Alaska · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Alaska security deposit law

How much a landlord in Alaska can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Alaska, the deposit limit is: Two months' rent (deposit and prepaid rent combined), except for units renting for more than $2,000 a month, which have no cap. The landlord must return it as follows: If you gave proper notice of moving out, the landlord must give you an itemized list and any refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back the unit.

deposit limit
2 months' rent (with exceptions)
to return a deposit
14 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2× (willful)

Security deposit in Alaska

Limit
Two months' rent (deposit and prepaid rent combined), except for units renting for more than $2,000 a month, which have no cap. A separate pet deposit of up to one more month's rent is allowed (not for service animals).
Deadline to return it
If you gave proper notice of moving out, the landlord must give you an itemized list and any refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back the unit. The landlord has 30 days instead if deducting for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or if you did not give proper notice (counted from when you moved out or the landlord learned the unit was abandoned, whichever is later). Hand-delivered or mailed to your last known address.
Itemized list
Yes. A written, itemized list of deductions must come with any refund. Receipts are not required by the handbook's summary of the law.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, including damage by your guests. Deposits can be applied only after the tenancy ends. 'Nonrefundable cleaning fees' and automatic forfeiture clauses are unlawful according to the Department of Law handbook.
Separate account
Yes. Deposits and prepaid rent must be kept in a trust account at a bank or savings and loan, or with a licensed escrow agent, separate from the landlord's own money (exceptions where banking is impractical, e.g., rural Alaska). AS 34.03.070(c).
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord willfully fails to follow the return rules, you can recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Law
AS 34.03.070

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Alaska: Hand-delivered or mailed to your last known address.
  3. Wait for the deadline: If you gave proper notice of moving out, the landlord must give you an itemized list and any refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back the unit.
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $10,000 plus interest and court costs. Evictions cannot be filed in small claims. Small claims court in Alaska on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Alaska

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Alaska

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Alaska

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000 plus interest and court costs. Evictions cannot be filed in small claims.

How to file in Alaska

Questions about security deposits in Alaska

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Alaska?

Two months' rent (deposit and prepaid rent combined), except for units renting for more than $2,000 a month, which have no cap. A separate pet deposit of up to one more month's rent is allowed (not for service animals).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alaska?

If you gave proper notice of moving out, the landlord must give you an itemized list and any refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and you hand back the unit. The landlord has 30 days instead if deducting for damage beyond normal wear and tear, or if you did not give proper notice (counted from when you moved out or the landlord learned the unit was abandoned, whichever is later). Hand-delivered or mailed to your last known address.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Alaska?

If the landlord willfully fails to follow the return rules, you can recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Alaska?

Unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear, including damage by your guests. Deposits can be applied only after the tenancy ends. 'Nonrefundable cleaning fees' and automatic forfeiture clauses are unlawful according to the Department of Law handbook.

What is the small claims limit in Alaska?

$10,000 plus interest and court costs. Evictions cannot be filed in small claims.

More for Alaska renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.