Short-term rental rules by area
In each area below, a short-term rental generally means a stay of less than 30 consecutive days. The Mat-Su Borough's bed tax uses less than 60 days. Rules are set by the city or municipality and the borough, so a property can fall under more than one set of rules. This is a summary, not legal advice. The official pages linked in each section control.
| Area | Registration or permit | Lodging tax | Number in listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (Municipality) | Free annual STR registration with the Municipal Clerk | 12% room tax | Yes, registration number |
| Girdwood | Same Municipality of Anchorage registration | 12% room tax | Yes, registration number |
| City of Palmer | City STR permit, renewed yearly, plus a city business license | 5% Mat-Su Borough bed tax | Yes, license number and occupancy limit |
| City of Wasilla | City STR permit plus a city business license | City sales tax plus 5% Mat-Su Borough bed tax | Yes, STR permit number |
| Mat-Su Borough, outside city limits | Register with the borough as a bed tax operator | 5% bed tax on stays under 60 days | Not stated on the borough bed tax page |
| City of Kenai | Depends on zoning; some zones need a conditional use permit | Kenai Peninsula Borough sales tax, collected per room per night | Not stated in the sources we checked |
Anchorage short-term rental registration and room tax
The Municipality of Anchorage requires every short-term rental to be registered under Anchorage Municipal Code chapter 10.90, adopted as AO 2025-115(S-2). The rules cover the whole Municipality, including Eagle River, Chugiak and Girdwood.
STR registration
- Registration is free and runs for one year, May 1 through April 30. It must be renewed by May 1 each year.
- You register through the Municipality's CityView portal. The form asks for the address, the type of unit, the owners, a local contact person and phone number, whether the owner lives on the property, whether it is rented seasonally or year-round and whether it was rented long-term in the past year.
- The registration number must appear on every listing and advertisement, on any platform. Since July 31, 2026, unregistered short-term rentals may not be listed.
- Code requires owners to report changes to the address, unit type, owners, local contact or owner-residence answers within 30 days.
- The Municipality's FAQ says short-term rentals are permitted by right in all residential zones and some commercial zones. Bed and breakfast permits have not been issued or valid since May 1, 2026; those operators register as short-term rentals.
12% room tax
- Anchorage Municipal Code chapter 12.20 sets a 12% room tax on rentals of less than 30 days of continuous occupancy, including houses, condos, duplexes, cabins and apartments.
- Operators register with the Municipality's Treasury Division before renting. Treasury says that registration is not required if you rent exclusively through a registered hosting platform that collects and remits the tax for you.
- Returns and payments are due within 30 days after each calendar quarter: April 30, July 30, October 30 and January 30.
Official sources
Short-term rental registration (Municipal Clerk), AMC chapter 10.90 and Room tax (Treasury).
Girdwood short-term rentals
Girdwood is part of the Municipality of Anchorage, so the same STR registration and 12% room tax apply. Girdwood also has its own land use chapter in the Anchorage code, AMC 21.09.
What to check in Girdwood
- Register the rental with the Municipal Clerk and display the number on every listing.
- Register for room tax with Treasury unless you rent only through a registered hosting platform.
- Confirm the zoning district and its use rules under AMC 21.09 with the Municipality's Planning Department.
- Read condo and HOA declarations. Many associations set their own rental rules.
Official sources
STR registration, Room tax and the Municipality of Anchorage Planning Department for AMC 21.09. Explore the area in our Girdwood community guide.
Palmer short-term rental permits
The City of Palmer regulates short-term rentals under Palmer Municipal Code chapter 17.89. A short-term rental is a dwelling rented for compensation to a single person or group for less than 30 consecutive days.
Permit rules
- Operating without approval from the Department of Community Development is unlawful, and each short-term rental needs its own registration. Permits are renewed annually.
- The city's packet also requires a City of Palmer business license.
- A permit does not transfer to a new owner. When a property is sold, the new owner must apply within 60 days of the transfer.
- A short-term rental is not allowed on a lot with an accessory dwelling unit or a child care center.
- The license number and occupancy limit must be in all marketing and online listings.
- One extra off-street parking space is required for each bedroom or dwelling unit rented, and guests may not park on the street.
