How to Evict a Tenant in Alaska (2026)
The legal steps for landlords in Alaska — the notice, the court case, costs, timeline and the mistakes that get cases thrown out — with the statute or official page behind each step.
Short answer: In Alaska a landlord must give the required written notice, file an eviction case in court if the tenant doesn't pay or leave, win a judgment, and have a sheriff or other officer carry out the removal. Changing the locks or removing belongings yourself is not allowed.
Step 1: Have a legal reason and give the right notice
| Unpaid rent | 7-day written notice to quit. The notice must state the correct total rent due, offer the choice to pay or move, and warn that an eviction suit may follow. Paying the rent within the 7 days cures it. A tenant cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees alone. |
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| Lease violation | 10-day written notice for a breach of the rental agreement or of the tenant's statutory duties that endangers others' health and safety. The tenancy continues if the tenant corrects the problem within the notice period. A substantially similar repeat breach within 6 months allows a 5-day notice with no right to cure. Intentional damage over $400 allows a notice of 24 hours to 5 days. Illegal activity on the premises allows a 5-day notice. Utility shutoff for the tenant's nonpayment allows a 5-day notice, curable within 3 days. |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no fault) | Either party must give written notice at least 30 days before the rental due date named as the termination date. Week-to-week tenancies need 14 days' written notice. A landlord's notice must also warn that the landlord may sue to evict if the tenant stays past the termination date. |
Local rent-control or just-cause rules can limit evictions: No statewide rent control. Without a lease, a landlord may raise rent by any amount on at least 30 days' notice for a month-to-month tenancy.
Step 2: Write and deliver the notice correctly
| What the notice must say | A 7-day written Notice to Quit. It must state the reason for termination (nonpayment) and the rent owed, which should not include late fees or interest. It must tell the tenant to pay the full rent by a date and time at least 7 days after delivery, give the date and time the tenancy ends, and warn that the landlord may sue to evict if the tenant stays. Service is by personal delivery; by posting on the unit (usually the door) if the tenant is absent or refuses delivery; or by registered or certified mail, which adds 3 days to the notice period. The landlord should complete and keep the record of service. |
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| How it must be delivered | A landlord's notice to quit should be handed to the tenant if possible. If the tenant is absent or refuses it, the landlord may post it on the door. The landlord may also send it by registered or certified mail to the rental address, which adds 3 days to the notice period before an eviction case can be filed. A tenant may hand-deliver or mail notices to the address where rent is paid. Alaska law has not settled whether email or text counts as written notice. |
Notice forms:
- Alaska notice to pay rent or quit — requirements and free draft
- Alaska notice to end a month-to-month tenancy — requirements and free draft
- Alaska Court System CIV-725 Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Rent (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-726 Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Utilities (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-727 Notice to Quit for Violation of Rental Agreement (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-728 Notice to Quit for Intentional Damage (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-729 Notice to Quit for Illegal Activity (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-720 Eviction: Information for Landlords and Tenants About F.E.D. Actions (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-730 Complaint for Forcible Entry and Detainer (official)
- Alaska Court System CIV-735 Answer to Forcible Entry and Detainer (Eviction) Complaint (official)
- Alaska Department of Law handbook with sample notices (month-to-month termination, deposit offset statement, etc.) (official)
Step 3: File the eviction case and go to the hearing
Eviction cases in Alaska are heard in: Alaska District Court in the judicial district where the property is located (Superior Court if past-due rent and damages exceed $100,000).
- Landlord serves a written Notice to Quit in person, by posting if the tenant is absent or refuses delivery, or by registered/certified mail (mail adds 3 days)
- If the tenant does not cure or move, landlord files a Complaint for Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) with an Information Sheet and Summons
- Tenant is served with the summons and complaint at least 2 days before the eviction hearing
- Eviction (possession) hearing within 15 days after filing; the judge decides possession and, if the landlord wins, sets a move-out date
- Optional free mediation through the court's Eviction Diversion Program before or after filing
- If the tenant does not leave, the court issues a Writ of Assistance, enforced by a peace officer
- Separate damages trial if the tenant files an answer contesting money claims; otherwise default judgment on damages
Court timing: Possession hearing at least 2 days after service and no more than 15 days after filing (Civil Rule 85). Written answer to the damages claim due within 20 days after service.
Source: AS 09.45.060 - 09.45.160; Alaska R. Civ. P. 85; AS 22.15.030
How long it takes to evict a tenant in Alaska
For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 days; after that comes the court process (filing, service, the tenant's answer and a hearing), then the final order and removal by an officer. Uncontested cases move fastest; a contested case, an appeal or a crowded court adds weeks. See how long evictions take in every state.
