Title 11 — Title 11

6,000 Inhabitants; Consolidation or Abolishment of Offices. (a) In cities having a population of more than 6,000, there shall be elected by the council, at its first regular meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable, a city treasurer and a city clerk, who shall hold office unt…

Inhabitants; Filling of Vacancies in Council Generally. In cities having a population of less than 6,000 and in towns, the council shall elect a clerk and fix the salary and term of office, and may determine by ordinance the other officers of the city or town, their salary, the m…

(a) Except as provided in Section 11-43-2 as it relates to the legislative functions of the mayor in cities and towns having a population of 12,000 or more but less than 25,000 inhabitants according to the most recent or any subsequent federal decennial census, in cities having a…

Vacancies in the office of the aldermen in any city or town shall be filled by the council at the next regular meeting or any subsequent meeting of the council, the person so elected to hold for the unexpired term. History: (Acts 1931, No. 371, p. 436; Code 1940, T. 37, §427.)

Filling of Vacancies in Offices of Mayor, President, and President Pro Tempore of Council. (a) In case of the absence of the mayor from a city of 12,000 or more inhabitants or his inability to serve on account of sickness or any other good reason, the president of the council or …

All legislative powers and other powers granted to cities and towns shall be exercised by the council, except those powers conferred on some officers by law or ordinance. The council shall perform the duties required by this title and other applicable provisions of law. History: …

The members of such council shall, on the first Monday in November after their election, assemble and organize the council. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. 37, §429; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 910, §4; Act 2006-354, p. 937, §2.)

All elections of officers shall be made viva voce, and a concurrence of a majority of the members to the council shall be required, and all members of the council may vote any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. On the vote resulting in an election or appointment, t…

The council shall fix by ordinance the terms of service, not to exceed the term of the mayor, of all the officers appointed or elected whose terms are not prescribed by law. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. 37, §429; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 910, §4.)

The council shall prescribe by an ordinance the powers to be exercised and the duties to be performed by the officers appointed or elected so far as such duties and powers are not prescribed by law. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. 37, §429; Acts 1961, …

In all towns or cities, a majority of the whole number of members to which such corporation is entitled, including the mayor in towns and cities of less than 12,000 population, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. …

Temporary Chairman or Election of President Pro Tempore. The council shall determine the time and place of holding its meetings, which at all times shall be open to the public, and, in towns and cities of less than 12,000 population, in the absence of the mayor, shall appoint a t…

Designation of Persons to Administer Oaths, Issue Warrants, and Approve Appearance Bonds. The council may provide for a tax assessor, tax collector, chief of police, and chief of the fire department and shall specifically prescribe their duties. The council shall designate the pe…

Having Less Than 5,000 Inhabitants; Section in Pari Materia with Section 36-27-6. (a) Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the governing body of any municipality, with a population of less than 5,000 persons, by resolution duly adopted, may abolish or create a civil service s…

two counties, which has a population equal to or greater than 25,000 according to the last decennial census and which was subject, on January 1, 2023, to a county personnel board. (b)(1) The governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, may opt out from the jurisdiction of a co…

Rescheduling Meetings. (a) There shall be at least two regular meetings of the council in each month, except that in towns, as defined in Section 11-40-6, there shall be at least one regular meeting of the council in each month; but provided, however, the council of any town may,…

The council may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as it may prescribe. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. 37, §429; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 910, §4.)

The council shall determine the rules of its own proceedings and keep a journal thereof, which shall be open to the inspection and examination of all citizens and shall have the force and effect of a record, and a copy thereof, certified by the clerk, shall be prima facie evidenc…

Municipal Contracts, Etc.; Penalty. (a) No member of any city or town council shall, during the time for which he has been elected, be appointed to any municipal office which shall be created or the emoluments of which shall be increased during the term for which he shall have be…

No councilman shall be entitled to vote on any question in which he, his employer, or employee has a special financial interest at the time of voting or was so interested at the time of his election. For violating this section or Section 11-43-53, a councilman may be removed. His…

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the council shall have power to establish a police force and to organize the same under the general supervision of the chief of police, and to provide one or more station houses and to require all things necessary for the maintenance of…

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the council shall have the management and control of the finances and all of the property, real and personal, belonging to the city or town. History: (Code 1907, §1192; Code 1923, §1908; Code 1940, T. 37, §429; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 91…

Interest on Indebtedness. In all cities, the council shall appropriate the sums necessary for the expenditures of the several city departments and for the interest on its bonded and other indebtedness, not exceeding in the aggregate within 10 percent of its estimated receipts, an…

Etc. The council shall judge of the qualifications and election of the mayor, the president of the council and of each alderman, and such other officers as may be elected by the people, and the resolutions and ordinances that may be adopted by the council under this section shall…

Condemnation of Buildings, Etc.; Charges for Inspections. The council may prescribe fire limits in any city or town, and buildings of wood or other inflammable material shall not be erected therein. The council may do all things necessary to prevent conflagration and give securit…

Municipal Officers Generally. It may be provided by ordinance that any city or town officer, elected or appointed, shall receive a salary in lieu of all other compensation, and, in such cases, such officer shall not receive for his own use any fees or other compensation for his s…

