Alaska security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Alaska: What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Keep

Your landlord has 30 days under Alaska law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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Alaska security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

30 days

Statute

Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h))

Two deadlines exist: if the tenant (or landlord) gave termination notice complying with AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions are taken, the landlord must mail the itemized notice and refund within 14 DAYS after termination and delivery of possession; the landlord gets 30 DAYS when costs are deducted for tenant-caused damages, or when the tenant did not give compliant notice (we compute from the 30-day outer bound so no asserted date is ever premature). If the landlord lacks a mailing address but knows how to contact the tenant, a reasonable effort to deliver is required. Deposit plus prepaid rent may not exceed two months' rent (exempt where rent exceeds $2,000/month); a pet deposit may add up to one month's rent, separately accounted. Deposits must be held in trust, never commingled.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Alaska?

Allowed

  • ✓Accrued rent
  • ✓Damages from the tenant's noncompliance with AS 34.03.120 — deterioration of the premises and contents — itemized in written notice
  • ✓Pet-deposit portion only for damages directly related to the tenant's pet

Not allowed

  • ✗Deterioration from normal wear and tear
  • ✗Deterioration caused by the landlord's own failure to prepare the premises or meet the landlord's statutory obligations

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Alaska?

If the landlord WILFULLY fails to comply with the itemization/refund duty, the tenant may recover an amount NOT TO EXCEED TWICE the actual amount withheld (§ 34.03.070(d)). Willfulness is required and the 2x is a ceiling, not automatic — never assert an automatic doubling.

How TenantNex helps

  1. 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
  2. 2. We generate a demand letter citing Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h)) and your exact deadline.
  3. 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
  4. 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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Alaska tenant rights resources

Every fact on this page is verified against Alaska's official statutory text as of 2026-09-07. TenantNex prepares legal correspondence as a document preparation service, not as your attorney. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Alaska.

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What TenantNex is — and isn't

TenantNex is a document preparation and delivery service, not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.