Alaska Rental Fee Rules
Alaska rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute caps or regulates application fees. The Department of Law says a nonrefundable application fee is probably lawful if it covers the landlord's actual, reasonable costs, such as a credit check. AS 34.03 (no application-fee provision); Dept. of Law guidance
The rules in Alaska
| Application / screening fees | No statute caps or regulates application fees. The Department of Law says a nonrefundable application fee is probably lawful if it covers the landlord's actual, reasonable costs, such as a credit check. A fee that becomes the security deposit if the tenant moves in, but is forfeited if the applicant decides not to rent, is not lawful. The handbook gives no statute citation for this guidance; AS 34.03 (read on akleg.gov) has no application-fee or screening-report provision. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | No statewide junk-fee or fee-disclosure law was found. 'Nonrefundable' cleaning fees and automatic deposit forfeitures are treated as unlawful deposits. The Act does not address late or NSF fees. Such a fee is enforceable only if agreed in advance, and should be a small flat amount that approximates the landlord's actual costs. A tenant who is current on rent cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees. A lease may not require the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees. Mobile home parks may not charge fees to sell or transfer a home, or to move a home into or out of the park. Department of Law handbook (2024). The late-fee guidance is the Department's reading, not statute text. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
Alaska vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No statute caps or regulates application fees. The Department of Law says a nonrefundable application fee is probably lawful if it covers the landlord's actual, reasonable costs, such as a credit check. A fee that becomes the security deposit if the tenant moves in, but is forfeited if the applicant decides not to rent, is not lawful. AS 34.03 (no application-fee provision); Dept. of Law guidance | No statewide junk-fee or fee-disclosure law was found. 'Nonrefundable' cleaning fees and automatic deposit forfeitures are treated as unlawful deposits. The Act does not address late or NSF fees. Such a fee is enforceable only if agreed in advance, and should be a small flat amount that approximates the landlord's actual costs. A tenant who is current on rent cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees. A lease may not require the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees. Mobile home parks may not charge fees to sell or transfer a home, or to move a home into or out of the park. AS 34.03.070; AS 34.03.120(c); AS 34.03.040; mobile home rules per handbook |
| Washington | No dollar cap, but a landlord may charge for a tenant screening report (or its own actual screening costs, not exceeding the customary cost of a local screening service) only after giving written notice (or posting) of the types of information to be accessed, the criteria that may result in denial, the consumer reporting agency used and the applicant's rights, and whether the landlord accepts a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report. A landlord that accepts reusable reports may not charge the applicant for its own report. Any landlord website must state whether reusable reports are accepted. Adverse actions require a written adverse action notice in the statutory form. Violation of the notice rules: up to $100 plus costs and attorney's fees. RCW 59.18.257 | Nonrefundable fees must be in a written rental agreement that clearly says they are nonrefundable; otherwise they are treated as a refundable deposit (or refunded entirely if there is no written agreement), and they may not be called a deposit. On written request, tenants may pay deposits, nonrefundable fees and last month's rent in installments (3 monthly installments for terms of 3+ months, otherwise 2) without extra fees or interest, unless deposits and fees total 25% or less of the first month's rent and last month's rent is not required up front; refusal carries a penalty of one month's rent plus attorney's fees. No late fee may be charged for rent paid within 5 days of the due date. RCW 59.18.285; RCW 59.18.610; RCW 59.18.170(2) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Alaska rental law
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- Alaska Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Alaska Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
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- Squatters' Rights in Alaska
- Alaska Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Alaska Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
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- Alaska Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Alaska landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Alaska
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Alaska Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Alaska?
No statute caps or regulates application fees. The Department of Law says a nonrefundable application fee is probably lawful if it covers the landlord's actual, reasonable costs, such as a credit check. A fee that becomes the security deposit if the tenant moves in, but is forfeited if the applicant decides not to rent, is not lawful. (AS 34.03 (no application-fee provision); Dept. of Law guidance)
What rental fees are banned or limited in Alaska?
No statewide junk-fee or fee-disclosure law was found. 'Nonrefundable' cleaning fees and automatic deposit forfeitures are treated as unlawful deposits. The Act does not address late or NSF fees. Such a fee is enforceable only if agreed in advance, and should be a small flat amount that approximates the landlord's actual costs. A tenant who is current on rent cannot be evicted for unpaid late fees. A lease may not require the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney fees. Mobile home parks may not charge fees to sell or transfer a home, or to move a home into or out of the park. (AS 34.03.070; AS 34.03.120(c); AS 34.03.040; mobile home rules per handbook)
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.