- For certain types in the R-1, R-1E and R-2 districts, the applicant must give notice to adjacent residences.
Types and zoning
Palmer sorts short-term rentals into five types, from renting rooms in an owner-occupied home (Type 1) to a bed and breakfast inn (Type 5). Type 2 is a single-family home or duplex rented to one group at a time. The code's district table allows or limits each type by zone. For example, in R-1 only Type 1 is possible, and only with a conditional use permit, while R-2 permits Types 1, 2 and 4 outright.
Palmer is inside the Mat-Su Borough, so also read the borough's bed tax rules in the Mat-Su Borough section below.
Official sources
PMC chapter 17.89 and the City of Palmer Community Development forms, including the STR application.
Wasilla short-term rental permits and taxes
In the City of Wasilla, renting a dwelling or part of one for less than 30 days is a short-term rental. It requires a City of Wasilla business license and a short-term rental permit from the Planning Department.
What the city requires
- A city business license through the MUNIRevs portal, listing the rental's physical address. A sales tax account is set up with the license.
- A short-term rental permit through the city's Citizenserve portal, under Wasilla Municipal Code 16.60.080.
- The STR permit number must appear in all advertising, including online platforms, print and radio.
- Registration with the Mat-Su Borough for the bed tax, which is separate from city sales tax.
Platforms collecting sales tax
The city says short-term rental marketplace facilitators collect and remit Wasilla sales tax for bookings made on or after their effective dates: Airbnb from September 1, 2026, and Expedia Group, including Vrbo, from October 1, 2026. Owners still report those sales on their city returns. The borough bed tax may not be affected.
Official source
City of Wasilla: Short-Term Rentals. See also our Wasilla community guide.
Mat-Su Borough bed tax
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough levies a 5% transient accommodations tax, called the bed tax, on overnight accommodations rented for less than 60 consecutive days. Borough code levies it on all overnight accommodations rent payable to an operator, and the City of Wasilla tells its short-term rental operators to register for it too.
How it works
- The tax is 5% of the overnight rent. The guest pays it, and the operator collects it and shows it as a separate item on the bill.
- Operators register with the borough and file a bed tax return every quarter.
- Returns and payments are due 30 days after each quarter: April 30, July 30, October 30 and January 30.
Outside city limits
The borough's bed tax page does not describe a separate borough short-term rental permit. Zoning, special land use districts, HOA covenants and road or septic rules can still apply, so ask the borough's Planning Department about the specific parcel before you buy.
Official sources
MSB Bed Tax and MSB code chapter 3.32. See our Mat-Su Valley guide.
Kenai short-term rental zoning and sales tax
In the City of Kenai, renting a detached dwelling for less than 30 consecutive days is a "cabin rental" under Kenai Municipal Code 14.20.320. The Kenai Peninsula Borough collects sales tax on lodging across the borough.
City of Kenai zoning
Kenai's land use table (KMC 14.22.010) lists cabin rentals and bed and breakfasts separately, and treats each zone differently. Cabin rentals are a permitted use in some districts, need a conditional use permit in others, such as Suburban Residential (RS), and are not permitted in districts such as RS-1, RS-2 and Urban Residential (RU). Check the parcel's zone with the City of Kenai Planning and Zoning Department.
Official sources
KMC 14.22.010 land use table, KMC 14.20.320 definitions and City of Kenai permits.
Kenai Peninsula Borough sales tax
- The borough's sales tax FAQ says rental properties are taxable and all businesses must register for sales tax.
- Its landlord and lodging brochure says temporary lodging, meaning less than 30 days to the same party, is taxed per room, per night, on up to the first $500 of each transaction.
- The rate depends on where the property is. The borough's Sales Tax Lookup tool shows the rate for an address.
- The brochure says owners who list on platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo are responsible for collecting and reporting the correct tax.
KPB Sales Tax FAQs and KPB tips for landlords and lodging providers (May 2024).
Before you buy a property to rent by the night
The rules above can decide whether a purchase works for you. Check them before you write an offer, and build time for it into your contract deadlines.
