Alaska Landlord Laws

In general, Alaska is a moderately landlord-friendly state. There are no rent control laws and landlords have flexibility in setting rental terms. However, the enforcement of several statutes under Alaska landlord tenant laws is designed to protect tenants. For landlords, this means balancing their property rights with strict compliance responsibilities.

Landlords in Alaska must still understand and follow numerous Alaska landlord laws that apply at the federal, state, and sometimes local levels. These laws cover everything from lease terms to maintenance obligations and eviction processes. Knowing the main rental laws in Alaska is vital before managing a rental property or enforcing lease conditions.

The Alaska landlord tenant laws are found in the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS § 34.03), as well as in this guide tailored to Alaska landlords and tenants. These statutes are subject to change, and the information below is not exhaustive. This article focuses on state-level regulations, so it's important to be aware that some municipalities may have additional ordinances or requirements. If you’re uncertain about a specific rental issue, it’s always wise to consult a licensed real estate attorney familiar with Alaska law.

Disclaimer: Innago does not provide legal advice. The content and materials provided in this article are for general informational purposes only and many not be the most up-to-date information.

Alaska Quick Facts

Rights and Responsibilities of Alaska Landlords and Tenants

Alaska landlords and tenants each have specific rights and responsibilities outlined in the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. These laws were made to promote fair rental practices, ensure safe living conditions, and clarify expectations for both parties. While the Alaska tenant rights and obligations you enforce should be detailed in the lease agreement, the lease must remain compliant with state law to be enforceable.

Below is an overview of key rights and responsibilities for landlords and tenants in Alaska.

Alaska landlords have the right to:

• Collect rent as agreed in the lease.
• Charge and retain security deposits within state limits.
• Deduct from the security deposit for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear.
• Screen tenants, including conducting background and credit checks.
• Enter the unit with 24 hours' notice for repairs, inspections, or showings.
• Enforce lease terms related to guests, pets, parking, and other conditions (so long as those terms are legal and outlined for renters in the lease agreement).
• Begin eviction proceedings for lease violations, including nonpayment of rent or illegal activity.

Alaska landlords are responsible for:

• Providing safe and habitable housing that complies with health and building codes.
• Making repairs in a timely manner, at least within 10 days for most issues and more quickly for emergencies.
• Maintaining all essential systems, such as electrical, plumbing, heating, and keeping them in working order.
• Maintaining common areas and providing adequate locks.
• Providing written notice before entering a tenant’s unit (except in emergencies).
• Returning the security deposit within 14 days if there are no deductions, or within 30 days if deductions are taken.
• Following all legal procedures when evicting a tenant.

Alaska tenants have the right to:

• Live in safe housing that is sanitary and habitable.
• Request timely repairs for any issues that threaten health or safety.
• Withhold rent or repair and deduct (in limited cases) if the landlord fails to address serious maintenance concerns.
• Privacy in their rental unit, including reasonable notice before landlord entry.
• File complaints or take legal action if the landlord violates housing laws or lease terms.
• Protection from retaliation after asserting legal rights or reporting unsafe conditions.
• Receive itemized deductions and timely return of their security deposit.

Alaska tenants are responsible for:

• Paying rent on time according to the lease terms.
• Keeping the rental unit clean, safe, and sanitary.
• Notifying the landlord of maintenance issues promptly.
• Using fixtures, appliances, and systems properly and avoiding unnecessary damage.
• Not disturbing neighbors or violating terms of the lease.
• Giving proper written notice before moving out, usually 30 days for month-to-month leases.
• Paying for damage caused by themselves or their guests beyond normal wear and tear.

Alaska Required Disclosures

Before entering into a lease agreement, Alaska landlords must provide tenants with required disclosures under Alaska landlord tenant laws. These disclosures ensure transparency about the condition of the rental property, the rights of the tenant, and any potential hazards.

Below are some of the most important required disclosures for landlords in Alaska.

