Alaska Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
Alaska rules on section 8, records & right to counsel for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No. State fair housing law bars refusing to rent because of sex, race, religion, national origin, color, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, marital status, or change in marital status. AS 18.80.240
The rules in Alaska
| Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | No. State fair housing law bars refusing to rent because of sex, race, religion, national origin, color, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, marital status, or change in marital status. Source of income and housing vouchers are not on the list. AS 18.80.240 lists sex, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, physical or mental disability, color and national origin; source of income is not listed. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. Source: AS 18.80.240 |
|---|---|
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The court's FED booklet tells parties to find their own lawyer through the Alaska Bar Lawyer Referral Service or, if low-income, Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Free advice is available through the ALSC Landlord-Tenant Helpline (855-743-1001). Absence of a right-to-counsel statute is inferred from official court guidance; the statutes could not be checked directly. The court runs a voluntary Eviction Diversion (mediation) Program (907-264-0883). |
Related questions
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
Alaska vs. neighboring states
| State | Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income | Eviction record sealing | Right to a lawyer in eviction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No. State fair housing law bars refusing to rent because of sex, race, religion, national origin, color, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, marital status, or change in marital status. Source of income and housing vouchers are not on the list. AS 18.80.240 | Not verified yet | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The court's FED booklet tells parties to find their own lawyer through the Alaska Bar Lawyer Referral Service or, if low-income, Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Free advice is available through the ALSC Landlord-Tenant Helpline (855-743-1001). Alaska Court System CIV-720 (8/23); MED-600 (12/25) |
| Washington | Yes, statewide. Landlords may not refuse to rent, evict, set different terms or fees, discourage, misrepresent availability, or advertise preferences based on a tenant's source of income, which includes housing assistance (e.g., vouchers), public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans benefits, Social Security/SSI and other federal, state, local or nonprofit programs. If an income threshold is used, the voucher/subsidy must be subtracted from the rent before applying it. Narrow exception where the subsidy requires an inspection and repairs would cost more than $1,500 and mitigation funds were not received. Liability up to 4.5 times monthly rent plus costs and attorney's fees. RCW 59.18.255 | By court order only (no automatic sealing). A court may order an unlawful detainer action to be of 'limited dissemination' if the landlord's case was sufficiently without basis in fact or law, the tenancy was reinstated under RCW 59.18.410 or other law, or other good cause exists. The order must be in writing. Tenant screening companies may then not disclose the case or use it in any score or recommendation. RCW 59.18.367 | Yes, statewide (2021 c 115). Subject to appropriated funds, the court must appoint an attorney for an indigent tenant in an unlawful detainer case under chapters 59.18, 59.12 and 59.20 RCW, administered by the Office of Civil Legal Aid. Indigent means receiving specified public assistance (e.g., TANF, SSI, Medicaid, food assistance) or having after-tax income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. RCW 59.18.640 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Alaska rental law
- Alaska Security Deposit Law
- Alaska Eviction Laws
- Alaska Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Alaska
- Alaska Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Alaska Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Alaska
- Squatters' Rights in Alaska
- Alaska Rental Fee Rules
- Alaska Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Alaska Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Alaska Landlord Selling the House
- Alaska Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Alaska Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Alaska landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Alaska
Compare section 8, records & right to counsel in all 50 states and DC →
Alaska Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel FAQ
Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse Section 8 vouchers in Alaska?
No. State fair housing law bars refusing to rent because of sex, race, religion, national origin, color, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, marital status, or change in marital status. Source of income and housing vouchers are not on the list. (AS 18.80.240)
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Alaska?
No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The court's FED booklet tells parties to find their own lawyer through the Alaska Bar Lawyer Referral Service or, if low-income, Alaska Legal Services Corporation. Free advice is available through the ALSC Landlord-Tenant Helpline (855-743-1001). (Alaska Court System CIV-720 (8/23); MED-600 (12/25))
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.