How much a landlord can charge, and which deductions are actually legal
This page covers how much a landlord may charge in Alaska, and which deductions from a residential deposit are lawful. It assumes the tenancy has ended and the question is what may be withheld.
It does not cover:
Two months' periodic rent (combined deposit + prepaid rent); no cap where monthly rent exceeds $2,000. A separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent is allowed — § 34.03.070(a), (h).
Caps frequently carry exceptions — smaller landlords, furnished units, or pets are treated differently in most states. Read the provision itself rather than relying on the headline figure.
| Claimed deduction | Permitted in Alaska |
|---|---|
| Accrued unpaid rent | Permitted, if substantiated |
| Damages beyond normal wear and tear caused by the tenant, household members, or guests | Permitted, if substantiated |
| Claimed deduction | Permitted in Alaska |
|---|---|
| Normal wear and tear | Not permitted |
| Any amount without the written itemized list within the deadline | Not permitted |
| Nonrefundable "cleaning fees" (treated as security deposits) | Not permitted |
Whether a specific charge is lawful depends on the facts — how old the damage is, whether the lease addressed it, and whether the landlord can document the cost. A charge being in the "permitted" column does not make it automatically collectable.
The landlord may withhold only for accrued unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear, itemized in writing. The deposit must be held in a trust account. To recover 2x, the tenant must show the landlord's noncompliance was willful.
In Alaska the burden sits with the landlord. This matters strategically: if the burden is theirs, your task is to request the documentation rather than to prove the deduction wrong. Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(b) ↗
A landlord who withholds in bad faith may be liable for 2x the portion wrongfully withheld.
If the landlord WILLFULLY fails to comply with the return requirements, the tenant may recover up to TWICE the amount wrongfully withheld. Willfulness is a required finding; mere negligence is not enough.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(d) ↗A willful failure to return the deposit or itemize entitles the tenant to up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld — subject to a willfulness finding.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(d) ↗Alaska caps the combined security deposit and prepaid rent at two months' rent (unless monthly rent exceeds $2,000), plus a separate pet deposit of up to one month.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(a) ↗““I'm keeping it for a nonrefundable cleaning fee.””
A "cleaning fee" is simply another name for a security deposit. If I kept the unit as clean and safe as conditions permit, you have no cleaning expense to charge against my deposit.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070
““You didn't give notice, so I had 30 days.””
Even so, if you willfully failed to return my deposit or provide an itemized list, I may recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(d)
““The deposit was three months' rent.””
The combined deposit and prepaid rent is capped at two months' rent, unless the monthly rent exceeds $2,000.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(a)
Some widely circulated summaries of Alaska deposit law state things the statute does not say. We list the disagreements rather than picking a side silently.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Some summaries | 14 days |
| Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(b), (g) | 14 days with proper notice; 30 days otherwise |
What we follow: 14 days (proper notice) / 30 days (otherwise)
The statute has a two-track deadline. Reporting only "14 days" misstates the rule when deductions are taken or notice was not given.
Every figure on this page comes from the official text, not from a summary. The table below lists each provision used and the date it was last checked against the source.
| Statute | Last verified | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(b) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(g) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(d) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
| Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070(a) | 2026-10-15 | official text ↗ |
Primary reference: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (Security deposits and prepaid rent). Where the official text and a secondary summary disagree, this page follows the official text and says so. Amendments are recorded on the site changelog.
A self-help letter is the right starting point for a single deposit you can document. Get legal help if:
Local legal aid organisations and tenant unions offer free help for qualifying cases. They are independent of this site — we list them because they are the right place to go, not because they link here.
Alaska Security Deposit Return
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The statute does not permit deductions for: normal wear and tear; any amount without the written itemized list within the deadline; nonrefundable "cleaning fees" (treated as security deposits).
The landlord. The landlord may withhold only for accrued unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear, itemized in writing. The deposit must be held in a trust account. To recover 2x, the tenant must show the landlord's noncompliance was willful.
Two months' periodic rent (combined deposit + prepaid rent); no cap where monthly rent exceeds $2,000. A separate pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent is allowed — § 34.03.070(a), (h).
No. Normal wear and tear