Service by Public Utility Corporations. (a) The council may regulate and control or prohibit the erection of powder magazines within the police jurisdiction of the city or town, and prevent explosives and dangerous substances from being stored within the city or town and regulate…

Locomotives on Streets, Crossings, Highways, Etc. The council may prescribe reasonable regulations for the running of cars, trains, and locomotives on, over, upon, or across the streets, avenues, alleys, or public places of the city or town. The council may prescribe appliances o…

or Lease of Franchises and Disposition of Moneys Therefrom. The council shall regulate the use of the streets for the erection of telegraph, telephone, electric, and all other systems of wires and conduits and may require the same to be placed underground if deemed necessary for …

Any city or town council of this state not currently electing its members from single- member districts pursuant to state law may, not less than six months prior to the regular general municipal election, by ordinance adopted by a majority of the membership of the council, divide…

Districts in Class 3 Municipalities. Notwithstanding other provision of law, including but not limited to Section 11-43- 63, a Class 3 municipality may, by ordinance adopted by a majority of the membership of the council 90 days prior to the regular general municipal election, in…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vacancy on the city council of a Class 6 city may be filled by either of the following ways: (1) The city council may appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. (2) The city council may call a specia…

Class 6 Municipalities. (a) This section shall apply to any Class 6 municipality in which the city government on March 18, 2022, consists of a mayor and five members of the city council elected for staggered terms. (b) In any Class 6 municipality to which this section applies, th…

Municipalities. Not less than six months prior to each general election for the election of the city council, the city council of any Class 1 municipality may increase the compensation of the members of the city council to the amount prescribed by the city council payable in equa…

Disposition of Fees of Clerk. All employees of any city or town whose compensation is not fixed by law shall receive such salary or fees for their services as the council may by ordinance from time to time prescribe. For all attested certificates and transcripts, other than order…

of Class 1 Municipalities and Municipalities Having Population of 250,000 or More. (a) The council or other governing body of Class 1 municipalities in Alabama and all municipalities in Alabama having a population of 250,000 or more according to the last or any subsequent federal…

Body of Class 1 Municipalities. (a) In addition to the authority granted by Section 11-43-7.1, the council or other governing body of any Class 1 municipality may grant to the members of the council or governing body, an additional amount of money monthly for expenses incurred by…

(a) This section shall relate to only any Class 1 municipality. (b) Effective beginning the term of office commencing in 2017, the annual salary for each member of the city council of the Class 1 municipality shall be set and adjusted each regular four-year term by the State Pers…

The salaries of all officers of cities or towns except aldermen and councilmen shall be fixed by the municipal council or other governing body, but if there is a salary limit for such officers provided in the charter or laws governing the city or town, the same shall not be alter…

as Superintendent of Municipal Light, Water, Sewage, Etc., Systems. (a) The mayor shall have the powers and perform the duties provided by this title and by other applicable provisions of law and shall keep an office in the city or town. (b) The mayor shall receive such salary as…

Removal. The mayor shall be the chief executive officer, and shall have general supervision and control of all other officers and the affairs of the city or town, except as otherwise provided in this title. He shall have the power to appoint all officers whose appointment is not …

Administrative Assistants. The mayor of any Class 1 municipality or of any municipality having a population of 250,000 or more according to the last or any subsequent federal decennial census of this state is hereby authorized to employ for and on behalf of said municipality an e…

Ammunition, Etc., During Riots, Etc. Whenever any mob, riot, or tumult has occurred or there is reasonable cause to apprehend an occurrence thereof in any city, town, or village or in the vicinity thereof, the mayor shall have power to issue his proclamation ordering the closing …

The mayor shall see that all contracts with the town or city are faithfully kept or performed. He shall execute all deeds and contracts and bonds required in judicial proceedings for and on behalf of the city or town and no sureties shall be required on such bond. He shall perfor…

Financial Condition of Municipality. The mayor shall require reports to be made to him by any officer of the city or town at such times as he may direct or as may be prescribed by the council, and shall, at least once in every six months, make a statement to the council in writin…

until October 1, 2026.] AMENDED BY ACT 2026-509, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Municipal Audit Clarification Act. (b)(1) In a municipality with annual expenditures of three hundred thousand dollars…

to Attend Certain Meetings, Etc.; Applicability of Section. (a) The mayor or other chief executive officer of any Class 1 city shall be paid, in addition to the compensation provided by law for the office, the additional sum of $1,833.33 per month, payable in advance on the first…

Effective beginning the next term of office of the mayor of any Class 1 municipality, the annual salary for the mayor of any Class 1 municipality shall be increased by forty thousand dollars ($40,000) payable in equal monthly installments from the general fund of the municipality…

Municipalities. (a) Unless otherwise provided by local law, in the event of the absence or disability of the mayor of all Class 3 municipalities, the president of the council, or the president pro tempore of the council in case of absence or disability of the president of the cou…

Diminished During Term of Office. The fees, salary, compensation, or emoluments of any officer whose election or appointment is required or authorized by the applicable provisions of this title shall not be increased nor diminished during the term for which he shall have been ele…