Alaska Notice to Vacate: 2026 Landlord Process & Notice Periods
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Alaska · Last updated 2026-05-31
Alaska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets the notice rules a landlord follows before filing for eviction. Under AS 34.03.220, nonpayment of rent calls for a written 7-day notice per current Alaska state guidance, a material lease violation gives the tenant a 10-day cure window, and a periodic tenancy ends on the AS 34.03.290 notice (30 days month-to-month, 14 days week-to-week). The written notice to quit must meet the content rules of AS 09.45.105 and be served by personal delivery, left at the premises, or registered or certified mail. If the tenant does not move out, the landlord files a Forcible Entry and Detainer action in the Alaska District Court for the location of the property. Because laws can change, landlords should confirm current notice periods before serving a notice to vacate.
What is the step-by-step process to evict a tenant in Alaska?
Alaska eviction runs in order. First, identify the cause (nonpayment, lease violation, illegal use, deliberate damage, or end of a periodic tenancy). Second, draft a written notice to quit that meets the content rules of AS 09.45.105: it must state the nature of the breach, the remedial action and deadline if the breach is correctable, direct the tenant to vacate by a specified date and time, and warn that a civil action may follow. Third, serve the notice under AS 09.45.100 by personal delivery, by leaving it at the premises if the tenant is absent, or by registered or certified mail. Fourth, wait the full notice period (3 extra days apply when the notice is mailed under AS 09.45.090(c)). Fifth, if the tenant does not move, file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (F.E.D.) action in the Alaska District Court.
How many days notice does Alaska require for nonpayment of rent?
Current Alaska state guidance sets the nonpayment notice at 7 days. The Alaska Department of Law booklet summarizing AS 34.03.220(b) states that if rent is not paid when due, the landlord may serve written notice requiring payment within seven days, and the Alaska Court System self-help eviction page states the tenant gets 7 days to move out or pay (or 10 days if the notice is mailed, reflecting the 3-day mailing add-on under AS 09.45.090(c)). Landlords should confirm the current statutory notice period, as laws can be amended.
How much notice does Alaska require to end a lease or month-to-month tenancy with no cause?
Alaska has no statewide just-cause requirement, so a no-cause termination of a periodic tenancy defaults to the AS 34.03.290(b) notice. Per the Alaska Department of Law booklet summarizing that section, either party may terminate by serving written notice on the other at least 30 days before the end of a rental period for a month-to-month tenancy, or at least 14 days for a week-to-week tenancy. If the tenant remains in possession after the term ends or after termination, AS 34.03.290(c) lets the landlord serve a notice to quit and bring an action for possession.
What happens if the tenant does not move out after the notice period?
If the tenant stays past the notice period, the landlord files a Forcible Entry and Detainer (F.E.D.) action in the Alaska District Court for the location of the rental property and pays the published $150 filing fee. The Alaska Court System states the court holds a hearing within 15 days of when the case is filed, but no sooner than 2 days after the tenant is served the complaint. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession and the landlord may obtain a writ to have law enforcement remove the tenant. A landlord may never use self-help (changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities); only law enforcement may carry out a removal.
Alaska notice-to-vacate framework at a glance
Alaska landlord notice and pre-eviction rules are governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act at AS 34.03, with the post-notice court action (Forcible Entry and Detainer) governed by AS 09.45.070 through 09.45.160. Under AS 34.03.220, current Alaska state guidance sets the nonpayment notice at 7 days, a material lease violation at a 10-day cure with termination no sooner than 20 days, a repeat violation within six months at 5 days, illegal use at 5 days, and deliberate substantial damage over $400 at 24 hours; 3 days are added to any period when the notice is served by mail under AS 09.45.090(c). A no-cause termination of a periodic tenancy follows AS 34.03.290(b) (30 days month-to-month, 14 days week-to-week). Alaska has no statewide just-cause requirement and no rent control. The written notice to quit must meet the content rules of AS 09.45.105. The Alaska Court System publishes self-help eviction guidance and forms (including CIV-725 Notice to Quit for nonpayment and CIV-105 F.E.D. Summons) at courts.alaska.gov; landlords should confirm the current statutory notice periods before serving a notice.
