Landlord-Tenant Law in Chugach Census Area, Alaska
Chugach Census Area is one of Alaska’s newest census divisions, established on January 2, 2019, through the subdivision of the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area. It covers approximately 9,530 square miles of rugged, glaciated terrain along the Gulf of Alaska coast, encompassing Prince William Sound, the Chugach Mountains, and some of the most dramatic fjord and glacier landscapes in North America. The census area is part of the Unorganized Borough and has no borough-level government. With a 2020 census population of 7,102 — declining to an estimated 6,600 by 2025 — it is anchored by three geographically distinct cities: Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier. The median household income of approximately $90,509 reflects the well-paid nature of the oil pipeline and fishing industries that drive the local economy.
Valdez, with approximately 3,800 residents, is the dominant community and the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The pipeline carries oil from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope approximately 800 miles south to Valdez, where it is loaded onto tankers. The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company is the largest employer in the area. Cordova, with approximately 2,100 residents on Prince William Sound, is accessible only by ferry or small plane — no road connects it to the rest of Alaska — and its economy centers on the Prince William Sound commercial fishing industry, particularly copper river salmon. Whittier, with approximately 200 residents, sits at the head of Passage Canal and is connected to the Alaska road system by the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America.
All residential landlord-tenant matters are governed by the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, AS 34.03.010 through AS 34.03.380. The Third Judicial District Court in Valdez (213 Meals Avenue) and the Cordova courthouse (500 Water Street) both serve the census area. No rent control exists anywhere in Alaska.
1989 oil spill in Prince William Sound remains defining event; ongoing ecological monitoring
Sec. Deposit Cap
2 months’ rent (AS 34.03.070); waived if rent >$2,000/mo
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
5/10 — Valdez has steady year-round pipeline worker demand; Cordova has genuine fishing/government demand despite no road access; Whittier is extremely small; all three markets are constrained by geography and supply
Third Judicial District — 213 Meals Ave, Valdez AK 99686
Valdez Phone
(907) 835-2266
Cordova Court
Third Judicial District — 500 Water St, Cordova AK 99574
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Alaska Time)
Eviction Enforcement
Alaska State Troopers / local law enforcement only
Chugach Census Area Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Alaska state law
Category
Details
No Borough Government
Chugach Census Area is part of Alaska’s Unorganized Borough and has no census-area-level government. Valdez is an incorporated first-class city with its own city code. Cordova is an incorporated first-class city. Whittier is a home rule city. Each city may have local ordinances applicable within city limits; state law governs the rest of the census area. None of these cities have enacted rent control, landlord licensing, or local tenant protection ordinances beyond Alaska state law.
Rent Control
None. Alaska preempts local rent control statewide. Neither Valdez, Cordova, nor Whittier has rent stabilization. Month-to-month rent increases require 30 days’ written notice before the rental due date (AS 34.03.060).
Security Deposit
Cap: 2 months’ rent (AS 34.03.070); cap waived for rentals exceeding $2,000/month. Additional pet deposit up to 1 month’s rent (non-service animals, accounted separately). Return within 14 days with proper tenant notice; 30 days if no notice or damages. Itemized deduction notice required. Willful failure to return: up to 2× wrongfully withheld amount (AS 34.03.070(d)).
Valdez Rental Market
Valdez is the southern terminus of the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company is the dominant employer, bringing well-paid pipeline workers, engineers, and maintenance staff who create year-round demand for quality rental housing. The pipeline industry provides income stability unusual in rural Alaska. Valdez also sees summer tourism demand from cruise ship visitors and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The Port of Valdez is an ice-free deep-water port and year-round shipping hub. Construction costs are high but the market has genuine depth relative to most census-area communities in the state.
Cordova Rental Market
Cordova is only accessible by ferry (the Alaska Marine Highway System) or small aircraft — no road reaches it. The economy centers on the Prince William Sound commercial fishery, particularly the Copper River salmon fishery, which produces some of the most prized and highest-value wild salmon in the world. The fishing season creates seasonal population swings, but Cordova has a substantial year-round base of fishing families, city government workers, school district employees, and USFS/Coast Guard personnel. Supply is constrained by geography, and rents reflect that scarcity.
Whittier
Whittier (~200 residents) is unique even by Alaska standards — the vast majority of its year-round residents live in a single 14-story building, Begich Towers, a former Army barracks that houses a grocery store, post office, church, and medical clinic. The city is connected to the Seward Highway by the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Private rental activity outside Begich Towers is minimal. The city sees summer tourism from cruise ships and kayakers accessing Prince William Sound.
Exxon Valdez Legacy
The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which occurred in Prince William Sound, remains one of the most significant environmental events in Alaska history. Its legacy affects Cordova in particular, where the fishing community bore the brunt of economic impact. NOAA continues long-term monitoring of Prince William Sound fisheries. Landlords in Cordova may interact with tenants who work in fisheries research, environmental monitoring, or restoration — a relatively stable government-funded employment sector.
Alaska FED Eviction Process
FED proceedings for Valdez area landlords: Third Judicial District, 213 Meals Avenue, Valdez, (907) 835-2266. For Cordova: 500 Water Street, Cordova. Whittier is served by Anchorage trial courts. Enforcement by Alaska State Troopers. Self-help eviction strictly illegal — no lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings (AS 34.03.210). Domestic violence is an affirmative defense to eviction (AS 34.03.300).
