Homesteading in Alaska
Explore 30 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Alaska.
Alaska uses a Prior Appropriation water rights system , allows county-level building code enforcement , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 1.04%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Prior Appropriation
Prior appropriation doctrine. Water rights acquired through DNR permit process. Domestic use of up to 500 gallons per day exempt from permit requirements.
Statute: Alaska Stat. § 46.15.010 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: No (county-level)
No mandatory statewide residential building code. Boroughs and municipalities may adopt codes locally. Many rural areas have no building codes.
Statute: Alaska Stat. § 29.35.100
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Permitless concealed carry for persons 21 and older. Alaska was the first state to pass constitutional carry in 2003. Open carry unrestricted.
Statute: Alaska Stat. § 11.61.220
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects farming and agricultural operations from nuisance claims if the operation has been in existence for at least one year and was not a nuisance when it began.
Statute: Alaska Stat. § 09.45.235
Counties in Alaska
30 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians East Borough | 3,407 | $164,100 | -- | 31 | Very Low |
| Aleutians West Census Area | 5,219 | $377,100 | $2,937 | 46 | Relatively Low |
| Anchorage Municipality | 290,674 | $363,800 | $4,760 | 30 | Relatively High |
| Bethel Census Area | 18,538 | $120,600 | -- | 30 | Relatively Low |
| Bristol Bay Borough | 854 | $253,400 | $2,500 | 30 | Very Low |
| Chugach Census Area | 7,000 | $287,900 | $3,013 | 30 | Very Low |
| Copper River Census Area | 2,614 | $235,100 | $199 | 30 | Very Low |
| Denali Borough | 2,101 | $227,000 | $389 | 30 | Very Low |
| Dillingham Census Area | 4,854 | $167,700 | $2,475 | 30 | Very Low |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | 96,299 | $276,800 | $3,470 | 30 | Relatively Moderate |
| Haines Borough | 2,079 | $289,200 | $2,564 | 30 | Very Low |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | 2,329 | $243,800 | $1,278 | 30 | Very Low |
| Juneau City and Borough | 32,108 | $404,600 | $3,789 | 30 | Very Low |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 59,235 | $280,900 | $1,853 | 30 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | 13,910 | $361,000 | $2,568 | 30 | Very Low |
| Kodiak Island Borough | 13,065 | $355,000 | $3,694 | 30 | Relatively Low |
| Kusilvak Census Area | 8,372 | $82,200 | $199 | 30 | Relatively Low |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | 999 | $167,000 | -- | 30 | Very Low |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 108,661 | $296,900 | $3,402 | 30 | Relatively Moderate |
| Nome Census Area | 10,018 | $181,300 | $2,752 | 30 | Very Low |
| North Slope Borough | 10,924 | $193,800 | $1,460 | 30 | Very Low |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 7,682 | $147,200 | $199 | 30 | Relatively Low |
| Petersburg Borough | 3,374 | $279,800 | $1,878 | 30 | Very Low |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 5,799 | $220,800 | $1,011 | 30 | Very Low |
| Sitka City and Borough | 8,462 | $424,700 | $2,166 | 30 | Very Low |
| Skagway Municipality | 1,303 | $434,300 | $1,433 | 30 | Very Low |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 6,888 | $222,200 | $1,893 | 30 | Relatively Low |
| Wrangell City and Borough | 2,134 | $273,800 | $1,791 | 30 | Very Low |
| Yakutat City and Borough | 564 | $152,100 | $1,283 | 30 | Very Low |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 5,355 | $86,600 | $875 | 30 | Relatively Low |
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