Landlord Resources
Alaska Court System Self-Help Eviction Center
Official judicial-branch self-help pages explaining how to start an eviction (F.E.D.) case, notice periods by cause, the $150 filing fee, and the 15-day hearing window.
Alaska Court System Housing Forms
Publisher landing page for the notice and eviction forms landlords commonly use, including CIV-725 Notice to Quit, CIV-720 eviction booklet, PUB-30 Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act, and CIV-105 F.E.D. Summons.
Alaska Department of Law: The Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act
Consumer booklet from the Alaska Department of Law summarizing AS 34.03, including nonpayment notice, material-noncompliance cure and termination periods, periodic-tenancy notice, and the retaliation prohibition.
Relevant Laws
AS 34.03.220 (Remedies for Noncompliance and Nonpayment)
Sets the landlord's notice tracks under the URLTA: the nonpayment notice, the material-noncompliance cure and termination periods, the repeat-violation notice, and the 24-hour notice for deliberate substantial damage over $400.
AS 34.03.290 (Periodic Tenancy and Holdover)
Governs termination of a periodic tenancy by written notice (30 days month-to-month, 14 days week-to-week) and the landlord's action for possession when a tenant holds over without consent.
AS 09.45.100 (Notice to Quit)
Sets the service methods for a notice to quit: personal delivery, leaving it at the premises if the tenant is absent, or registered or certified mail.
AS 09.45.105 (Content of Notice to Quit)
Requires the notice to state the nature of the breach and any remedial action and deadline, direct the tenant to vacate by a specified date and time, and warn that a civil action for removal may follow.
AS 09.45.090 (Forcible Entry and Detainer; Mailing Add-On)
Governs unlawful holding and the F.E.D. grounds, and adds 3 days to the applicable notice period when the notice is served by mail.
AS 34.03.310 (Retaliatory Conduct Prohibited)
Bars a landlord from increasing rent, decreasing services, or bringing an action for possession after a tenant exercises rights under the URLTA, and gives the tenant a defense in a possession action.
Federal SCRA, 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (Termination of Residential Leases)
Federal protection addressing residential lease termination and eviction safeguards for active-duty servicemembers;
Regional Variances
Alaska District Court eviction practice by location
Anchorage District Court
Forcible Entry and Detainer cases for rentals in the Anchorage area are filed in the District Court for that location. The statewide framework applies: the $150 filing fee, a hearing within 15 days of filing but no sooner than 2 days after the tenant is served, and the AS 34.03.220 notice periods by cause. As the busiest court location in the state, Anchorage landlords should plan for the upper end of the hearing window.
Fairbanks District Court
Rentals in the Fairbanks area file the F.E.D. in the District Court for that location under the same statewide rules. The notice periods, the 3-day mailing add-on under AS 09.45.090(c), and the 15-day hearing window apply identically; the difference is the filing location, not the substantive notice law.
Juneau District Court
Rentals in the Juneau area file the F.E.D. in the District Court for that location. Alaska imposes no statewide just-cause requirement and no rent control, so no Juneau-specific just-cause or rent-control overlay changes the AS 34.03.290 periodic-tenancy notice; the statewide URLTA controls.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Identify the statutory cause and matching notice period
Pre-notice days after startingMap the situation to the correct AS 34.03.220 track: nonpayment (7 days per current state guidance), material lease violation (10-day cure, termination no sooner than 20 days), repeat violation within six months (5 days), illegal use (5 days), or deliberate substantial damage over $400 (24 hours). For a no-cause periodic termination, use AS 34.03.290(b) (30 days month-to-month, 14 days week-to-week). Confirm all notice periods against the current statute, as laws can change.
