Alaska Security Deposit: Your Deadline and Next Step
In Alaska, a landlord has 14 days or 30 days. Which one applies depends on one question below.
- I gave the written notice the law requires, and the landlord is not keeping money for damage
- I gave the written notice the law requires, but the landlord is keeping money for damage
- I did not give the written notice the law requires, or it was not done right
Last checked 2026-07-14
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Details of the return rules
In Alaska, the landlord must return the deposit within 14 calendar days (proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions for noncompliance with AS 34.03.120) or 30 calendar days (proper notice given but costs are deducted for damages from tenant noncompliance with AS 34.03.120) or 30 calendar days (tenant did not give notice complying with AS 34.03.290).
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| I gave the written notice the law requires, and the landlord is not keeping money for damage | 14 days | after the tenancy is terminated and possession is delivered by the tenant |
| I gave the written notice the law requires, but the landlord is keeping money for damage | 30 days | after the tenancy is terminated |
| I did not give the written notice the law requires, or it was not done right | 30 days | after the later of tenancy termination, delivery of possession, or landlord awareness of abandonment |
Alaska return rule: 14 calendar days (proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions for noncompliance with AS 34.03.120). Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 calendar days (proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions for noncompliance with AS 34.03.120); trigger: after the tenancy is terminated and possession is delivered by the tenant |
|---|---|
| Additional deadline 2 | 30 calendar days (proper notice given but costs are deducted for damages from tenant noncompliance with AS 34.03.120); trigger: after the tenancy is terminated |
| Additional deadline 3 | 30 calendar days (tenant did not give notice complying with AS 34.03.290); trigger: after the later of tenancy termination, delivery of possession, or landlord awareness of abandonment |
| Penalty formula | wilful violation: landlord liable for twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld |
| Bad faith required | Yes |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Interest on deposit | Conditional: Landlord-tenant statute does not require the trust account to earn interest. Deposits must be held in trust (bank, savings and loan, or licensed escrow where practicable). If interest is earned, multi-source guidance (Alaska Bar Landlord & Tenant Act booklet; court PUB-30 lineage) treats interest as belonging to the tenant under trust principles unless the parties agree otherwise; licensed property managers must give interest to the tenant unless the tenant agrees in writing that it may go to the owner. |
| Maximum deposit | Not more than two months' periodic rent, except the two-month cap does not apply where rent exceeds $2,000 a month. Landlord may require an additional pet deposit of up to one month's rent for a pet that is not a service animal, accounted for separately. |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $10,000 (District Court small claims) in District Court (small claims) |
| Statute citation | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
The landlord says you owe more than the deposit. What now?
Answer the landlord in writing and identify each disputed charge. Choose the "My landlord says I owe more" tab above. Ask for an itemized explanation and keep your response in writing.
A debt collector's notice and a credit report dispute have separate federal rules. Check whether those situations apply to you:
A debt collector's validation notice must state that the debt is assumed valid unless you dispute it within 30 days after receiving the notice. 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a)(3): unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector
If you dispute the debt in writing within that 30-day period, the collector must stop collecting the disputed part until it mails you verification. 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b): If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt
If a disputed debt appears on your credit report, you can dispute it with the credit reporting agency, which must reinvestigate free of charge. 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)(A): if the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly, or indirectly through a reseller, of such dispute, the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation
What can a landlord deduct in Alaska?
Alaska law names a specific rule for 1 of 6 common charges (unpaid rent and fees). For the others, the general wear-and-tear rule applies.
| Charge | Can the landlord deduct it? | Rule | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Only if the cited general rule permits the charge | General rule: normal wear and tear cannot be charged | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Carpet replacement | Only if the cited general rule permits the charge | General rule: normal wear and tear cannot be charged | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Painting | Only if the cited general rule permits the charge | General rule: normal wear and tear cannot be charged | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Nail holes and wall damage | Only if the cited general rule permits the charge | General rule: normal wear and tear cannot be charged | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Pet damage | Only if the cited general rule permits the charge | General rule: normal wear and tear cannot be charged | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 |
| Unpaid rent and fees | Yes | Prepaid rent or a security deposit may be applied to the payment of accrued rent and the amount of damages that the landlord has suffered… | AS 34.03.070(b) |
I never did a move-in inspection. How do I prove the condition?
Collect move-out photos, messages, witnesses, and repair invoices. Put them in date order before responding.
Where do you file if the letter does not work?
Small claims court in Alaska hears claims up to $10,000. You can ask for up to $10,000 there, or file for the full amount in District Court (small claims). Check the court and fees.
The state record lists a 3-year period to sue. Check when your claim accrued before counting from it.
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | Anchorage District Court, Anchorage | $10,000 | County filing fee: $50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500, per Alaska Court System. | Yes | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Palmer Trial Court, Palmer | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: $50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500. | Yes | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | Fairbanks District Court, Fairbanks | $10,000 | Statewide filing fee: $50 for claims of $2,500 or less; $100 for claims over $2,500. | Yes | Official court website Court page check not recorded |
See all 6 county small claims courts and filing fees
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
wilful violation: landlord liable for twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld Keep statutory damages separate from the deposit and other actual damages.
Alaska is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
With a deposit of $1,419 (median county rent), a claim for the deposit plus the maximum penalty is $4,257; fits under the $10,000 small claims limit.
How does Alaska's deadline compare with other states?
Alaska's return deadline is 14 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
FAQ
How do I confirm the Alaska deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070, and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in Alaska?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Alaska court guide
City data on this page currently includes Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, Sitka, Ketchikan, Kenai, Bethel.
Tenant resources
- Alaska Legal Services Corporation - Housinglegal aid
- Alaska Department of Law - Landlord and Tenant Informationag consumer
- Alaska Court System - Housing Helpcourt self help
- Alaska Court System - Starting a Small Claims Casecourt self help
What's next?
What to do if there is no response · How to send your letter · How to write a demand letter
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
If the landlord or tenant gives notice that complies with AS 34.03.290, the landlord shall mail the written notice and refund required by (b) of this section within 14 days after the tenancy is terminated and possession is delivered by the tenant, except the landlord shall have 30 days after the tenancy is terminated to mail the refund if costs are deducted for damages that the landlord has suffered because of the tenant's noncompliance with AS 34.03.120. If the tenant does not give notice that complies with AS 34.03.290, the landlord shall mail the written notice and refund required by (b) of this section within 30 days after the tenancy is terminated, possession is delivered by the tenant, or the landlord becomes aware that the dwelling unit is abandoned. A wilful violation of this section by a landlord is subject to liability for twice the amount of the security deposit wrongfully withheld.
What this means
Sources
- https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#34.03.070 · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://law.alaska.gov/pdf/consumer/LandlordTenant_web.pdf · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://courts.alaska.gov/selfhelp/debt/start-case.htm · accessed 2026-07-14
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6