Call Recording Laws in Alabama 2025

Last Updated: February 17, 2025

Alabama has a one-party consent law. This means that if you are on a call where every participant is located in Alabama, your consent is enough to record it under Code of Alabama § 13A-11-30 . However, if any party on the call is located in a state with stricter consent rules, you must obtain consent from all parties.

Overview of Alabama Call Recording Law

Alabama law states that it is illegal to record or intercept a private communication without permission from at least one participant ( Code of Alabama § 13A-11-30 ). If you are involved in a call and every participant is in Alabama, your consent is sufficient. If not, additional consent may be required.

Is It Legal to Record a Call in Alabama?

Yes. If you are directly involved in a conversation and all participants are in Alabama, your consent is enough to record the call. However, if the call includes participants from other states with stricter laws, you should obtain consent from everyone.

Alabama One-Party Consent or Two-Party Consent?

Alabama is a one-party consent state. This means that if every participant is located in Alabama, only one party’s consent is required (see Code of Alabama § 13A-11-30 ). For calls involving parties in different states, be sure to follow the strictest applicable law.

Penalties for Illegal Recording in Alabama

Failing to follow Alabama's one-party consent rule can result in criminal charges. Under Code of Alabama § 13A-11-31 , this offense is considered criminal eavesdropping—a Class A misdemeanor that can lead to up to one year in jail and substantial fines.

Federal vs. Alabama Law

Federal law also generally allows one-party consent under 18 U.S.C. § 2511 . When a call involves parties from different states, it is safest to adhere to the most restrictive applicable law. For a broader view, see our Call Recording Laws by State guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alabama a one-party consent state?

Yes. Code of Alabama § 13A-11-30 confirms that only one person’s consent is required if all participants are in Alabama.

Can I record calls in Alabama without telling the other person?

Yes. If you are on a call where every participant is in Alabama, your consent is sufficient. If not, you should obtain consent from all parties.

What happens if I illegally record someone in Alabama?

Violating one-party consent laws can lead to a Class A misdemeanor charge for criminal eavesdropping, which can mean up to one year in jail and large fines ( Code of Alabama § 13A-11-31 ).

What if my call involves parties in different states?

Always follow the strictest applicable law. If any participant is in a state that requires everyone’s consent, obtain consent from everyone.

Additional Resources

For more details, visit: Code of Alabama § 13A-11-30 , 18 U.S.C. § 2511 , or see our Call Recording Laws by State guide.

The information in this article is intended as a general guide and should not be taken as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult a lawyer.

About Chatwarden

Chatwarden is a set-it-and-forget-it call monitoring tool for small business and contractor owners who want to keep an eye on customer support calls without having to listen to them all.

Here’s how it works:

You connect Chatwarden to your existing phone system.
You upload any call-handling instructions or SOPs you want your team to follow.
Chatwarden checks each call for obvious issues like missed calls, poor sound quality, and dropped calls.
Chatwarden also checks for less obvious issues: Did your team help the customer? Did they give the correct info? Did they follow SOPs?
You get a breakdown for each call showing what your team does well and where they can improve.
If Chatwarden spots a critical issue (like a manager request or an upset customer) you get an email alert immediately.

Learn more at www.chatwarden.com