Alaska security deposit rules.
The Alaska rules for residential security deposits in plain English: how much can be charged, how fast it comes back, whether interest is owed, and what catches operators out.
Last reviewed · Statute: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 · Not legal advice
How much can be charged
Capped at two months’ rent unless rent exceeds $2,000 per month, in which case there is no statutory cap. Pet deposits add up to one additional month.
When it has to come back
14 days if the tenant gave proper notice; 30 days if not. Itemised statement of deductions must accompany any partial refund.
Interest
No interest is required, though deposits must be deposited in a separate trust account at a financial institution.
Where the money has to sit
Deposits must be held in a trust account in a financial institution doing business in Alaska.
What catches operators out
- High-rent units (>$2,000/mo) are exempt from the cap but still subject to return-window rules.
- Wilful violations expose the landlord to damages of up to twice the wrongfully withheld amount.
What this looks like with Standby in Alaska.
When a resident takes a Standby certificate there is no cash deposit to hold, so the cap, the return deadline and the interest rules above have nothing to attach to. You are covered up to the full deposit and draw on it when you need to.
When a resident pays cash instead, Standby handles that deposit under your lease and Alaska law, so your team is not tracking return deadlines by hand.
This page summarises the most common single-family and multifamily residential rule in Alaska. Furnished units, senior leases, mobile-home tenancies and short-term rentals can differ, and city ordinances may override the state default. Check the statute before relying on a figure for a specific lease.