Anchorage Municipality Public Records
Public records in the Anchorage Municipality cover police reports, court cases, property tax data, business licenses, and more, all held by a mix of municipal and state offices serving Alaska's largest city of about 290,000 residents. Whether you need to search court filings through CourtView, submit a request through the municipal JustFOIA portal, or look up property assessment data online, Anchorage offers some of the most accessible public records systems in the state.
Anchorage Municipality Overview
Anchorage Municipal Public Records Portal
The Municipality of Anchorage operates under the Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.100-40.25.295) and has its own online records request system. The JustFOIA portal at anchorageak.justfoia.com lets you submit requests, track their status, receive notifications, and download completed responses all in one place. This portal covers the Mayor's Office, Municipal Clerk, Assembly, Police Department, Fire Department, Development Services, Public Works, Treasury, Legal Department, Human Resources, Health Department, Library, Parks and Recreation, and Purchasing.
The Municipal Clerk's Office at 632 W 6th Avenue, Suite 250, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-343-4311, is the official custodian of Anchorage government records. Assembly minutes, ordinances, and resolutions are available here. Many are also posted on the municipal website. The Clerk's Office handles the Anchorage Municipal Code, which is also searchable online by keyword or topic.
Under AS 40.25.110, every person in Alaska has the right to inspect a public record unless a specific exemption applies. The municipality must give an initial response within 10 working days. If the search exceeds five person-hours in a given month, the agency can charge an hourly rate based on staff salary and benefits. Anchorage's municipal records include a wide range of documents that most other Alaska boroughs simply don't maintain locally, since the municipality combines city and borough functions in one government.
The official Anchorage municipality website provides access to many public-facing records and databases. The screenshot below shows the main municipal homepage, which links to departments and online records tools.
You can visit muni.org to find direct links to assembly records, municipal code, permit searches, and department contacts for records requests.
The municipal website is the main hub for Anchorage public records. From here you can reach the JustFOIA portal, property tax search, building permits, and more.
Note: APRA does not require agencies to conduct research, answer questions, or create new records. Requests must identify specific existing documents.Anchorage Police Department Records
The Anchorage Police Department maintains police records including incident reports, arrest records, and collision reports. The APD Public Records Center online portal at anchoragepolice.com handles submissions. You can also visit the Customer Service Window at 716 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. The non-emergency line is 3-1-1.
The portal requires a separate request for documents and for media files like audio, video, and photos. Only one case or incident number per submission is allowed. When requesting records about yourself or someone in your custody, a consent form is required. There are three types: Adult Consent Form, Adult with Guardian Form for incapacitated adults, and Juvenile Form for custodial parents or legal guardians.
APD updated its fee policy in August 2025. Requests that take under three hours to complete are now free. Requests that take more than three hours are charged at $40 per hour for search, retrieval, and redaction. The previous policy charged $40 per hour for any request taking more than 10 minutes. The department processed more than 19,000 records requests in 2025. Online crime reporting is available for property crimes with no suspects or leads.
The screenshot below shows the APD Public Records Center request page, where you can submit and track police records requests online.
The APD Public Records Center is the correct place to submit requests for police reports, arrest records, and collision reports from the Anchorage Police Department.
This page walks you through the APD records request process and lets you submit requests online without visiting the department in person.
Some police records are exempt from disclosure under AS 40.25.120(a). Active investigation files, juvenile records, and certain confidential law enforcement records may be withheld or redacted. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the agency head within 60 working days under 2 AAC 96.345.
Anchorage Court Records and CourtView
The Anchorage Courthouse at 825 W 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 is the main judicial facility for the Third Judicial District. The Rabinowitz State Courthouse and the Nesbett Courthouse both operate here. Together they handle felony criminal cases, civil cases over $100,000, domestic relations, probate, juvenile cases, small claims, misdemeanors, and traffic violations. Anchorage is the busiest court hub in Alaska.
Court public records for Anchorage and all Alaska trial courts are searchable through CourtView. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or citation. The system shows case type, filing date, status, scheduled hearings, and in many instances document images. Requests for certified copies of specific documents go to the Clerk of Court at the courthouse.
