Ala. Code § 45-8A-23.090

The city manager shall be chosen by the council solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to his or her actual experience in, or his or her knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his or her office as hereinafter set forth. At the time of his or her appointment, he or she may but need not be a resident of the city or state, but during his or her tenure of office he or she shall reside within the city.