Alabama call recording law
Is Alabama a one-party consent state?
One-party consent
Yes. Alabama is a one-party consent state. Its law defines eavesdropping as recording the private communication of others without the consent of at least one of the people in it, so one participant’s consent is enough (Ala. Code § 13A-11-30).
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 7 quoted facts from official pages
Alabama at a glance
- Phone calls
- One-party consent
- Criminal penalty
- Criminal eavesdropping is a Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000.
- Last checked
- October 13, 2026
The law
- Ala. Code § 13A-11-30(1) (definition of eavesdrop) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Ala. Code § 13A-11-31 (criminal eavesdropping) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Ala. Code § 13A-11-35 (divulging illegally-obtained information) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Ala. Code §§ 13A-5-7, 13A-5-12 (misdemeanor sentences and fines) (official source, opens in a new tab)
Penalties
- Criminal
- Criminal eavesdropping is a Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000. Using or divulging information obtained through criminal eavesdropping is a Class B misdemeanor.
What this means for a business that records calls
Callers can be in any state. The state-by-state table compares every state's rule, and the disclosure generator writes a plain notice sentence such as “This call may be recorded.” Whether a notice is enough under Alabama's law is a question for a lawyer licensed in Alabama.
Recording notices on CallFlux numbers
CallFlux plays a recording notice to callers on every tracking number that records, before the call connects.
What the official sources say
Eavesdropping is defined as recording a private communication of others without the consent of at least one participant (one-party consent).
“any part of the private communication of others without the consent of at least one of the persons engaged in the communication”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Using any device to eavesdrop is the crime of criminal eavesdropping, whether or not the person is present.
“A person commits the crime of criminal eavesdropping if he intentionally uses any device to eavesdrop, whether or not he is present at the time.”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Criminal eavesdropping is a Class A misdemeanor.
“Criminal eavesdropping is a Class A misdemeanor.”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
A Class A misdemeanor carries a jail term of not more than one year.
“For a Class A misdemeanor, not more than one year.”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
A Class A misdemeanor carries a fine of not more than $6,000.
“For a Class A misdemeanor, not more than $6,000”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Using or divulging information obtained through criminal eavesdropping is a separate Class B misdemeanor.
“knowingly or recklessly uses or divulges information obtained through criminal eavesdropping or criminal surveillance”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Divulging illegally-obtained information is a Class B misdemeanor.
“Divulging illegally-obtained information is a Class B misdemeanor.”
Source: alison.legislature.state.al.us (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Alabama call recording questions
Is Alabama a one-party consent state?
Yes. Alabama is a one-party consent state. Its law defines eavesdropping as recording the private communication of others without the consent of at least one of the people in it, so one participant’s consent is enough (Ala. Code § 13A-11-30).
What is the penalty for recording a call illegally in Alabama?
Criminal eavesdropping is a Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000. Using or divulging information obtained through criminal eavesdropping is a Class B misdemeanor.