Alaska landlord guide — Healy (borough seat, Usibelli Coal Mine), Denali National Park gateway, Anderson/Clear Space Force Station, George Parks Highway corridor & AS 34.03.010–34.03.380
Denali Borough is a home rule borough in central Alaska, incorporated in December 1990, spanning over 12,000 square miles of interior wilderness along the George Parks Highway corridor between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The borough encompasses approximately 70% of its land within Denali National Park and Preserve, home to Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) at 20,310 feet — the highest peak in North America. With a 2020 census population of 1,619, the borough is anchored by Healy, the borough seat and largest community with approximately 1,000 year-round residents. The City of Anderson, with a population of approximately 300, is the only incorporated municipality in the borough. Other communities include McKinley Village, Cantwell, and scattered settlements along the Parks Highway.
The borough economy rests on three distinct pillars. Tourism to Denali National Park is the dominant seasonal driver — the park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer, creating massive demand for hospitality workers, guides, and service staff who need temporary housing. Usibelli Coal Mine, located near Healy, is the largest coal mining operation in Alaska and a year-round employer providing stable, well-paying jobs to a core of permanent residents. Clear Space Force Station (formerly Clear Air Force Base), located near the City of Anderson, is a major military installation operating a missile warning radar system, providing steady federal employment to both military and civilian workers. Median household income in Healy is approximately $89,531, reflecting the mix of well-paid mining and military workers alongside seasonal tourism employment.
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. Eviction actions for Denali Borough are filed in the Fourth Judicial District Court in Nenana, located at 102 West 8th Street. No rent control exists anywhere in Alaska.
Anderson (~300, home to Clear Space Force Station)
Other Communities
McKinley Village (seasonal), Cantwell, Otto Lake
Borough Population
~1,620 (2024 est.) — incorporated Dec. 1990
Healy Median HH Income
~$89,531
Principal Economy
Denali National Park tourism (seasonal); Usibelli Coal Mine (year-round, AK’s largest coal operation); Clear Space Force Station (federal)
Denali NP & Preserve
~70% of borough land; North America’s highest peak (20,310 ft); 600,000+ annual visitors
Sec. Deposit Cap
2 months’ rent (AS 34.03.070); waived if rent >$2,000/mo
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
4/10 — Healy has genuine year-round demand from Usibelli miners and military/federal workers; highly seasonal tourism spike June–Aug creates demand for seasonal housing; small overall market; supply constrained along Parks Highway corridor
Alaska State Troopers / local law enforcement only
Denali Borough Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Alaska state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
Denali Borough has not enacted borough-level landlord licensing or mandatory rental registration. The City of Anderson (the only incorporated municipality) has its own city code but no landlord licensing requirement. The borough levies a bed tax applicable to short-term rentals and accommodations, which landlords operating STRs near Denali National Park should be aware of. Code enforcement is complaint-driven throughout the borough. Alaska has no state-level landlord licensing requirement.
Rent Control
None. Alaska preempts local rent control statewide. Denali Borough has no rent stabilization ordinance. 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)).
Healy: Mining Town & Park Gateway
Healy sits at the intersection of two distinct economies. Usibelli Coal Mine, Alaska’s only operating coal mine of significance, employs well-paid miners and support workers year-round — these are among the most stable long-term tenants in the borough. The Denali National Park entrance is 17 miles south of Healy, and the summer tourism season (May–September) brings a massive influx of hospitality workers, park concessionaires, and seasonal service employees who need short-term housing. The result is a bifurcated rental market: a small year-round core of mining, military, school, and government tenants, and a large seasonal surge during the tourist season.
Anderson & Clear Space Force Station
The City of Anderson and the surrounding area are closely tied to Clear Space Force Station (formerly Clear Air Force Base), which operates a missile warning radar system. Military personnel and federal civilian employees stationed at Clear provide a stable, year-round employment base for the Anderson area. Anderson is the only incorporated city in the borough and has its own city council and ordinances, though no rent control or landlord licensing requirements.
Seasonal Tourism & Lease Structure
The Denali tourism season creates intense short-term demand from May through September. Landlords near Healy or McKinley Village who wish to accommodate seasonal hospitality workers should use fixed-term leases aligned to the season to avoid tenants remaining after the work season ends. Fixed-term leases provide both parties certainty and eliminate the need for notice to terminate at the end of the defined period.