Draft a written notice to quit that meets AS 09.45.105
Pre-notice days after startingThe notice must be written (oral notice does not satisfy the statute), state the nature of the breach and, if correctable, the remedial action required and the deadline by date and time, direct the tenant to vacate by a specified date and time, and warn that the landlord may commence a civil action to recover possession. For nonpayment under AS 34.03.220(b), state the nonpayment and the intention to terminate if rent is not paid within the statutory period.
Serve the notice under AS 09.45.100
Service days after startingServe by personal delivery, by leaving the notice at the premises if the tenant is absent, or by registered or certified mail. Keep proof of how and when service occurred. If you serve by mail, remember that 3 days are added to the applicable notice period under AS 09.45.090(c).
Wait the full notice period before filing
Notice period days after startingDo not file the F.E.D. before the notice period expires. Use the in-person figure (for example 7 days for nonpayment) or the mailed figure (3 days longer) depending on how you served. Filing before the period runs is grounds for dismissal and forces re-service with a corrected timeline.
File the Forcible Entry and Detainer action in District Court
Post-notice days after startingFile the F.E.D. in the Alaska District Court for the location of the rental property and pay the published $150 filing fee. Service-of-process and writ costs are additional. The court arranges for the tenant to be served the complaint; the hearing cannot be set sooner than 2 days after that service.
Appear at the eviction hearing
Hearing days after startingThe Alaska Court System states the court holds a hearing within 15 days of when the case is filed. Bring the lease, the notice to quit with proof of service, a rent ledger if nonpayment is the ground, and documentation supporting compliance with the AS 34.03.310 retaliation prohibition.
Obtain the writ and have law enforcement carry out any removal
Post-judgment days after startingIf the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession and the landlord may obtain a writ so law enforcement can remove the tenant. Never use self-help (changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities); only law enforcement may execute the removal in Alaska.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify the statutory cause and matching notice period | Map the situation to the correct AS 34.03.220 track: nonpayment (7 days per current state guidance), material lease violation (10-day cure, termination no sooner than 20 days), repeat violation within six months (5 days), illegal use (5 days), or deliberate substantial damage over $400 (24 hours). For a no-cause periodic termination, use AS 34.03.290(b) (30 days month-to-month, 14 days week-to-week). Confirm all notice periods against the current statute, as laws can change. | - | Pre-notice |
| Draft a written notice to quit that meets AS 09.45.105 | The notice must be written (oral notice does not satisfy the statute), state the nature of the breach and, if correctable, the remedial action required and the deadline by date and time, direct the tenant to vacate by a specified date and time, and warn that the landlord may commence a civil action to recover possession. For nonpayment under AS 34.03.220(b), state the nonpayment and the intention to terminate if rent is not paid within the statutory period. | notice-to-vacate | Pre-notice |
| Serve the notice under AS 09.45.100 | Serve by personal delivery, by leaving the notice at the premises if the tenant is absent, or by registered or certified mail. Keep proof of how and when service occurred. If you serve by mail, remember that 3 days are added to the applicable notice period under AS 09.45.090(c). | - | Service |
| Wait the full notice period before filing | Do not file the F.E.D. before the notice period expires. Use the in-person figure (for example 7 days for nonpayment) or the mailed figure (3 days longer) depending on how you served. Filing before the period runs is grounds for dismissal and forces re-service with a corrected timeline. | - | Notice period |
| File the Forcible Entry and Detainer action in District Court | File the F.E.D. in the Alaska District Court for the location of the rental property and pay the published $150 filing fee. Service-of-process and writ costs are additional. The court arranges for the tenant to be served the complaint; the hearing cannot be set sooner than 2 days after that service. | - | Post-notice |
| Appear at the eviction hearing | The Alaska Court System states the court holds a hearing within 15 days of when the case is filed. Bring the lease, the notice to quit with proof of service, a rent ledger if nonpayment is the ground, and documentation supporting compliance with the AS 34.03.310 retaliation prohibition. | - | Hearing |
| Obtain the writ and have law enforcement carry out any removal | If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession and the landlord may obtain a writ so law enforcement can remove the tenant. Never use self-help (changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities); only law enforcement may execute the removal in Alaska. | - | Post-judgment |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Alaska Department of Law booklet summarizing AS 34.03.220(b) explains that when rent is not paid when due, the landlord may serve written notice requiring payment, and the Alaska Court System states the tenant may either move out or pay within the stated window to keep the tenancy. If the tenant pays the full amount owed inside that period, the breach is remedied and the tenancy continues. Because laws can change, landlords should confirm the current statutory period before serving notice.
