Leasing apartments for others generally needs a license too. The exact wording, with any exceptions, is below.

Managing property for others"790-X-1-.03 License Requirements. (1) Rental leasing and/or property management services for Alabamareal estate licensees include but are not limited to: (a) Rent or lease real estate situated within the State ofAlabama. (b) Offer to rent or lease real estate situated within the Stateof Alabama. (c) Negotiate, or attempt to negotiate, the rental or leasing ofreal estate situated within the State of Alabama." official source
On-site and employee exemptions"(1) Any owner in the managing of, or in consummating a real estate transaction involving, his or her own real estate or the real estate of his or her spouse , or child , or parent." "(2) Code of Ala.1975, § 34-27-2(b)(1), exempts owners of realproperty from the licensing requirements of Articles 1 and 2 ofChapter 27 when managing his own property or consummating a realestate transaction involving his own property. As used in Code ofAla. 1975, § 34-27-2(b)(1), the term "owner" is defined as theindividual owner himself, or in the case of a corporation orpartnership, a partner or corporate officer, who has authority toand does make management decisions affecting the overall policy ofthe corporation or partnership." "(6) Persons performing general clerical or administrative duties for a broker so long as the person does not physically show listed property." "(7) Persons acting as the manager for an apartment building or complex. However, this exception shall not apply to a person acting as an on-site manager of a condominium building or complex." official source
Leasing agents"790-X-1-.03 License Requirements. (1) Rental leasing and/or property management services for Alabamareal estate licensees include but are not limited to: (a) Rent or lease real estate situated within the State ofAlabama. (b) Offer to rent or lease real estate situated within the Stateof Alabama. (c) Negotiate, or attempt to negotiate, the rental or leasing ofreal estate situated within the State of Alabama." official source
Licensing agencyAlabama Real Estate Commission official source
CredentialReal estate salesperson license / real estate broker license official source

Checked against official Alabama sources on Oct 27, 2026. This is not legal advice: rules change and exemptions depend on who employs you, so confirm with the licensing agency. This page lists only what we could confirm on an official page.

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