Alabama Telemarketing and Cold Calling Laws
In Alabama, sales calls are allowed 8 a.m.–8 p.m., no Sundays or holidays, the state enforces a do-not-call list, and recording a call needs one party’s consent.
Alabama rules next to federal law
| Rule | Alabama | Federal baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Calling hours | Public Service Commission rules bar live and automated solicitation calls to Alabama consumers on Sundays and holidays; on other days calls are allowed only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(1)(b), (2)(b) | Telephone solicitations only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the called person’s local time.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(1) |
| State do-not-call list | The Alabama Public Service Commission keeps a state Do Not Call Register of residential subscribers (it also folds in Alabama numbers from the national registry); solicitors may not call registered numbers, must buy access ($500 a year) and update at least quarterly. Business numbers cannot be enrolled.Ala. Code § 8-19C-2; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.31 | No telephone solicitations to residential or wireless numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, subject to the rule’s exemptions such as an established business relationship.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(c)(2) |
| Autodialer and consent | No state consent requirement for autodialed calls was found. PSC rules require anyone using automatic dialing and announcing devices for solicitation to register with the PSC, bar sequential dialing, require a 10-second disconnect, and require the caller's name and phone number within 20 seconds and again at the end of the call.Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(1) | Autodialed or prerecorded telemarketing calls to wireless numbers need the called person’s prior express written consent.47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) |
| Caller ID | Solicitors may not knowingly block or circumvent a residential subscriber's caller ID. Live callers must give the name and phone number of the person or firm making or paying for the call within 10 seconds of answer.Ala. Code § 8-19C-5; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(2)(d), 770-X-5-.31(2)(b) | Telemarketers must transmit caller ID with a number that can be called back during business hours.47 C.F.R. § 64.1601(e) |
| Telemarketer registration | Commercial telephone sellers (soliciting consumer goods or services) must get a license from the Attorney General's Consumer Division before doing business in Alabama unless exempt; separately, users of automatic dialing and announcing devices must register with the PSC.Ala. Code §§ 8-19A-5, 8-19A-4; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(1)(l) | No general federal equivalent |
| Call recording consent | Recording a conversation is lawful with the consent of at least one party. However, PSC solicitation rules require telling the consumer and getting permission if the consumer's response on a solicitation call will be recorded.Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-30, 13A-11-31; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(2)(c) | Federal law allows recording when one party to the call consents.18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) |
| Business-to-business calls | The state Do Not Call Register covers only residential subscribers (business numbers cannot enroll), and the Telemarketing Act covers consumer goods or services. The licensing exemption for business-to-business sales is narrow: seller operating 3+ years under the same name with at least 50% repeat sales to existing businesses, or buyer reselling/using goods as promotional items or in manufacturing or recycling.Ala. Code §§ 8-19C-2(a), 8-19A-4(11); Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.31(6)(d) | No general federal equivalent |
Recent changes
- 2026: HB427 (statutory 8 a.m.-8 p.m. hours, 3-calls-per-24-hours cap, commercial and cell numbers on the state DNC list, misleading caller ID ban, $20,000 penalties) was introduced but failed; no enacted change found for 2021-2026.
Calling Alabama from a sales team
- Schedule call blocks in the prospect’s local time, not the rep’s.
- Check numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry and the Alabama list before each campaign, and honor opt-outs right away.
- If a call may cross into an all-party state, announce the recording anyway.
Trellus dials from the CRM list your reps already work, with each call logged back to the record. See the power and parallel dialer.
Alabama calling questions
What are the legal calling hours in Alabama?
Public Service Commission rules bar live and automated solicitation calls to Alabama consumers on Sundays and holidays; on other days calls are allowed only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(1)(b), (2)(b)). Federal law also limits telephone solicitations to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.
Does Alabama have its own do-not-call list?
The Alabama Public Service Commission keeps a state Do Not Call Register of residential subscribers (it also folds in Alabama numbers from the national registry); solicitors may not call registered numbers, must buy access ($500 a year) and update at least quarterly. Business numbers cannot be enrolled. (Ala. Code § 8-19C-2; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.31)
Is Alabama a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
Recording a conversation is lawful with the consent of at least one party. However, PSC solicitation rules require telling the consumer and getting permission if the consumer's response on a solicitation call will be recorded. (Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-30, 13A-11-31; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(2)(c))
Do Alabama telemarketing rules apply to business-to-business calls?
The state Do Not Call Register covers only residential subscribers (business numbers cannot enroll), and the Telemarketing Act covers consumer goods or services. The licensing exemption for business-to-business sales is narrow: seller operating 3+ years under the same name with at least 50% repeat sales to existing businesses, or buyer reselling/using goods as promotional items or in manufacturing or recycling. (Ala. Code §§ 8-19C-2(a), 8-19A-4(11); Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.31(6)(d))
Do telemarketers need to register in Alabama?
Commercial telephone sellers (soliciting consumer goods or services) must get a license from the Attorney General's Consumer Division before doing business in Alabama unless exempt; separately, users of automatic dialing and announcing devices must register with the PSC. (Ala. Code §§ 8-19A-5, 8-19A-4; Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(1)(l))
This page summarizes Alabama and federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice, rules change, and exemptions depend on the facts of your calls. Read the cited sources or ask counsel before relying on it.