Sitka City and Borough Landlord-Tenant Law

Alaska landlord guide — Sitka (Sheet’ká, former Russian colonial capital, largest U.S. city by area), Tlingit homeland, Sitka National Historical Park, SEARHC healthcare hub, Pacific Ocean access & AS 34.03.010–34.03.380

Landlord-Tenant Law in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska

Sitka City and Borough holds a remarkable distinction: it is the largest city in the United States by total area, encompassing approximately 4,811 square miles of land and water, or 2,870 square miles of land alone, spread across Baranof Island, the south half of Chichagof Island, and numerous smaller islands. It is Southeast Alaska’s only city on the Pacific Ocean (rather than the sheltered Inside Passage), making its location and character distinct from all other Southeast Alaska communities. The 2020 census counted 8,458 residents; by 2026 the population is estimated at approximately 8,317, making Sitka Alaska’s fifth most populous city. The city sits on the western side of Baranof Island, looking out over Sitka Sound to the Pacific.

Sitka carries more than 225 years of documented history. The Tlingit people of the Sheet’ká Kwáan (whose name for Baranof Island, Sheêt’-ká X’áat’l, gives the city its name) have inhabited this area for thousands of years. Russian explorers established a fort here in 1799; after the Tlingit destroyed it in 1802 and the Russians recaptured the site following the Battle of Sitka in 1804, it grew into New Archangel — the capital of Russian America and the largest Russian settlement in North America. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, and the official transfer ceremony was held in Sitka. The city has maintained its extraordinary multicultural layering — Tlingit, Russian Orthodox, American — throughout its history, evident today in landmarks such as St. Michael’s Cathedral (the oldest Russian Orthodox cathedral in North America), Sitka National Historical Park (site of the 1804 battle, featuring totem poles and the Russian Bishop’s House), and the Sheldon Jackson Museum.

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 are filed in the First Judicial District Court in Sitka, 304 Lake Street, (907) 747-3291. No rent control exists anywhere in Alaska.

Sitka City and Borough Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules

Local rules that apply alongside Alaska state law

Last verified: May 2026 · Source: AS 34.03.010–34.03.380

Alaska Eviction Laws

AS 34.03.010–34.03.380 — applicable in Sitka City and Borough

A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Sitka City and Borough, Alaska

Sitka is the most historically layered city in Alaska — a place where Tlingit culture, Russian colonial history, and American Alaska all coexist in a stunning Pacific Ocean setting that no other city in the state can match. Founded as New Archangel by the Russian-American Company in 1804 on the site of the Tlingit village Sheetʼká, it served as the capital of Russian America until the Alaska Purchase in 1867. The purchase ceremony itself took place here, at Castle Hill overlooking Sitka Sound. Today’s visitors can trace this history through St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Russian Bishop’s House, and Sitka National Historical Park — while also experiencing living Tlingit culture through the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. The Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03.010 through AS 34.03.380) governs all residential tenancies.

SEARHC: The Healthcare Anchor

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium operates Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital on Japonski Island, across Sitka Channel from downtown (connected via the O’Connell Bridge). As Sitka’s largest private employer, SEARHC recruits healthcare professionals — physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists — from across Alaska and the lower 48. Many come on multi-year contracts and need quality rental housing. The organization also serves as the regional healthcare provider for tribal communities throughout Southeast Alaska, drawing patients and staff to Sitka from across the region. SEARHC-related tenants are Sitka’s most stable and sought-after rental demographic.

Fishing, Tourism, and Growing Diversity

Commercial fishing has been central to Sitka’s economy for generations. Sitka Sound’s position on the Pacific Ocean (rather than the sheltered Inside Passage) makes it one of Southeast Alaska’s premier fishing areas: halibut, multiple salmon species, sablefish, herring, Dungeness crab, and Pacific cod support a large commercial and sportfishing fleet. The Sitka Sound Science Center operates a salmon hatchery and runs respected marine science programs. Tourism is expanding: WhaleFest (November), the Sitka National Historical Park, and the city’s reputation for outdoor adventure drawing kayakers, hikers, and bear-viewing visitors. The University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus and Sheldon Jackson Museum add educational employment.

The Largest City in the U.S. (By Area)

Sitka’s remarkable geographic statistic — the largest city in the United States by total area at approximately 4,811 square miles — reflects the massive footprint of Baranof Island and the Tongass National Forest within its consolidated city-borough boundaries. The actual urban area is confined to the north tip of Baranof Island and the connecting islands. Most of the borough is inaccessible wilderness. This geographic scale means Sitka has essentially unlimited recreational access to the Tongass National Forest, coastal fjords, and Pacific Ocean waters from its doorstep.

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 filed at First Judicial District Court, 304 Lake Street, Sitka, (907) 747-3291. Self-help eviction is illegal (AS 34.03.210).

Sitka City and 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. SPD / AK State Troopers enforce. Court: First Judicial District, 304 Lake St, Sitka AK 99835; (907) 747-3291; Mon–Thu 8am–4:30pm, Fri 8am–12pm AKT. No Alaska income tax. Last updated: May 2026.

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