• Lead-based paint (Title X, Section 1018). Landlords in all 50 states must include information about lead-based paint hazards in the rental agreements for most properties built before 1978. Sellers and landlords must distribute an EPA-approved information pamphlet called “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home” and disclose any known lead hazards in the property. These obligations were established by Section 1018 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992.
• Landlord/Agent Identification (AS § 34.03.080). Landlords in Alaska must disclose to tenants in writing the name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and the owner or person responsible for receiving notices.
• Terms of Security Deposit Withholdings (AS § 34.03.070). Landlords must disclose to tenants the terms and conditions under which the landlord may withhold funds from the security deposit or prepaid rent. This is usually done within the lease agreement.

Additional Reading: Alaska Residential Lease Agreement

Alaska Rent and Fee Laws

Landlords and tenants must follow specific Alaska landlord tenant laws in regards to rent payments, fees, and procedures for handling service failures. While Alaska does not impose strict rent control or fee limits, the law still governs how and when rent is due, how much can be charged for bounced checks, and what tenants can do if certain repairs or services are not provided. Below is a summary of the main rent and fee regulations according to Alaska landlord laws.

Rent Payments

• Due Date: Unless otherwise specified in the lease agreement, tenants must pay rent at the beginning of each month (AS § 34.03.020).
• Grace Period: There is no mandatory grace period in Alaska.
• Rent Increases: There are no statewide rent control laws in Alaska.

Fees

• Application Fees: Rental application fees are not regulated in Alaska.
• Late Fees: There is no statutory limit on late fees in Alaska—landlords may send a late rent fee notice immediately after monthly rent is not paid when due.
• NSF/Bounced Check Fee Maximum: If the tenant’s rent check bounces, the landlord may charge a fee of $30 (AS § 09.68.115).

Tenant Remedies

• Withholding Rent/Repair and Deduct: If the landlord fails to supply running water, hot water, heat, sanitary facilities, or another essential service, the tenant may send the landlord a written notice of the breach. The tenant may then immediately arrange for the services and deduct the cost from the rent, or they may recover damages or choose to procure reasonable substitute housing (AS § 34.03.180).
• If there is a different material noncompliance with the rental agreement or law that threatens health and safety, the tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord stating that the lease will terminate in 20 days if the landlord does not remedy the condition in 10 days (AS § 34.03.160). Note that if a tenant chooses to repair and deduct as in AS § 34.03.180, they may not also use this procedure to terminate the lease.

Alaska Security Deposit Laws

Alaska landlord laws outline rules for how landlords should handle security deposits, including how much they can charge to how funds must be stored. These regulations protect both landlords and tenants by ensuring transparency and accountability. Below is a breakdown of Alaska’s main security deposit requirements.

• Deposit Limit: 2 months’ rent, except when the rent exceeds $2,000 per month (AS § 34.03.070(a)). According to Alaska security deposit laws, landlords may also charge an additional pet deposit that does not exceed one month’s rent (AS § 34.03.070(h)).
• Interest: Landlords in Alaska are not required to pay interest on security deposits by Alaska law. However, if the security deposit does earn interest, the tenant is entitled to it unless both parties have agreed otherwise (AS § 34.03.070(c)).
• Return Within: 30 days (AS § 34.03.070(g)).
• Deposit Location: Landlords are required to keep security deposits in a trust account in a bank, savings and loan association, or licensed escrow agent. Security deposits must also be kept separate from other funds (AS § 34.03.070(c)).
• Withholding: Landlords may withhold funds from the security deposit for unpaid rent or damages beyond normal wear and tear resulting from the tenant’s noncompliance. The landlord must itemize these deductions in a written notice and mail it to the tenant (AS § 34.03.070(b)).

Alaska Tenant Screening and Fair Housing Protections

What actions are considered housing discrimination?

