Landlord-Tenant Law in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area covers a vast swath of Southeast Alaska, encompassing some of the most remote and ecologically significant islands, fjords, and waterways in the state. The census area includes Chichagof Island (one of the largest islands in the U.S.), Admiralty Island (90%+ protected as a national monument), Baranof Island (shared with Sitka), and numerous smaller islands and coastal communities accessible only by small plane or the Alaska Marine Highway System. Part of the Unorganized Borough with no census-area government, it had a 2020 census population of 2,365. By 2025 the estimate is approximately 2,300. The largest community is the City of Hoonah (~978 residents) on Chichagof Island. Other significant communities include Angoon on Admiralty Island (~420), Gustavus near Glacier Bay (~440), Pelican (~80), and Elfin Cove (~30). The median age of approximately 50 years reflects an older, established Southeast Alaska community. Approximately 26% of residents are Alaska Native, primarily Tlingit and Haida.
The Hoonah economy is the most developed in the census area. Icy Strait Point, a cruise ship destination and adventure tourism facility owned by Huna Totem Corporation (the local Tlingit ANCSA village corporation), has transformed Hoonah’s economy significantly — making it one of the most-visited cruise ship ports in Alaska on a per-capita basis. Gustavus serves as the gateway community for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Park Service employees and seasonal tourism workers create year-round and seasonal housing demand. Angoon is the only community on Admiralty Island, one of the most intact temperate rainforest ecosystems in the world, protected as Admiralty Island National Monument. Commercial fishing, subsistence, and government services sustain the remaining communities. Median household income across the census area is approximately $61,406, reflecting lower incomes in subsistence-oriented villages.
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 Hoonah are filed in the First Judicial District Court in Hoonah (300 Front Street, (907) 945-3668); for Angoon: First Judicial District Court in Angoon (700 Aan Deina Aat Street, (907) 788-3229). No rent control exists anywhere in Alaska.
Hoonah (~978 — Chichagof Island; Icy Strait Point cruise port)
Other Communities
Gustavus (~440, Glacier Bay gateway); Angoon (~420, Admiralty Island); Pelican (~80); Elfin Cove (~30)
Census Area Population
~2,300 (2025 est.) — 2020 census: 2,365
Median Age
~50 years — older Southeast Alaska community
Median HH Income
~$61,406 (varies widely; Hoonah ~$83,000)
Principal Economy
Icy Strait Point cruise tourism (Hoonah); Glacier Bay NP (Gustavus); commercial fishing; subsistence; government services
Access
Ferry (Alaska Marine Highway) + small plane to all communities; no road access anywhere
Sec. Deposit Cap
2 months’ rent (AS 34.03.070); waived if rent >$2,000/mo
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
3/10 — very small markets with limited private rental stock; Hoonah has tourism-driven demand; Gustavus has NPS/seasonal demand; all communities fly-in or ferry only; high homeownership rates in villages
First Judicial District — 300 Front St, Hoonah AK 99829
Hoonah Phone
(907) 945-3668
Angoon Court
First Judicial District — 700 Aan Deina Aat St, Angoon AK 99820
Angoon Phone
(907) 788-3229
Court Hours
Hoonah: Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm; Angoon: 9:30am–1:30pm
Eviction Enforcement
Alaska State Troopers / local law enforcement
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Alaska state law
Category
Details
No Borough Government
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area is part of Alaska’s Unorganized Borough and has no census-area-level government. The City of Hoonah is an incorporated second-class city with its own code. Angoon, Pelican, Elfin Cove, and Gustavus are also incorporated cities. None have enacted rent control, landlord licensing, or local tenant protection ordinances beyond Alaska state law.
Rent Control
None. Alaska preempts local rent control statewide. 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. Return within 14 days with proper tenant notice; 30 days if no notice or damages. Willful failure to return: up to 2× wrongfully withheld amount (AS 34.03.070(d)).
Hoonah & Icy Strait Point
Hoonah has been transformed by Icy Strait Point, the cruise ship destination and adventure tourism facility developed and owned by Huna Totem Corporation — the ANCSA village corporation of the Huna Tlingit people. Icy Strait Point hosts cruise ships from major lines including Holland America, Princess, and Celebrity, making Hoonah one of Alaska’s busiest cruise ports on a per-capita basis during the May–September season. Tourism employment has grown significantly; hospitality, guide services, zip-line operation, and related jobs create real seasonal housing demand. Hoonah’s median household income (~$83,000) is well above the census area average, reflecting this tourism economy. For private landlords, the year-round tenant base includes city government, school district, and healthcare workers; the seasonal overlay comes from tourism industry staff.
Gustavus & Glacier Bay
Gustavus serves as the sole land gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering approximately 3.3 million acres. The National Park Service employs rangers, maintenance, and administrative staff who need housing during the operating season (roughly May–September), creating meaningful demand in the small community. Some NPS staff seek year-round housing. Gustavus has a distinctive character as a community of homesteaders, artists, fishing families, and outdoor professionals — largely self-sufficient, with limited commercial infrastructure. Access is by small plane or summer ferry; there are no roads connecting it to the broader highway system.