How much it costs to evict a tenant in Alaska
Court filing and service fees are set locally. Verified fees in the largest Alaska counties:
| County | Filing and service fees |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Anchorage | $150 to file a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) case seeking up to $100,000 in damages; $250 if over $100,000 |
Add the cost of a lawyer if you hire one, lost rent during the case, and any writ or officer fee to remove the tenant.
Evicting someone without a lease (family member, roommate, guest or squatter)
| Someone with no written lease who pays rent (month-to-month / at will) | Either party must give written notice at least 30 days before the rental due date named as the termination date. Week-to-week tenancies need 14 days' written notice. A landlord's notice must also warn that the landlord may sue to evict if the tenant stays past the termination date. |
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| Someone who was never a tenant (squatter / unauthorized occupant) | The Landlord and Tenant Act does not apply to guests or squatters who stay without paying rent. An owner removes a trespasser or squatter through a court Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) eviction case. No separate statewide police-removal or affidavit procedure was found. |
Mistakes that get eviction cases dismissed — or get landlords sued
| Changing locks / shutting off utilities | Self-help eviction is prohibited: no shutting off utilities, changing locks, taking belongings, or retaking the unit without a court hearing, even if the lease says otherwise. If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully cuts services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and in either case may recover up to 1.5 times actual damages. Source: AS 34.03.210; AS 34.03.040(a)(1) |
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| Retaliation | A landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an eviction because the tenant complained about the landlord's failure to meet its duties, sought to enforce rights under the Act, organized or joined a tenants' union, or complained to a government agency responsible for housing, wage, price, or rent controls. The tenant may terminate or defend against eviction, and in either case may recover up to 1.5 times actual damages. Source: AS 34.03.310; AS 34.03.210 |
| Accepting rent after the notice | After the 7-day notice for unpaid rent runs out, the landlord may refuse late rent and go ahead with the eviction. If the landlord accepts a partial payment after serving a 7-day nonpayment notice, the landlord must either sign a new written agreement with the tenant extending the notice for a set period, or start the notice process over. |
Federal rules that can change the process
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: A landlord may not evict a covered servicemember or their family during military service without a court order. When the servicemember's ability to pay is materially affected by service, the court must on request stay the case for 90 days or adjust the lease. Knowingly evicting without a court order is a federal misdemeanor. More
- VAWA housing protections: An applicant or tenant cannot be denied, evicted or cut off from assistance because they are or were a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. The abuse cannot be treated as a serious lease violation by the victim. The landlord may 'bifurcate' (split) the lease to evict the abuser and keep the victim housed. Covered programs must also have an emergency transfer plan. A transfer is available on request if the tenant reasonably fears imminent harm, or if a sexual assault happened on the premises within the prior 90 days. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): The landlord of a covered dwelling may not require the tenant to leave until 30 days after giving a notice to vacate. The 120-day filing moratorium in the same section expired in July 2020, but the 30-day notice subsection has no expiration date in its text. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): Before filing an eviction for nonpayment, the landlord must give written notice at least 30 days in advance. The notice must itemize the rent owed by month, explain how to pay it off and by what date, and explain how to recertify income or request a hardship exemption. The notice cannot be served before the day after rent is due. If the tenant pays the amount owed within the 30 days, the landlord may not file the eviction. More
Alaska eviction FAQ for landlords
How much notice does a landlord have to give to evict for unpaid rent in Alaska?
7-day written notice to quit. The notice must state the correct total rent due, offer the choice to pay or move, and warn that an eviction suit may follow. Paying the rent within the 7 days cures it. A tenant cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees alone.
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Alaska?
Court fees are set locally — for example, Municipality of Anchorage: $150 to file a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) case seeking up to $100,000 in damages; $250 if over $100,000.
Can a landlord change the locks to evict a tenant in Alaska?
Self-help eviction is prohibited: no shutting off utilities, changing locks, taking belongings, or retaking the unit without a court hearing, even if the lease says otherwise. If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully cuts services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate, and in either case may recover up to 1.5 times actual damages.
How do you evict a tenant without a lease in Alaska?
Either party must give written notice at least 30 days before the rental due date named as the termination date. Week-to-week tenancies need 14 days' written notice. A landlord's notice must also warn that the landlord may sue to evict if the tenant stays past the termination date.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.