For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE SALE. A sale, conducted pursuant to this article, at the self-service storage facility, another suitable location selected by the operator, or on a publicly accessible website that conducts lien sales or personal property sales.
(2) DEFAULT. The failure by the occupant to perform on time any obligation or duty set forth in a rental agreement or in this article.
(3) ELECTRONIC MAIL. An electronic message or an executable program or computer file that contains an image of a message that is transmitted between two or more computers or electronic terminals and includes electronic messages that are transmitted within or between computer networks.
(4) EMERGENCY. Any occurrence or circumstance at or near a self-service storage facility which requires immediate action to avoid injury to persons or damage to property at or near the self-service storage facility including, but not limited to, a fire.
(5) LAST KNOWN ADDRESS. The postal address or electronic mail address provided by an occupant in a rental agreement or the postal address or electronic mail address provided by the occupant in a subsequent written notice of a change of address.
(6) LATE FEE. Any fee or charge assessed for the failure of an occupant to pay rent when due. The term does not include interest on a debt; expenses incurred in the collection of unpaid rent; expenses incurred for the preservation, sale, or disposition of personal property pursuant to this article; or costs associated with the enforcement of any other remedy provided by law or contract.
(7) LEASED SPACE. The individual storage space at a self-service storage facility which is rented to an occupant pursuant to a rental agreement.
(8) OCCUPANT. A person entitled to the use of leased space at a self-service storage facility under a rental agreement, or his or her successors or assigns.
(9) OPERATOR. The owner, operator, lessor, or sublessor of a self-service storage facility, or an agent of any of the foregoing, or any other person authorized to manage the facility or to receive rent from an occupant under a rental agreement. The term does not include a warehouseman if the warehouseman issues a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored.
(10) PERSONAL PROPERTY. Movable property not affixed to land. The term includes, but is not limited to, goods, wares, merchandise, motor vehicles, watercraft, household items, and furnishings.
(11) PROPERTY WHICH HAS NO COMMERCIAL VALUE. Property offered for sale in a commercially reasonable sale that receives no bid or offer.
(12) RENTAL AGREEMENT. Any written agreement or lease that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, or rules concerning the use and occupancy of leased space at a self-service storage facility.
(13) SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITY. Any real property used for renting or leasing individual storage spaces in which the occupants customarily store and remove their own personal property on a self-service basis.
(14) VERIFIED MAIL. Any method of mailing offered by the United States Postal Service or private delivery service that provides evidence of the mailing.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 8 - Commercial Law and Consumer Protection.
Chapter 15 - Public Warehouses.
Article 2A - Self-Service Storage Facilities Act.
Section 8-15-40 - Short Title.
Section 8-15-41 - Definitions.
Section 8-15-42 - Use of Leased Space for Residential Purposes Prohibited.
Section 8-15-43 - Access for Inspection or Repair of Leased Space.
Section 8-15-46 - Default by Occupant - Enforcement of Lien; Sale of Personal Property.
Section 8-15-47 - Risk of Loss or Damage to Personal Property.
Section 8-15-48 - Rights Provided by Article as Additional to Other Rights Allowed by Law.