Tenants in Alaska are protected from housing discrimination under federal and state law. The Federal Fair Housing Act (Title 24 USC § 3601-3607) prohibits landlords from engaging in discriminatory practices in all areas of housing, including:

• Accepting or denying rental applications
• Screening or background checks
• Setting rent amounts
• Writing or publishing listings
• Advertising rental units
• Providing maintenance or repairs
• Enforcing lease terms
• Evicting tenants
• etc.

Discrimination happens when any of these decisions are based on a tenant's membership in a protected class.

What are the protected classes in Alaska?

Federal law prohibits discrimination based on the following seven protected characteristics:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• National origin
• Familial status
• Disability

In addition to these, the Alaska Human Rights Law (AS § 18.80.240) provides further protections by including the following additional protected classes:

• Marital status
• Pregnancy
• Ancestry
• Parenthood

Use of Credit Reports

Alaska landlords are subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) (15 USC § 1681), which outlines the responsibilities of landlords to protect tenant credit information. According to the Act, landlords may not share tenant credit information with anyone without a legal reason to view it. They must also investigate disputed information, dispose of credit reports after use in tenant screening, and notify applicants when their credit score or history was the reason for their denial.

Use of Criminal Histories

Alaska background checks may be used during tenant screening in Alaska. Alaska landlords should follow HUD recommendations for using criminal background checks fairly. This includes avoiding blanket policies for denying applicants with criminal convictions, assessing applicants and their criminal histories on a case-by-case basis, and only denying an applicant when they demonstrate a risk to the safety of other residents or the property.

Additional Reading: Alaska Background Checks & Screening Online

Alaska Landlord Entry Laws

Landlords in Alaska have the right to access their rental property, but they must also respect their tenant's right to privacy. The Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act outlines when and how landlords can enter a rented unit, including how much notice must be given and what qualifies as an emergency. Below is a summary of the main landlord entry laws in Alaska.

• Advanced Notice: 24 hours notice (AS § 34.03.140(c)).
• Permitted Times: Landlords in Alaska may only enter at reasonable times. According to the Alaska landlord and tenant act, acceptable reasons for entry include inspections, repairs, decorations, alterations, improvements, services, showings, or to remove personal property belonging to the landlord that isn’t covered by a written rental agreement (AS § 34.03.140(a)).
• Emergency Entry: In case of an emergency, the landlord may enter without advanced notice or consent (AS § 34.03.140(b)).

Alaska Eviction Notices

Evictions are complex legal processes often poorly understood by both parties. Before pursuing eviction in Alaska, consider hiring an experienced real estate attorney and be sure to review the Alaska eviction process in more detail.

If you decide to pursue eviction in Alaska, the first step is to deliver a formal, written eviction notice. Alaska recognizes several types of eviction notices, each tied to a specific reason for ending the tenancy:

• Rent Demand Notice: 7 days to pay or quit (AS § 34.03.220(b)).
• Notice for Unpaid Utilities: 3 days to cure or quit; 5 days to quit. According to eviction laws in Alaska, this notice applies when a public utility service discontinues service to the unit due to the tenant’s failure to pay the bill. If this occurs, the landlord may deliver a written quit notice giving the tenant 3 days to pay the utility company to avoid eviction (presuming no damage occurred to the unit), or else they must quit the unit within 5 days (AS § 34.03.220(e)).
• Notice for Lease Violation: 10 days to cure or quit (AS § 34.03.220(a)(2)).
• Notice for Repeat Violation: 5 days to quit. If a tenant commits substantially the same breach as a previous one within six months, the landlord may send a five-day quit notice with no opportunity to cure the violation (AS § 34.03.220(a)(2)).
• Unconditional Notice to Quit: 24 hours to 5 days to quit. This notice applies when the tenant deliberately inflicts substantial damage to the premises (loss, destruction, or defacement exceeding $400 in damage) or if the tenant engages in prostitution or another illegal activity on the premises (AS § 34.03.220(a)(1)). To recover damages beyond those covered by the security deposit, Alaska property owners may have to go to small claims court.

