Alaska landlord guide — least densely populated organized borough in the U.S., Alaska Peninsula, Katmai & Lake Clark NPs, Iliamna Lake, Egegik/Ugashik/Chignik salmon districts, 60+ fishing & hunting lodges & AS 34.03.010–34.03.380
🏙️ Most Populous CDP: Port Alsworth (Lake Clark NP) 👥 Population: ~1,000–1,476 — least dense organized borough in U.S. 🐟 Economy: Salmon fishing, lodges, subsistence
Landlord-Tenant Law in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Lake and Peninsula Borough is the least densely populated organized borough (county-equivalent) in the United States, covering approximately 32,922 square miles of the Alaska Peninsula and adjacent lake districts with a population of roughly 1,000–1,476 people scattered across 17 remote communities. The borough was incorporated in 1989 and stretches between Bristol Bay to the west and the Gulf of Alaska to the east, encompassing Iliamna Lake (Alaska’s largest lake, third-largest in the U.S.), Becharof Lake (second-largest in Alaska), the northern half of the Alaska Peninsula, and portions of some of the world’s most spectacular national parklands: Katmai National Park and Preserve (famous for its bear-viewing platforms at Brooks Falls), Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, and Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve. In a geographic quirk, the borough seat of King Salmon is actually located in the adjacent Bristol Bay Borough — and the borough’s government offices operate from King Salmon despite the city not being part of the borough itself.
The borough’s economy centers on three industries: commercial salmon fishing in the Egegik, Ugashik, and Chignik fishing districts (among Alaska’s most productive); tourism through over 60 fishing and hunting lodges serving world-class sport fishing on the Iliamna, Kvichak, Naknek, and Egegik river systems; and subsistence hunting and fishing that provides essential food for most year-round residents. The population is approximately 53% Alaska Native (Yup’ik, Aleut/Unangan, Athabascan, and other Indigenous peoples) with a strong subsistence cultural tradition. No community in the borough is accessible by road from the rest of Alaska — all travel is by small aircraft or, seasonally, by boat. Median household income is approximately $64,000, and median property values approximately $166,100 — one of the lowest in Alaska.
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 primary court serving the borough is the Third Judicial District Court in Naknek (in neighboring Bristol Bay Borough), 1 Main Street, (907) 246-4240. No rent control exists anywhere in Alaska.
2 months’ rent (AS 34.03.070); waived if rent >$2,000/mo
Eviction Enforcement
Alaska State Troopers / Village Public Safety Officers
Lake and Peninsula Borough Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Alaska state law
Category
Details
Borough Government & Rental Registration
Lake and Peninsula Borough is a home-rule borough incorporated in 1989. Borough administration operates from King Salmon (PO Box 495, (907) 246-3421), though King Salmon itself is in adjacent Bristol Bay Borough. The borough has no landlord registration or rental licensing program. Virtually all housing in village communities is owned and operated by tribal housing authorities or the Lake and Peninsula Borough School District (teacher housing). Six communities are incorporated cities with their own local governments. No local landlord-tenant ordinances supplement the Alaska state framework.
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. 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)).
Salmon Fishing Economy
The borough contains three of Alaska’s most important commercial salmon fishing districts: Egegik and Ugashik on Bristol Bay (drift-net sockeye), and Chignik on the Pacific coast (purse seine). During the summer fishing season (primarily June–August), the borough’s population swells dramatically as commercial fishermen and processing workers arrive. Egegik, for example, can see its population expand by 1,000–2,000 people during the Bristol Bay salmon season. This seasonal influx requires short-term accommodations; in most communities it is handled by fishing companies or cannery operators rather than private landlords. Seven shore-based processors and numerous floating processors operate within borough boundaries and generally import their own workforce housing.
Lodge Tourism & NPS
The borough hosts over 60 registered hunting and fishing lodges, concentrated around Iliamna Lake, Clark Lake, the Kvichak River system, and the Katmai coast. Approximately 100 professional guides are registered to operate within borough boundaries. Lodge workers — guides, cooks, housekeepers, pilots — are typically housed by lodge operators in staff quarters rather than in private market rentals. National Park Service staff at Katmai, Lake Clark, and Aniakchak are generally housed in government-provided facilities within park boundaries. Teachers with the Lake and Peninsula Borough School District are housed in school-district-owned teacher housing in each village.