- Confirm the city, municipality or borough the property is actually in
- Look up the zoning district and whether your STR type is allowed there
- Ask whether an existing permit can carry over. Palmer permits do not transfer
- Read the condo declaration, HOA covenants and any road agreement
- Count the off-street parking if the property is in Palmer
- Get an insurance quote for short-term rental use
- Ask a lender whether it counts nightly income before you rely on it
- Budget for lodging taxes, cleaning, supplies and winter upkeep
Run the numbers with our rental property calculator, and read our DSCR loan guide if you plan to finance a rental on its income. We do not estimate nightly rates or occupancy.
Need help with leasing or management after you buy? We can connect you with a trusted local property manager.
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Investor value and rent check
Send an address or MLS number. We can pull recent comparable sales and list the leases, rent rolls and expense records to ask the seller for. You still run the numbers yourself; we do not predict rents or returns.
Talk with James or Ryan
James and Ryan can help you find properties in the right zone, request records from sellers and plan time in your contract to confirm the local rules.
James Cash
Broker, Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group
Works with buyers, sellers and investors across Anchorage, Eagle River and the Mat-Su Valley.
james@herorealtygroup.com
Ryan Lunski
Licensed Alaska Real Estate Salesperson
A military veteran who works with buyers, investors and military families in Southcentral Alaska.
ryan@herorealtygroup.comWe are real estate agents, not attorneys or tax advisors. This guide summarizes official sources in plain language. For a specific property, confirm with the city, municipality or borough, and ask an Alaska attorney or tax professional about your situation.
Alaska short-term rental FAQ
Do I need to register a short-term rental in Anchorage?
Yes. Anchorage Municipal Code chapter 10.90 requires every short-term rental in the Municipality, including Eagle River and Girdwood, to register with the Municipal Clerk. Registration is free, runs May 1 to April 30 and must be renewed each year.
What is the Anchorage room tax on short-term rentals?
The Municipality of Anchorage room tax is 12% on rentals of less than 30 days of continuous occupancy, under Anchorage Municipal Code chapter 12.20. Operators register with Treasury unless they rent only through a registered hosting platform that collects the tax.
Does my Anchorage listing need a registration number?
Yes. Since July 31, 2026, short-term rentals in the Municipality of Anchorage must show their STR registration number on every listing and advertisement, on any platform.
Do I need a permit for an Airbnb in Wasilla?
Yes. The City of Wasilla requires a city business license and a short-term rental permit for rentals under 30 days, and the permit number must appear in all advertising. The Mat-Su Borough bed tax applies separately.
Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Palmer?
Yes. Palmer Municipal Code chapter 17.89 requires approval from the Department of Community Development for each short-term rental, renewed yearly, and the city requires a business license. Whether your rental type is allowed depends on the zoning district.
What is the Mat-Su Borough bed tax?
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough bed tax is 5% of the rent on overnight accommodations rented for less than 60 consecutive days. Operators collect it from guests and file returns quarterly.
If I buy a Palmer short-term rental, does the permit transfer?
No. Palmer short-term rental permits are not transferable. A new owner must apply for a permit within 60 days of the transfer.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Kenai?
It depends on the zoning district. Kenai's land use table allows cabin rentals in some districts, requires a conditional use permit in others and does not permit them in some residential districts. The Kenai Peninsula Borough also collects sales tax on lodging.
More for Alaska investors
Guides and tools that pair with this one.
Where the program details came from
Checked November 13, 2026 (America/Anchorage). Local rules change. If an official page differs from this summary, the official page controls.
- Municipality of Anchorage, Registration - Short Term Rental, AMC chapter 10.90, Registration of Short-Term Rentals and Room Tax.
- City of Palmer, Palmer Municipal Code chapter 17.89, Short-Term Rentals (current through Ordinance 26-003) and Community Development forms and applications.
- City of Wasilla, Short-Term Rentals.
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Bed Tax and MSB 3.32, Transient Accommodations Tax.
- City of Kenai, KMC 14.20.320 and KMC 14.22.010 Land Use Table (current through Ordinance 3539-2026).
- Kenai Peninsula Borough, Sales Tax FAQs and Landlords or Lodging Providers brochure (May 2024).
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