Additional Reading: Alaska Eviction Process and Laws [2025]

Alaska Squatter's Rights

Squatters are individuals who occupy a property without the owner’s permission. In Alaska, like in most states, removing a squatter requires going through the formal eviction process, especially if the squatter has established tenancy by residing on the property for an extended period.

Alaska law does not allow landlords to use self-help methods, such as changing the locks or shutting off utilities, to remove squatters. These actions are illegal and can result in legal consequences for the landlord. Instead, property owners must serve the appropriate eviction notice and, if necessary, file an eviction lawsuit through the court system to regain possession.

In some cases, squatters may attempt to gain legal ownership of the property through adverse possession. Under Alaska’s adverse possession laws (AS § 09.45.052), a squatter must occupy the property continuously, openly, and without the owner's permission for at least ten years, and meet other strict legal requirements to make a valid claim.

Squatter situations are complex, and so it's best to consult a real estate attorney before taking any action.

Additional Reading: Alaska Squatter's Rights & Adverse Possession Laws [2025]

Other Laws and Facts About Alaska

• The current average rent rate in Alaska is $1,800 per month, according to Zillow.
• The average rent rate in Anchorage is $1,750 per month, according to Zillow.
• If a landlord in Alaska fails to transfer security deposits to a new owner during a sale of the property, then both the previous owner and the new owner are legally responsible to the tenants for those deposits and prepaid rents (AS § 34.03.110(a)).

Conclusion

Alaska's rental laws protect the rights of both landlords and tenants while promoting fair, professional rental relationships. Understanding the legal obligations on both sides of a lease is vital to avoiding disputes, penalties, and legal issues. Alaska landlords who stay informed, respect tenant rights, and follow proper procedures are more likely to maintain stable rental income and long-term tenant satisfaction.

FAQs

Is Alaska a landlord-friendly state?

Yes, Alaska is generally considered a landlord-friendly state. There are no rent control laws, no statutory limits on late fees, and no mandatory grace periods. However, landlords must still comply with federal fair housing laws and Alaska’s specific rental statutes.

What is the maximum security deposit a landlord can charge in Alaska?

In Alaska, landlords can charge a security deposit of up to two months’ rent, unless the monthly rent exceeds $2,000, in which case no limit applies. Landlords may also charge an additional pet deposit of up to one month’s rent.

Does Alaska require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?

No, landlords are not required to pay interest on security deposits. However, if the deposit does accrue interest in a trust account, the tenant is entitled to it unless otherwise agreed in writing.

How much notice must a landlord give before entering a unit in Alaska?

Alaska landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours' notice before entering a rental unit, except in emergencies. Entry must occur at reasonable times and for valid reasons like repairs, inspections, or showings.

Can tenants withhold rent in Alaska for maintenance issues?

Yes. If a landlord fails to supply essential services such as heat or hot water, tenants may arrange for the services themselves and deduct the cost from rent. Tenants may also seek damages or move into substitute housing depending on the severity of the issue.

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Alaska?

Alaska does not have a statewide law prohibiting source-of-income discrimination, so landlords are not legally required to accept Section 8 housing vouchers. However, local ordinances may vary, and landlords must still follow all federal fair housing regulations.

What protected classes are covered under Alaska fair housing laws?

Federal protections apply in Alaska, meaning landlords may not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Alaska law does not currently expand on these protections with additional state-level classes.

Free Downloads

1. Alaska Residential Lease Agreement Template
2. Alaska Quitclaim Deed
3. Alaska Lease Agreement Template
4. Alaska Notice to Quit (Nonpayment of Rent)
5. Alaska Notice to Quit (Violation of Lease Terms)
6. Alaska Complaint for Forcible Entry and Detainer

Resources

1. Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
2. The Alaska Landlord & Tenant Act: What it Means to You
3. Alaska Eviction Process & Laws [2025]
4. Alaska Housing Market Trends & Forecast
5. Real Estate Terms & Definitions