Squatters' Rights in Alaska
Alaska rules on squatters & abandoned property for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: 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. AS 34.03.330; AS 09.45.060 et seq. (FED)
The rules in Alaska
| Squatters / unauthorized occupants | 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. Source is the Alaska Department of Law handbook (2024), which says FED cases 'may also involve property owners evicting trespassers or squatters.' AS 09.45.090(a)(2)(H) makes it unlawful holding to stay, after a notice to quit, without a valid rental agreement and without the landlord's consent; AS 34.03 and AS 09.45.060-.105 contain no faster removal procedure. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
|---|---|
| Belongings left behind | The landlord must notify the tenant of where the property is stored, that the tenant has at least 15 days to remove it (the landlord may allow longer), and what the landlord will do with it if it is not removed. After that: property of sufficient value may be sold at public sale, with a written or printed notice posted in three places within 5 miles of the sale at least 10 days beforehand; perishables may be disposed of; and items may be destroyed or donated if a sale would cost more than they are worth or they do not sell. The landlord must use reasonable care. Storage charges may not exceed the rent if the items are stored in the unit; if a commercial storage company is used, the landlord may charge actual moving and storage costs. A landlord who deliberately or negligently violates these rules may owe up to twice the tenant's actual damages. Department of Law handbook (2024). Per the handbook, if the tenant cannot be found, surplus sale proceeds may have to go to the Department of Revenue under the unclaimed property law (AS 34.45.110 et seq.). Source: AS 34.03.260; AS 09.35.140 |
Related questions
Alaska vs. neighboring states
| State | Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Belongings left behind |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 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. AS 34.03.330; AS 09.45.060 et seq. (FED) | The landlord must notify the tenant of where the property is stored, that the tenant has at least 15 days to remove it (the landlord may allow longer), and what the landlord will do with it if it is not removed. After that: property of sufficient value may be sold at public sale, with a written or printed notice posted in three places within 5 miles of the sale at least 10 days beforehand; perishables may be disposed of; and items may be destroyed or donated if a sale would cost more than they are worth or they do not sell. The landlord must use reasonable care. Storage charges may not exceed the rent if the items are stored in the unit; if a commercial storage company is used, the landlord may charge actual moving and storage costs. A landlord who deliberately or negligently violates these rules may owe up to twice the tenant's actual damages. AS 34.03.260; AS 09.35.140 |
| Washington | An owner or authorized agent may give police a signed 'Request to Remove Trespasser(s)' declaration under penalty of perjury (statutory form) stating, among other things, that the occupants entered and remain unlawfully, are not and within the last 12 months have not been tenants or owners on title, were told to leave and refused, and that the premises were not abandoned or open to the public when they entered. A peace officer with probable cause of criminal trespass may then remove the persons (with or without arrest) and order them to stay off, but must first give occupants a reasonable opportunity to present credible evidence that they are tenants, legal occupants or their guests. The declarant can be sued for false statements (actual damages, costs, attorney's fees) and false swearing is a gross misdemeanor. Officers may not remove anyone entitled to occupy under a rental agreement; tenants require an unlawful detainer case. RCW 9A.52.105; RCW 9A.52.115 | If the tenant defaults in rent and indicates by words or actions an intent not to return, the landlord may take possession of the tenant's property and store it securely, and must make reasonable efforts (first-class mail to the last known and any other known address) to notify the tenant of where it is stored, the planned sale/disposal date, and the right to reclaim it on payment of the lesser of actual or reasonable moving and storage costs. Sale or disposal may occur 45 days after the notice is mailed or delivered (7 days if the total value is $250 or less, except personal papers, family pictures and keepsakes). Excess sale proceeds are held for the tenant for one year. Separate rules apply to a deceased sole tenant's property (two notices; sale/disposal at least 45 days after the second notice) and to property removed under a writ of restitution. RCW 59.18.310; RCW 59.18.595; RCW 59.18.312 |
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
- Alaska Rental Fee Rules
- Alaska Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- 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 squatters & abandoned property in all 50 states and DC →
Squatters' Rights in Alaska FAQ
How do you remove a squatter in Alaska?
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. (AS 34.03.330; AS 09.45.060 et seq. (FED))
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Alaska?
The landlord must notify the tenant of where the property is stored, that the tenant has at least 15 days to remove it (the landlord may allow longer), and what the landlord will do with it if it is not removed. After that: property of sufficient value may be sold at public sale, with a written or printed notice posted in three places within 5 miles of the sale at least 10 days beforehand; perishables may be disposed of; and items may be destroyed or donated if a sale would cost more than they are worth or they do not sell. The landlord must use reasonable care. Storage charges may not exceed the rent if the items are stored in the unit; if a commercial storage company is used, the landlord may charge actual moving and storage costs. A landlord who deliberately or negligently violates these rules may owe up to twice the tenant's actual damages. (AS 34.03.260; AS 09.35.140)
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.