🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Anchorage, AK
Step One, Not the Finish Line: Anchorage Launches STR Registry Amid Girdwood Housing Strain
Anchorage Sets the Clock: Short-Term Rental Registration Required by Summer 2026
Anchorage is officially moving from conversation to coordination when it comes to short-term rentals. On December 17, the Anchorage Assembly approved a new ordinance requiring all short-term rentals in the Municipality of Anchorage to register with the city by July 31, 2026. City leaders say the move is about one thing above all else: finally understanding how widespread short-term rentals are and how they affect housing across Anchorage neighborhoods.
The ordinance applies to any property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days, including entire homes, apartments, condos, bedrooms, and other living units listed on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Registration will be free, online, and mandatory, marking Anchorage’s first comprehensive effort to track short-term rentals citywide.
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, one of the ordinance’s sponsors, emphasized that the registry is a response to Anchorage’s ongoing housing shortage especially in places like Girdwood, where residents have long raised concerns about homes shifting from long-term housing to vacation rentals. According to the Mayor’s Office, the registry will provide localized data that simply does not exist today, allowing the city to move forward with facts instead of assumptions.
Under the new requirements, short-term rental owners must submit basic but detailed information. This includes the property’s address and unit type, ownership details, and a local contact person. Hosts will also need to disclose whether the unit is rented seasonally or year-round, whether it was used as a long-term rental in the past year, and whether the owner lives on-site. City officials say this information will help identify trends, geographic patterns, and potential pressure points in the housing market.
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Importantly, the ordinance does not restrict or cap short-term rentals. Instead, it “codifies the status quo” by allowing STRs to continue operating while giving the Municipality the tools to evaluate future policy options. Supporters describe the registry as a foundational step one that must come before any meaningful discussion of regulation, enforcement, or potential changes to short-term rental rules.
The registry also gives the city a practical benefit: reliable contact information. If issues arise at a short-term rental property, officials will have a direct way to reach owners or local representatives, something that has been challenging under the current system.
As the July 31, 2026 deadline approaches, hosts are encouraged to prepare by gathering required information and monitoring guidance from the Municipality.
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