AS 34.03.010–34.03.380 — applicable in Chugach Census Area
⚡ Quick Overview
7
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
10
Days Notice (Violation)
30-60
Avg Total Days
$150
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type7-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Notice Period7 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes
Days to Hearing10-20 days
Days to Writ5-10 days
Total Estimated Timeline30-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-$500
⚠️ Watch Out
Tenant can cure by paying all rent owed plus late fees within the 7-day notice period. If tenant pays, landlord cannot proceed. Alaska has strong habitability defense protections.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$150).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Alaska eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Alaska attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Valdez (pipeline terminus, ~3,800) + Cordova (fishing, road-inaccessible, ~2,100) + Whittier (tunnel city, ~200). Created Jan. 2019 from Valdez-Cordova split. No borough government — Unorganized Borough. Valdez court: 213 Meals Ave, (907) 835-2266. Cordova: 500 Water St. Deposit cap 2 months. 7-day nonpayment; 30-day M-t-M. No rent control. Alaska State Troopers enforce. No AK income tax.
Chugach Census Area
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles in Valdez: Alyeska Pipeline employees and contractors (highly stable, well-paid, multi-year assignments), city government staff, and school district employees. In Cordova: commercial fishermen with established multi-season records, USFS/Coast Guard/NOAA personnel, and city workers. Verify employment letters for pipeline and fishing seasonal workers. Run Alaska court records. Income at 3x rent. In Whittier: government and tourism sector workers — the market is tiny and largely informal.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Chugach Census Area, Alaska
Chugach Census Area, established in January 2019 when the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area was split into two, covers some of Alaska’s most spectacular and economically significant terrain. The Chugach Mountains, tidewater glaciers, and fjords of Prince William Sound define the geography. Three cities — Valdez, Cordova, and Whittier — anchor a population of approximately 6,600 people across 9,530 square miles. Each city has a distinct economic character, a distinct rental market, and distinct logistical realities for landlords. The Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03.010 through AS 34.03.380) governs all residential tenancies throughout the census area.
Valdez: The Pipeline City
Valdez is the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which carries crude oil approximately 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company operates the Valdez Marine Terminal, where oil is loaded onto tankers for shipment to refineries on the West Coast and beyond. This makes Valdez one of the most economically unique small cities in America — a town of roughly 3,800 people whose economic backbone is one of the most critical pieces of energy infrastructure in North America. Alyeska and its contractors are the dominant employers, bringing pipeline engineers, safety personnel, maintenance technicians, and operations staff who need quality, long-term rental housing. These are stable, well-compensated tenants with multi-year contract commitments — exactly the profile every landlord wants. Valdez has road access via the Richardson Highway and a genuine rental market that merits serious landlord attention.
Cordova: The Fishing Town Without a Road
Cordova sits on Prince William Sound and is inaccessible by road — the only ways in are the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system or small aircraft. Despite this geographic isolation, Cordova has a robust economic identity centered on one of the world’s most valuable wild salmon fisheries. Copper River king and sockeye salmon, harvested from the Copper River delta southeast of Cordova, command premium prices at restaurants and fish markets across the country. The fishing season (primarily May through September) creates population swings, but Cordova has a substantial permanent population of fishing families, city government employees, school district staff, U.S. Forest Service workers, and Coast Guard personnel who provide year-round rental demand. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill devastated the local fishing economy and left a legacy of environmental monitoring employment that continues to this day.
Whittier: Alaska’s Tunnel City
Whittier is one of the most unusual communities in the United States. Connected to the Seward Highway by the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel — at 2.5 miles, the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America — the city of approximately 200 year-round residents is remarkable for the fact that the vast majority live in a single building: Begich Towers, a 14-story former Army barracks that contains apartments, a post office, a church, a grocery store, and a health clinic. Private rental activity outside this building is minimal. Whittier serves as a gateway to Prince William Sound for kayakers, fishing charters, and cruise passengers during summer months, creating seasonal economic activity without much impact on the year-round rental market.
Security Deposits, Notices, and Eviction
Alaska caps security deposits at two months’ rent, waived for units over $2,000 per month. Return within 14 days with proper notice, or 30 days if no notice or damages. For nonpayment: 7-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. Curable violations: 10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit. Repeat/non-curable: 5-Day Unconditional Notice. Damage over $400: 24-Hour Notice. Month-to-month termination: 30-Day Written Notice. Valdez landlords file FED actions at the Third Judicial District Court, 213 Meals Avenue, (907) 835-2266. Cordova landlords file at 500 Water Street, Cordova. Self-help eviction is illegal (AS 34.03.210).
Chugach Census Area landlord-tenant matters governed by AS 34.03.010–34.03.380. Nonpayment: 7-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. Lease violation (curable): 10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit. Repeat/non-curable: 5-Day Unconditional Notice to Quit. Intentional damage >$400: 24-Hour Notice. Month-to-month termination: 30-Day Written Notice. Security deposit cap: 2 months’ rent (waived >$2,000/mo); pet deposit up to 1 additional month. Return 14 days with notice; 30 days if no notice or damages. Willful withholding: up to 2× damages. No rent control. Self-help eviction illegal — up to 1.5× damages (AS 34.03.210). Domestic violence affirmative defense: AS 34.03.300. Alaska State Troopers enforce. Courts: Valdez — 213 Meals Ave, PO Box 127, Valdez AK 99686, (907) 835-2266; Cordova — 500 Water St, Cordova AK 99574; both Third Judicial District; Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm AKT. No Alaska income tax. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Chugach Census Area, Alaska and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Alaska attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