Angoon & Remote Villages
Angoon, the only community on Admiralty Island, is the Tlingit cultural center of Kootznoowoo (Admiralty Island National Monument). With approximately 420 residents, it is accessible only by floatplane or ferry. Private rental markets are essentially nonexistent; tribal housing authority provides most residential stock. Pelican and Elfin Cove are tiny remote fishing communities serving the commercial trolling fleet. All outer communities are flyout only with no private rental markets.
Alaska FED Eviction Process
FED proceedings for Hoonah-area landlords: First Judicial District Court, 300 Front Street, Hoonah, (907) 945-3668. For Angoon: 700 Aan Deina Aat Street, Angoon, (907) 788-3229. 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 Hoonah-Angoon 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.
Hoonah (~978, Icy Strait Point cruise port, Huna Tlingit) + Gustavus (~440, Glacier Bay NP) + Angoon (~420, Admiralty Island) + Pelican + Elfin Cove. No borough government. Ferry + small plane only. Two First Judicial District courts: Hoonah (300 Front St, (907) 945-3668) & Angoon (700 Aan Deina Aat St, (907) 788-3229). Deposit cap 2 months. 7-day nonpayment; 30-day M-t-M. No rent control. No AK income tax.
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles in Hoonah: Huna Totem Corporation and Icy Strait Point employees (year-round), city government staff, school district employees, healthcare workers. For Gustavus: NPS staff (verify employment letter and seasonal vs. permanent appointment), established community residents. For seasonal hospitality workers: fixed-term leases only. This is a very small, close-knit community — local employer references are highly informative. Run Alaska court records. Income at 3x rent.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska
Hoonah-Angoon Census Area encompasses some of the most remote and ecologically intact landscapes in Southeast Alaska — islands of old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock, glaciers calving into saltwater fjords, and the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit people who have lived among these islands for thousands of years. The census area includes Chichagof Island (one of the largest islands in the United States), Admiralty Island (mostly designated as Kootznoowoo Wilderness within the national monument), and the approach to Glacier Bay. With a population of approximately 2,300 spread across several island communities accessible only by small plane or ferry, the private rental market here is modest in scale but genuine in character. 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.
Hoonah: Transformed by Icy Strait Point
Hoonah, the largest community with approximately 978 residents, has undergone remarkable economic development through Icy Strait Point — an adventure tourism facility and cruise ship destination on Chichagof Island developed and owned by Huna Totem Corporation, the ANCSA village corporation of the Huna Tlingit people. Icy Strait Point hosts cruise ships from major lines throughout the summer season, bringing thousands of visitors and creating significant hospitality employment. Hoonah’s median household income of approximately $83,000 is well above the census area average, reflecting this tourism economy. For private landlords, the year-round tenant base includes city government, school, and healthcare workers; the summer season brings additional hospitality staff. The Hoonah court at 300 Front Street handles FED proceedings for this community.
Gustavus: The Glacier Bay Gateway
Gustavus, with approximately 440 residents, is the gateway community for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve — a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering over 3.3 million acres of retreating glaciers, pristine fjords, and recovering ecosystems. The National Park Service is the dominant employer, with rangers, maintenance workers, boat operators, and administrative staff creating year-round housing demand that is supplemented by seasonal hiring from May through September. Gustavus has a distinctive character as a homesteader community with a strong sense of independence and land stewardship. Access is by small plane or seasonal ferry; no roads connect it to the outside world. For landlords, NPS permanent employees are ideal tenants — federal employment, stable income, and multi-year appointments are the norm.
Angoon and the Remote Communities
Angoon, on Admiralty Island, is the cultural and governmental center of the Kootznoowoo Tlingit people. Most of Admiralty Island is protected as a national monument and wilderness — it has one of the highest densities of brown bears in North America and some of the most intact temperate rainforest in the world. With approximately 420 residents and access only by floatplane or ferry, Angoon has a limited private rental market; most housing is provided by tribal housing authorities. The Angoon court at 700 Aan Deina Aat Street handles FED proceedings, with limited hours of 9:30am–1:30pm.
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. 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 or non-curable: 5-Day Unconditional Notice. Intentional damage over $400: 24-Hour Notice. Month-to-month termination: 30-Day Written Notice. Self-help eviction is illegal (AS 34.03.210).
Hoonah-Angoon 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. Courts: First Judicial District — Hoonah: 300 Front St, Box 430, Hoonah AK 99829, (907) 945-3668, Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm; Angoon: 700 Aan Deina Aat St, Box 250, Angoon AK 99820, (907) 788-3229, 9:30am–1:30pm. No Alaska income tax. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Hoonah-Angoon 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.
