Alaska Landlord Tenant Rights

Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission in Alaska?

This question is about Alaska Landlord Tenant Rights

In Alaska, landlord entry is strictly regulated by the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS § 34.03.140). As of 2026, the core requirements for notice and consent remain a pillar of tenant privacy rights in the state.

Legal Entry Without Prior Consent

A landlord may only bypass the standard notice requirements in the following four specific scenarios:

  • True Emergencies: Immediate entry is permitted for crises that threaten life or property (e.g., active fire, gas leak, or flooding).

  • Abandonment or Surrender: If the tenant has permanently moved out or legally surrendered the keys, no notice is required.

  • Extended Absence: Under AS § 34.03.230, if a tenant is gone for more than seven days without notifying the landlord, the landlord may enter at times “reasonably necessary” for maintenance or protection.

  • Impracticability: Entry is allowed if it is genuinely impossible to contact the tenant, though this is rare and usually linked to urgent maintenance.

Requirements for Standard Entry

For all non-emergency situations—including inspections, repairs, or showing the unit to buyers—Alaska law mandates:

  • 24-Hour Notice: The landlord must provide at least 24 hours’ notice of their intent to enter.

  • Specific Details: The notice should ideally specify the date, approximate time, and purpose of the entry.

  • Reasonable Hours: Entry must occur at “reasonable times” (typically interpreted as standard business hours).

  • Tenant Permission: Unlike some other states, Alaska law emphasizes that the landlord enters with “the tenant’s consent.” However, AS § 34.03.140(a) explicitly states that a tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent for necessary repairs or services once proper notice is given.

Protection Against Abuse

  • Harassment: A landlord may not use the right of access to harass a tenant. Frequent or intrusive entries, even with 24-hour notice, can be legally challenged as a violation of the “covenant of quiet enjoyment.”

  • Legal Remedies: If a landlord enters illegally, the tenant may recover actual damages or an amount equal to one month’s rent, whichever is greater, and may have grounds to terminate the lease.

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The information for this answer was found on our Alaska Landlord Tenant Rights answers.

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