✓ Law Verified June 2026
This guide explains alaska security deposit law in plain English — how much your landlord can charge, when they must return it, what they can and cannot deduct, and what to do if they do not give it back. All figures are from Alaska law, verified as of June 2026.
In This Alaska Guide:
Alaska Security Deposit Rules at a Glance
| Maximum deposit | 2 months’ rent when monthly rent is 2000 or less; no statutory limit when monthly rent exceeds 2000. A landlord may also collect up to 1 additional month’s rent as a separate refundable pet deposit. Non-refundable deposits of any kind are illegal in Alaska. |
| Return deadline | 14 days if no deductions are made; 30 days if the landlord withholds any amount for damages or unpaid rent. The deadline runs from the date the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession of the unit. |
| Itemized deductions required | YES. Under AS 34.03.070, when a landlord withholds any portion of the security deposit, the landlord must mail the tenant a written itemized list specifying each deduction and the amount, along with the remaining refund, within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession. |
| Interest on deposit required | YES. Alaska law requires landlords to deposit security deposits into a trust account in a bank, savings and loan association, or with a licensed escrow agent. If the account earns interest, the landlord must pay the tenant the interest earned. If the account does not produce interest, the landlord must pay the tenant interest at a rate equal to 1 percentage point above the annual rate charged by the 12th Federal Reserve District to member banks on the date the rental agreement begins. |
| Penalty for late/bad-faith return | If the landlord willfully fails to comply with the security deposit return requirements under AS 34.03.070, the tenant may recover an amount up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld. The key legal standard is willful noncompliance — the tenant must show the landlord intentionally failed to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within the statutory deadline. |
Move-in/move-out walkthrough: Alaska law does not mandate a joint move-in or move-out walkthrough inspection. However, AS 34.03.020 requires the landlord to provide a premises condition statement (describing the condition of the unit) and a contents inventory (itemizing furnishings and their condition) at move-in.
The tenant should review and sign this document. At move-out, comparing the initial and final condition reports is how deductions are determined. Many tenants request to be present during the final inspection to protect their rights, though it is not statutorily required.
Separate deposit account: YES. Under AS 34.03.070, the landlord must promptly deposit all security deposits and prepaid rent into a trust account in a bank, savings and loan association, or with a licensed escrow agent. The funds must be held separately and cannot be commingled with the landlord’s personal funds.
What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Deduct in Alaska
Unpaid rent or utility charges owed under the lease; cost of repairing damage to the unit beyond normal wear and tear caused by the tenant, household members, or guests; cleaning costs if the tenant did not leave the unit in a condition as clean as when they moved in (accounting for normal wear and tear). Landlords may NOT deduct for routine maintenance, normal wear and tear, or pre-existing conditions.
Normal wear and tear vs damage: Alaska statute defines normal wear and tear as deterioration that occurs from the intended use of the rental unit and without negligence, carelessness, accident, misuse, or abuse of the premises or contents by the tenant, members of the household of the tenant, or the invitees or guests of the tenant.
Examples include minor wall scuffs, small nail holes from hanging pictures, gently worn carpet, and faded paint. Damage from tenant negligence such as large holes in walls, stained or burned carpet, or broken fixtures is NOT normal wear and tear.
How to Get Your Deposit Back in Alaska
Step 1: Send the landlord a written demand letter via certified mail requesting the return of the deposit and citing AS 34.03.070. Step 2: If the landlord does not respond or refuses, file a complaint with the Alaska Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit at (907) 269-5200 or toll-free (888) 576-2529, or email [email protected].
Step 3: File a claim in Alaska Small Claims Court if the total amount is under 10000.
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Many tenants can recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld if the landlord’s failure was willful. Step 4: Low-income tenants may contact Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) for free legal help. The Alaska Court System also offers an Eviction Diversion Program with free mediation services.
Other Alaska deposit rules: Alaska prohibits all non-refundable deposits including non-refundable pet deposits. Pet deposits are capped at 1 month’s rent and must be accounted for separately from the security deposit; they may only be used for pet-related damages.
When rental property is sold, the new owner assumes responsibility for returning all security deposits and prepaid rent to tenants. If the previous owner properly transfers the funds and notifies the tenants, the previous owner is released from further obligation.
The 2-month deposit cap only applies when rent is 2000 per month or less; landlords charging rent above 2000 per month have no statutory deposit limit. Alaska tenants stationed at military installations may also find additional protections under federal law (SCRA).
Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover your stuff
Renters insurance protects your belongings for a few dollars a month.
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Official Alaska Sources & Resources
- Alaska Attorney General: https://law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer/landlord-tenant.html
- Alaska Security Deposit Statute: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#34.03.070
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: hud.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Understanding Alaska Security Deposit Law
Your Alaska security deposit is your money until the landlord proves a lawful deduction. Alaska security deposit law sets clear limits on how much can be charged, what can be deducted, and when the balance must be returned. If your landlord misses the Alaska security deposit return deadline or takes deductions that are not allowed, you may be entitled to penalties.
Document the condition of your unit at move-in and move-out — photos are the best protection for your Alaska security deposit.
This Alaska security deposit guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Laws change — verify with your state or a local legal-aid office.
More Alaska Tenant Rights Guides
- Alaska Tenant Rights
- Alaska Eviction Process
- Alaska Rent Increase Laws
- Alaska Repairs & Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in Alaska
- Eviction Timeline Calculator
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws change and vary by city and county within a state. Verify current rules with your state, your local court, or a free legal-aid office before acting. If you are facing eviction, contact a local tenant attorney or legal-aid organization right away.