Remote Communities & Housing
Every community in Lake and Peninsula Borough is accessible only by small aircraft or seasonally by boat; no roads connect any village to the outside world. Chignik (accessible by ferry from Kodiak and air) is the largest Pacific-coast community. Port Alsworth on Lake Clark is unique as a non-Native community of lodge owners, homesteaders, and Lake Clark NP gateway services. Iliamna and Newhalen on the north shore of Iliamna Lake serve as regional hubs with scheduled air service. Communities on Bristol Bay (Egegik, Pilot Point, Ugashik) are primarily seasonal fishing communities. The extreme remoteness of all communities makes conventional landlord-tenant relationships rare outside of informal arrangements.
Alaska FED Eviction Process
FED actions for Lake and Peninsula Borough are filed at the Third Judicial District Court in Naknek, 1 Main Street, (907) 246-4240, Mon–Thu 8am–4:30pm, Fri 8am–noon. Enforcement by Alaska State Troopers (King Salmon post: (907) 246-3464) or Village Public Safety Officers. Self-help eviction strictly illegal (AS 34.03.210). Domestic violence affirmative defense (AS 34.03.300).
AS 34.03.010–34.03.380 — applicable in Lake and Peninsula 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.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Alaska landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Alaska —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Alaska's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Alaska-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Alaska requirements.
Calculate your required notice period and earliest FED filing date
📋 Notice Period Calculator
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ 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.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Lake and Peninsula Borough
17 remote communities across the Alaska Peninsula and lake districts
Port Alsworth + Iliamna + Newhalen + Nondalton + Egegik + Pilot Point + Chignik + Chignik Lake + Perryville + Levelock + Kokhanok + Igiugig + Ivanof Bay + Port Heiden + Ugashik + Meshik + Chignik Lagoon. Least dense organized borough in U.S. All fly-in. Court: Naknek 3rd JD, 1 Main St, (907) 246-4240. Deposit cap 2 months. 7-day nonpayment; 30-day M-t-M. No rent control. No AK income tax.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Lake and Peninsula Borough exists at the intersection of wilderness and salmon — a 32,922-square-mile expanse of Alaska Peninsula, volcanic mountains, vast lake systems, and river drainages that together comprise one of the most spectacular and remote landscapes in North America. With fewer than 1,500 permanent residents spread across 17 communities, none connected to any road system, the borough holds the distinction of being the least densely populated organized borough in the United States. The Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03.010 through AS 34.03.380) governs all residential tenancies throughout the borough.
Salmon and the Economic Heartbeat
The borough contains three of Alaska’s premier commercial salmon fishing districts. Egegik and Ugashik on Bristol Bay are part of the legendary Bristol Bay sockeye run — the largest sockeye salmon run on earth, with annual harvests that can exceed 50 million fish. During the June–August season, these tiny communities swell dramatically as drift-net fishermen, tender operators, and cannery workers arrive. Chignik on the Pacific coast supports a productive purse-seine fishery for pink and sockeye salmon. Seven shore-based processors and numerous floating processors operate within borough boundaries, bringing their own workforce in company housing. The fishing economy’s intensity and seasonality means housing demand is extreme in summer and minimal in winter.
Lodge Tourism and National Parks
The borough’s second major industry is trophy fishing and hunting lodge tourism. Over 60 registered lodges operate within borough boundaries, concentrated on Iliamna Lake (Alaska’s largest), the trophy rainbow trout waters of the Kvichak River system, and the Katmai coast. Approximately 100 professional guides are registered in the borough. The three national parks within or adjacent to the borough — Katmai National Park and Preserve (world-famous for brown bear viewing at Brooks Falls), Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (one of Alaska’s least-visited parks), and Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (one of the least-visited units in the entire National Park System) — draw visitors and support NPS staff year-round. Lodge workers and NPS staff are typically housed by their employers in dedicated staff housing.
Teacher and Government Housing
The Lake and Peninsula Borough School District operates 11 schools serving approximately 227 students across the borough’s villages. Teachers are a critical workforce in each village and are typically housed in school-district-owned teacher housing — a common arrangement in rural Alaska that removes teachers from the private rental market. Other government employees (borough staff, state agency workers, health clinic staff) are similarly accommodated in government-provided housing. The private rental market in any conventional sense is essentially absent from the borough’s communities.
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. Non-curable: 5-Day Unconditional Notice. Intentional damage over $400: 24-Hour Notice. Month-to-month termination: 30-Day Written Notice. FED actions are filed at the Third Judicial District Court in Naknek, 1 Main Street, (907) 246-4240. Self-help eviction is illegal (AS 34.03.210).
Lake and Peninsula 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. AK State Troopers / VPSOs enforce. Court: Third Judicial District — Naknek, 1 Main St, Naknek AK 99633, (907) 246-4240; Mon–Thu 8am–4:30pm, Fri 8am–12pm AKT. No Alaska income tax. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Lake and Peninsula 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.