Alaska uses tiered notice tracks by cause. For a material lease violation that can be corrected, current Alaska Court System guidance gives the tenant 10 days to move out or stop the violation, with the tenancy terminating on a date the Department of Law states is no sooner than 20 days if the breach is not remedied; a repeat of substantially the same breach within six months drops to a 5-day notice. Illegal use or illegal activity carries a 5-day notice under the F.E.D. chain at AS 09.45.090. Deliberate infliction of substantial damage to the premises, defined as loss or destruction over $400 under AS 34.03.220(a)(1), carries a 24-hour notice. Three days are added to any of these periods when the notice is mailed.
Active-duty servicemembers are covered by the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which addresses residential lease termination and eviction protections. The exact federal text and any state military-termination provision should be confirmed against the current sources before relying on them, because Alaska has no separate state military early-termination statute and the federal SCRA controls. A landlord who learns a tenant is a covered servicemember should verify the applicable protections before proceeding with notice or an eviction filing.
A notice that does not meet the statutory content rules can derail the eviction. Under AS 09.45.105, the notice must be written, state the nature of the breach and (if correctable) the remedial action and the deadline by date and time, direct the tenant to vacate by a specified date and time, and warn that the landlord may file a civil action to recover possession. Oral notice does not satisfy AS 09.45.100 or AS 34.03.220. If the notice omits a required element, uses the wrong day count, or is served by a method other than personal delivery, leaving it at the premises, or registered or certified mail, the court may dismiss the F.E.D. and require the landlord to start over with a corrected notice.
No. Under AS 34.03.310, as summarized by the Alaska Department of Law, a landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent, decreasing services, or threatening or bringing an action for possession after the tenant has exercised rights under the chapter. A tenant against whom the landlord acts in violation of this section is entitled to the remedies in AS 34.03.210 and has a defense in an action for possession. The full list of protected tenant actions appears in the statute, so confirm the current AS 34.03.310 text before relying on it.
No. Alaska prohibits self-help eviction. The Alaska Court System states that a landlord cannot forcibly remove a tenant and must have law enforcement do it, and that changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities is illegal and can result in the tenant suing the landlord. AS 34.03.210 gives the tenant remedies for an unlawful ouster, exclusion, or diminution of services. The only lawful path is the Forcible Entry and Detainer court process, after which law enforcement executes any removal.
The Alaska Court System states that the court holds a hearing within 15 days of when the F.E.D. case is filed, but no sooner than 2 days after the tenant is served the complaint. The case is filed in the District Court for the location of the rental property, and the published filing fee is $150. Service-of-process and writ costs are additional. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession and the landlord may obtain a writ so law enforcement can carry out the removal.
Under AS 09.45.100(c), a notice to quit may be served by personal delivery, by leaving it at the premises if the tenant is absent, or by registered or certified mail. When the notice is served by mail, 3 days are added to the applicable period under AS 09.45.090(c). That is why the Alaska Court System lists paired figures: nonpayment 7 days or 10 if mailed, lease violation 10 days or 13 if mailed, illegal activity or repeat violation 5 days or 8 if mailed, and intentional damage 24 hours or 4 days if mailed.
Other Alaska guides
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