Unalaska Public Records

Unalaska public records are maintained by the City of Unalaska and Alaska state agencies serving this first-class city in the Aleutian Islands, located 800 miles from Anchorage in the far west of Alaska. Residents and the public can request police department records, search court cases, look up property data, and access official city documents. This guide explains where to find Unalaska public records and how to request them through the appropriate agencies.

Unalaska City Public Records

The City of Unalaska is a first-class city in one of the most remote locations in Alaska. City offices are at 29 Safety Way, P.O. Box 370, Unalaska, AK 99685, phone 907-581-1233. Unalaska sits farther west than Hawaii, accessible primarily by air or sea. Despite its remote location, the city maintains official records subject to the Alaska Public Records Act just like any other Alaska municipality.

The Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25.100 gives every person the right to inspect public records. Under AS 40.25.110, the city must respond within 10 working days of your request. City records include council minutes, ordinances, city contracts, permits, and administrative correspondence. If a search takes more than five person-hours in a calendar month, the city may charge for additional staff time at the applicable hourly rate. Standard copy fees apply for paper records.

Unalaska sits at the heart of the Port of Dutch Harbor, which is the number one commercial fishing port in the United States by quantity. The city's unique geography and importance to the fishing industry means it has records related to port operations, business licensing, and maritime activity that other Alaska cities do not typically maintain. Contact the city clerk's office for records related to city operations.

The City of Unalaska's official website provides access to city government records, public safety information, council documents, and other official information for residents and the public.

Unalaska Police Department Records

The Unalaska Police Department handles public records requests for law enforcement documents. The department is at 29 Safety Way, P.O. Box 370, Unalaska, AK 99685, phone 907-581-1233. All requests require completing the official Public Information Request Form, a 148 KB PDF available from the department. You can submit requests by mail or in person to UPD. Online or email submissions are not listed as accepted methods, so confirm current options with the department.

A non-refundable fee is required when submitting a public information request to UPD. The exact fee is set by the City of Unalaska and reviewed for each request based on the volume of records and staff time required. Each request is also reviewed individually to determine whether the requested records fall within legal guidelines for release. Some records are protected under AS 40.25.120, which lists exemptions including records that could harm pending investigations or protect crime victims. Review the department's public information request page at unalaska.gov/publicsafety for the most current form and fee information.

The Unalaska Police Department's public information request page provides the required form and instructions for requesting law enforcement records from the department.

For certified criminal history background checks, the Alaska Department of Public Safety processes those separately. The fee is $20 for the initial report. Submit online at backgroundcheck.dps.alaska.gov or by mail to the Criminal Records and Identification Bureau at 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507. These reports come from the Alaska Public Safety Information Network and cover adult misdemeanor and felony records.

Court Records for Unalaska

Court services in Unalaska operate differently than in most Alaska communities. The Unalaska Magistrate Court does not have a permanent courthouse facility. A magistrate travels to Unalaska on a scheduled basis to handle local matters. For Superior Court cases, hearings are held in Anchorage or other designated locations due to the remote nature of Unalaska's geography.

You can search for court cases involving Unalaska parties using CourtView. Search by name, case number, or citation. CourtView covers all Alaska trial courts and shows case status, hearing dates, and document images in many cases. Note that some case types are excluded from public online access, including juvenile matters, sealed cases, and certain protective orders. For physical copies of court records or certified documents, you may need to contact the Alaska Court System to determine which office handles Unalaska cases.

Certified copies of court records cost $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same document. Regular copies are $5 for the first and $3 for each additional. Audio recordings cost $20 per CD. Staff research time is billed at $30 per hour. Since there is no permanent Unalaska courthouse, confirm the correct location for record requests by calling the Alaska Court System directly.

Unalaska Property and Land Records

Property records for Unalaska are maintained by city and state agencies. Land records are recorded with the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office for the recording district that covers the Aleutian Islands. You can search recorded instruments through the DNR Recorder's website by grantor/grantee name, document type, or date range. Electronic records go back to 1970. For older documents or large research projects, contact the Anchorage DNR office at 907-269-8875 to schedule an appointment.

The DNR Recorder's mission is to provide a secure place to record and preserve the permanent public record of Alaska. Types of documents recorded include deeds, mortgages, liens, assignments, and UCC filings. Once a document is recorded, all information in it becomes part of the permanent public record and is available for public viewing. The Alaska Mapper tool at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov offers an interactive view of state land ownership and parcel data for the Unalaska area, though the source documents at the recorder's office remain the official record.

Vital records for events occurring in Unalaska are maintained by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. Order certified copies through health.alaska.gov or VitalChek. The fee is $30 for the first certified birth, marriage, or death certificate and $25 for each additional copy of the same record. Access is limited to those listed on the record or their authorized representatives for records within the access restriction period.

For genealogy and historical research about Unalaska, the Alaska State Archives holds historical government records including territorial and district court records from 1884 forward. Contact them at archives@alaska.gov or 907-465-2270 for assistance with older records from the Aleutians area.

Nearby Alaska Cities

These are other qualifying Alaska cities with public records resources.

Aleutians West Census Area

Unalaska is located in the Aleutians West Census Area. Area-level records and unorganized borough documents are maintained through state agencies.