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Alaska security deposit: 30 days to get it back

If either side gave a termination notice that complies with AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the itemized notice and refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, but gets 30 days if deducting for tenant-caused damage. With no compliant notice, the deadline is 30 days (or from when the landlord learns the unit was abandoned).

What the law requires

Itemized statement
Deductions for unpaid rent and tenant-caused damage must be itemized in a written notice mailed to the tenant's last known address, along with any amount due. "Damages" excludes normal wear and tear and deterioration caused by the landlord's own failures. The section sets no receipt threshold.
Forwarding address
No forwarding address is required by this section; notice and refund go to the tenant's last known address. If the landlord doesn't know the mailing address but knows how to contact the tenant, the landlord must make a reasonable effort to deliver the notice and refund.
If the landlord breaks the rules
If the landlord wilfully fails to comply with the itemization and refund requirement, the tenant may recover an amount not to exceed twice the actual amount withheld. The section does not mention attorney fees; other remedies under the chapter are preserved.
Deposit cap
Two months' periodic rent for prepaid rent and deposit combined. The cap does not apply to units renting for more than $2,000 a month. A separate pet deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed for non-service animals.
Small claims limit
$10,000 in District Court (small claims)

If your landlord misses the deadline

  1. Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
  2. Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite AS 34.03.070. Give a date to respond.
  3. If you still aren't paid, file in District Court (small claims). Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Alaska demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. Under AS 34.03.070, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit, or send an itemized statement of any deductions, within 30 days after the tenant moves out. That deadline passed on [deadline date].

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

How long does a landlord in Alaska have to return a security deposit?

If either side gave a termination notice that complies with AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the itemized notice and refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, but gets 30 days if deducting for tenant-caused damage. With no compliant notice, the deadline is 30 days (or from when the landlord learns the unit was abandoned).

What happens if a Alaska landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

If the landlord wilfully fails to comply with the itemization and refund requirement, the tenant may recover an amount not to exceed twice the actual amount withheld. The section does not mention attorney fees; other remedies under the chapter are preserved.

Do I have to give my Alaska landlord a forwarding address?

No forwarding address is required by this section; notice and refund go to the tenant's last known address. If the landlord doesn't know the mailing address but knows how to contact the tenant, the landlord must make a reasonable effort to deliver the notice and refund.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Alaska?

Deposit claims up to $10,000 can be filed in District Court (small claims). Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.