Alaska FED Eviction Process
FED proceedings for Denali Borough are filed at the Fourth Judicial District Court in Nenana (102 West 8th Street, (907) 832-5430). 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 Denali Borough
⚡ 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.
Healy (seat, ~1,000, Usibelli Coal Mine, park gateway) + Anderson (only incorporated city, Clear SFS) + Cantwell + McKinley Village (seasonal). ~70% of land is Denali NP. George Parks Highway + Alaska Railroad. Fourth Judicial District, Nenana, 102 W. 8th St, (907) 832-5430. Deposit cap 2 months. 7-day nonpayment; 30-day M-t-M. No rent control. Alaska State Troopers enforce. No AK income tax.
Denali Borough
Screen Before You Sign
Best year-round profiles: Usibelli Coal Mine employees (highly stable, well-paid), Clear Space Force Station military and civilian workers, Denali Borough government and school district staff. For seasonal tenants (park hospitality, guides, concessionaires): fixed-term leases aligned to the tourism season are essential. Never allow seasonal workers to default to month-to-month. Verify employer letters for all park concessionaires. Run Alaska court records. Income at 3x rent.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Denali Borough, Alaska
Denali Borough occupies a strip of interior Alaska along the George Parks Highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, most of it dominated by Denali National Park and Preserve — approximately 70% of the borough’s 12,000-plus square miles. At the center of the park stands Denali itself, at 20,310 feet the highest mountain in North America. Incorporated in December 1990, the borough has a year-round population of approximately 1,620 people and an economy that combines three distinct sectors: national park tourism, coal mining, and military. Understanding how these three economies interact is the key to understanding the rental market in Denali Borough. The Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03.010 through AS 34.03.380) governs all residential tenancies.
Healy: Mining Town by Day, Park Gateway at Night
Healy, the borough seat, is one of the more interesting small communities in Alaska because it has two distinct economic identities living side by side. On one hand, it is home to Usibelli Coal Mine, Alaska’s largest operating coal mine, which has operated continuously since the 1940s and employs well-paid miners and heavy equipment operators year-round. These workers — stable, long-tenured, and well-compensated — form the backbone of Healy’s year-round rental market and are excellent long-term tenants. Median household income in Healy is approximately $89,531, well above what most rural Alaska communities can claim.
On the other hand, Denali National Park’s entrance is just 17 miles south of Healy, and from May through September the park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. The park’s concessionaires, lodges, tour operators, and service businesses employ hundreds of seasonal workers who need housing during the tourist season. The proximity to both the park and the Parks Highway makes Healy the natural base for this workforce. For landlords, the seasonal tourism economy creates a real opportunity — but it must be managed with fixed-term leases. A seasonal hospitality worker on a month-to-month lease who is let go in September can remain in the unit while you have no immediate replacement tenant lined up. Always use a written fixed-term lease for seasonal tenancies, with a clear end date aligned to the season.
Anderson and Clear Space Force Station
The City of Anderson, located approximately 40 miles north of Healy, is the only incorporated municipality in the borough and is closely tied to Clear Space Force Station. Clear operates one of the Air Force’s missile warning radar systems and has been a significant military presence in the interior since the Cold War era. Military personnel and federal civilian contractors at Clear provide a year-round, stable employment base for the Anderson area — exactly the tenant profile that produces consistent, low-drama tenancies. Anderson has its own city code as the borough’s only incorporated city, though no rent control or landlord licensing requirements have been enacted.
Security Deposits, Notices, and Eviction
Alaska caps security deposits at two months’ rent (AS 34.03.070), waived for rentals over $2,000 per month. Deposits must be held in trust and returned within 14 days of tenancy end with proper notice, or 30 days if no notice or damages. For nonpayment of rent: 7-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. Curable violations: 10-Day Notice to Cure or Quit. Repeat or non-curable: 5-Day Unconditional Notice. Intentional damage over $400: 24-Hour Notice. Month-to-month termination: 30-Day Written Notice. FED actions for Denali Borough are filed at the Fourth Judicial District Court in Nenana, 102 West 8th Street, (907) 832-5430, open Monday through Thursday 8am–4pm and Friday until noon. Self-help eviction is illegal (AS 34.03.210).
Denali Borough 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. Court: Fourth Judicial District, 102 W. 8th St, Box 449, Nenana AK 99760; (907) 832-5430; Mon–Thu 8am–4pm, Fri 8am–12pm AKT. No Alaska income tax. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Denali Borough, 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.
