Anchorage, Alaska Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Anchorage Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

City Code of Ordinances

Anchorage has no city restrictions on minimum night stays, and short-term rentals are allowed.

Business License Requirements

The City of Anchorage has no regulations about registering short-term rentals. If applicable, apply for all State and County licenses.

Building and Housing Standards

The City of Anchorage has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Consult the Anchorage Building Regulations for more information.

Tourist and Local Taxes

Owners must collect the bed tax and send it to the city. Owners must first register with Munil.org, and once they are approved, you can legally start renting your property out.

Other Rules

It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Anchorage for more information.
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  • Short Term City Rating
    6.3
  • Competition

    4.0
  • Real Estate Cost

    7.7
  • STR Regulations

    10.0
  • Seasonality

    4.5
  • Rental Rates

    5.5

Anchorage, Alaska Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
291,247
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
County
Anchorage
Airports
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Merrill Field Airport (MRI)
Review our Anchorage Alaska short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Anchorage?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Anchorage rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Anchorage rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Anchorage.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Anchorage Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Anchorage guests.

Interested in other Alaska cities?

Check out the Alaska short term rental regulations directory 

What makes Anchorage a great place to invest?

  • Anchorage Museum - This world-class museum showcases the art, history, and culture of Alaska and the Arctic. Visitors can explore exhibits on everything from Alaska's indigenous cultures to the state's rich mining and oil history, and even see an impressive collection of Alaskan art and artifacts.
  • Tony Knowles Coastal Trail - This 11-mile trail runs along the scenic coast of Anchorage, offering stunning views of the ocean, the mountains, and the city skyline. Visitors can hike, bike, or even ski along the trail, stopping at scenic overlooks and beachfront parks along the way.
  • Chugach State Park - Just a short drive from Anchorage, this expansive natural park offers endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Visitors can hike through rugged wilderness, ski or snowshoe through snowy landscapes, or even go fishing or kayaking in the park's many lakes and rivers.
  • Alaska Native Heritage Center - This living museum offers visitors a chance to experience Alaska's diverse native cultures up close. Visitors can see traditional dances, try their hand at traditional crafts, and learn about the state's rich native history through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.
  • Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge - This 1,500-acre wildlife refuge is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including moose, eagles, and beluga whales. Visitors can explore the refuge's hiking trails and birdwatching areas, or even take a guided wildlife viewing tour.
  • Alyeska Resort - Just an hour's drive from Anchorage, this ski resort offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. With over 1,400 acres of skiable terrain and an average annual snowfall of over 600 inches, Alyeska is a must-visit destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
  • Anchorage Market and Festival - This outdoor market takes place every weekend during the summer months, and features a wide range of local vendors selling everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. Visitors can also enjoy live music and entertainment, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

Anchorage Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Anchorage?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Anchorage has increased 5% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $223, which is lower than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$355,430

5% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$223

8% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$1,690

6% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Anchorage, Alaska

Word Cloud for Anchorage, Alaska Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Anchorage short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Anchorage has a description approximately 1,120 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 2,547 listings in Anchorage, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Anchorage, Airport, Downtown, Place, Alaska, Deck, Yard, Quiet, Beautiful, and Family.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Anchorage?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Anchorage involve Hiking, Museums, Wildlife Viewing, Mountain Biking, and the Zoo. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Hiking

Museums

Wildlife Viewing

Mountain Biking

Zoo

Snow Skiing

Ice Skating

Cycling

Cross Country Skiing

City Centre

Sledding

Mountain Climbing

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Anchorage, including University of Alaska - Anchorage, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Port of Anchorage, Alaska Zoo, and Dimond Center. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Regional Landmark

University of Alaska - Anchorage

Included on most listings

Regional Landmark

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Included on most listings

Local Landmark

Alaska Airlines Center

Included on 90% of listings

Local Landmark

Providence Alaska Medical Center

Included on 90% of listings

Regional Landmark

Port of Anchorage

Included on 89% of listings

Regional Landmark

Alaska Zoo

Included on 88% of listings

Local Landmark

Prince William Sound

Included on 86% of listings

Local Landmark

Anchorage Museum

Included on 86% of listings

Regional Landmark

Dimond Center

Included on 85% of listings

Local Landmark

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Included on 82% of listings

Local Landmark

Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall

Included on 45% of listings

Local Landmark

Alaska Regional Hospital

Included on 2% of listings

What’s the weather like in Anchorage, Alaska?

The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 45°, while the average low is about 33°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 15 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall can be rather heavy, averaging less than 39 inches per year. The humidity levels in Anchorage are generally lower than the national average, and the city tends to be a bit cloudy for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

14° Low 25° High

Precipitation
1.1"
Snowfall
23.6"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
59%

Spring

March through May

32° Low 47° High

Precipitation
1.7"
Snowfall
4.7"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
56%

Summer

June through August

53° Low 66° High

Precipitation
6.8"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
59%

Fall

September through November

31° Low 42° High

Precipitation
5.8"
Snowfall
11.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
58%