Copy fees are set statewide by the Alaska Court System under Administrative Rule 37.8. Certified copies cost $10 for the first copy of a document and $3 for each additional copy of the same document. Plain copies are $5 for the first document and $3 for each additional. Research costs $30 per hour. For Anchorage cases, use form TF-311 ANCH when submitting a records request to the court clerk.
Under Administrative Rule 40(a), certain case types are removed from public access. These include sealed cases, foreign domestic violence protective orders, dismissed cases at initial hearing, civil protective orders closed without issuance, and criminal cases where the defendant completed a suspended imposition of sentence under AS 12.55.085. Cases involving possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults 21+ with no other charges are also removed.
Property and Assessment Records
The Municipality of Anchorage Treasury Department runs an online property tax search at muni.org. You can search by property ID, legal description, street address, owner name, subdivision, or block and lot. The system shows current assessed value, tax amounts, payment history, exemption status, special assessments, and any delinquent amounts. Property is assessed as of January 1 each year, and assessment notices go out in January.
Building permits and development records are maintained by the Development Services Department. The permit database allows searching by parcel or tax ID, permit number, type, address, application date, subdivision, block or lot, contractor, and valuation. Property owners who disagree with their assessments can appeal to the Board of Equalization within the stated timeframe. The GIS mapping system at muniorg.maps.arcgis.com shows parcel boundaries, zoning districts, flood zones, utility easements, school boundaries, and voting precincts.
For recorded property documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens, you go to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Anchorage falls within the Anchorage Recording District. The Anchorage Recorder's Office at 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-269-8875, handles document recording. The online land records system lets you search by grantor or grantee name, document number, or date.
Note: The online property tax system and GIS maps are for reference only. The official assessment records are held by the Treasury Department and may differ from what is displayed online.Vital Records in Anchorage
The Municipality of Anchorage does not issue vital records. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for events anywhere in Alaska are handled by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. The bureau has a walk-in office in Anchorage at 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503, phone 907-269-0991. Same-day service is typically available for in-person requests.
Certified copies cost $30 for the first copy and $25 for each additional copy of the same record. Marriage licenses cost $60 and have a 3-day waiting period, though a judge can waive this. Marriage licenses are available at the Bureau of Vital Statistics office, the Loussac Library, and some court locations in Anchorage. Online orders through VitalChek.com take 2-3 weeks. Mail orders take 2-3 months.
Access to vital records is restricted. Non-historical records are only available to the person listed on the record or their authorized representative. Historical records become publicly available 100 years after birth and 50 years after death, marriage, or divorce. For corrections or special requests, contact the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics or email BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov.
Other Public Records in Anchorage
Business entity records for Anchorage companies are maintained by the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. You can search by entity name, number, officer name, or registered agent name. The main phone is 907-465-2550 and the email is Corporations@Alaska.Gov. This covers LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and professional licenses.
Driving records for Anchorage residents are available through the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Three types are available: the Full Individual Record, the Insurance Record, and the CDL Employment Record. Each costs $10. Online requests go through the DMV online portal. Driver license records are confidential, so individuals can only request their own record unless they have proper consent.
The Alaska Department of Corrections operates the Anchorage Correctional Complex and the Anchorage Jail. Inmate records can be searched through the VINELink system at vinelink.com or by calling the facilities. The system allows public searches for inmates and lets you register for custody status notifications. Some inmate information may be restricted for security reasons.
Historical government records are preserved at the Alaska State Archives in Juneau. The archives hold nearly 24,000 cubic feet of government records and can be contacted at archives@alaska.gov or 907-465-2270. For genealogy research, the archives maintain records covering births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and census data.
Communities in the Anchorage Area
The Anchorage Municipality combines city and borough functions. Many surrounding communities file public records here.
Other communities within or near the Anchorage Municipality include Chugiak, Girdwood, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. All court filings and most public records requests for these areas go through the Anchorage courts and municipal offices.
Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas
Anchorage borders several other Alaska boroughs and census areas. If the records you need involve a nearby area, check the right location.