North Slope Borough Public Records

The North Slope Borough is the northernmost municipal government in the United States, with its seat in Utqiagvik. Public records here include court filings, property assessments, law enforcement records, and vital documents maintained by both borough offices and state agencies. This page explains how to access North Slope Borough public records, where each type is kept, and what steps to take when making a request.

North Slope Borough Records and Government

The North Slope Borough operates as a home rule borough. That means it has broad authority over its own governance. The borough maintains a unified government structure that works with tribes, cities, ANCSA corporations, schools, and businesses across the region. The official borough website is at north-slope.org.

Public records for the North Slope Borough are governed by the Alaska Public Records Act (AS 40.25.100 through AS 40.25.295). Every person has the right to inspect public records held by the borough and state agencies under AS 40.25.110. Agencies must respond within 10 working days. If a request requires more than five person-hours of staff time, the agency may charge its actual personnel costs.

The borough website screenshot below shows the North Slope Borough's official page, sourced from north-slope.org.

From the borough site, you can find department contacts, meeting minutes, and information about borough services. Records not posted online require a written request to the appropriate department. Because the North Slope Borough is remote and covers a vast area, many records requests are handled by mail, phone, or email rather than in person.

North Slope Property Assessments and Land Records

The North Slope Borough Assessor's Office handles property tax assessments for the entire borough. The office is at P.O. Box 69, Utqiagvik, AK 99723. You can reach the Assessor by phone at 907-852-0355, fax at 907-852-4091, or email at mari.moore@north-slope.org. Mari Moore serves as the current Assessor.

Property ownership on the North Slope is complex. Land types include ANCSA corporation lands held by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), federal lands, state lands, and borough-owned properties. If you are researching a parcel, it helps to know which category it falls under before deciding where to start your search.

Online property search capabilities for the North Slope Borough are limited. Most records require in-person or phone contact with the Assessor's Office. The median property tax for the borough is approximately $1,888. For land ownership records on state lands, you use the DNR Recorder's Office at dnr.alaska.gov.

The Alaska Mapper GIS tool at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov provides parcel-level data for state land records. It shows land ownership boundaries and survey plat information, though the underlying source documents are the legal records. For ANCSA lands, you would need to contact the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation directly.

Note: Because the North Slope covers a very large geographic area with complex land ownership, property research here often takes more time than in other parts of Alaska. Direct contact with the Assessor's Office is the most reliable path.

Utqiagvik Court and Public Case Files

The courts in Utqiagvik serve the North Slope Borough as part of Alaska's Second Judicial District. Both Superior Court and District Court functions are available at the Utqiagvik courthouse. You can search case records online through CourtView, the Alaska Court System's free public access portal.

CourtView lets you search by party name, case number, or citation number. Case types visible in the system include civil, criminal, small claims, probate, and domestic relations matters. Records before 1990 may not be in the electronic system and require direct contact with the court clerk.

The Alaska Trial Courts page screenshot below shows the CourtView public access system used across Alaska, sourced from courts.alaska.gov.

Because many North Slope communities are only accessible by air, the court system uses video conferencing for remote village proceedings. This allows residents of places like Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, and Wainwright to participate in hearings without traveling to Utqiagvik. CourtView still captures these proceedings as part of the public case record.

Standard copy fees apply statewide: $10 for the first certified copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same document, and $5 for the first regular document. Research fees are $30 per hour. To request copies, contact the Utqiagvik court clerk directly. The court address and phone can be found through the Alaska Court System's directory at courts.alaska.gov.

North Slope Law Enforcement and Arrest Records

The North Slope Borough Department of Public Safety provides borough-wide law enforcement. The department is located at 1274 Agvik Street, Utqiagvik, AK 99723, phone 907-852-0311. The Borough Police Department covers the Utqiagvik area and coordinates with Village Public Safety Officers in remote communities.

Alaska State Troopers also maintain a post in Utqiagvik at phone 907-852-3783. Troopers often respond to incidents in more remote parts of the North Slope. Both the Borough Police and State Troopers hold arrest records that are subject to public inspection under AS 40.25.110.

To request arrest records, submit a written request to the relevant agency. Some law enforcement records may be withheld under AS 40.25.120 if they relate to active investigations, pending court proceedings, or confidential informant details.

For statewide criminal history background checks, use the Alaska Department of Public Safety's online portal at backgroundcheck.dps.alaska.gov. The fee is $20 for the first report and $5 for each additional copy. You can also mail requests to the Criminal Records and Identification Bureau, 5700 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, phone 907-269-5511.

Vital Records for the North Slope

Births, deaths, marriages, and divorces in the North Slope Borough are recorded by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics in Juneau. Certified copies are available through the bureau's website at health.alaska.gov. You can order online through VitalChek or by mail.

Fees are $30 for the first certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate, and $25 for each additional copy. Online orders take 2 to 3 weeks plus shipping. Mail orders take 2 to 3 months. Most records are restricted to individuals listed on them or their authorized representatives.

You can email the bureau at BVSOffice@alaska.gov for standard orders or BVSSpecialServices@alaska.gov for corrections, paternity, adoptions, and amendments. Only records for events occurring in Alaska can be ordered through this office.

Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas

The North Slope Borough borders other remote regions of northern Alaska. Each has its own records system.