Alaska Stat. § 09.50. § 09.50.170
Abatement of places used for certain acts
Operative Text
(a) A person who erects, establishes, continues, maintains, uses, owns, or leases a building, structure, or other place used for one of the following activities is guilty of maintaining a nuisance, and the building, structure, or place, or the ground itself in or upon which or in any part of which the activity is conducted, permitted, carried on, continues, or exists, and its furniture, fixtures, and other contents, constitute a nuisance and may be enjoined and abated: (1) prostitution; (2) an illegal activity involving a place of prostitution; or (3) an illegal activity involving (A) alcoholic beverages; (B) a controlled substance; (C) an imitation controlled substance; or (D) gambling or promoting gambling. (b) In this section, “illegal activity involving alcoholic beverages,” “illegal activity involving a controlled substance,” “illegal activity involving gambling or promoting gambling,” “illegal activity involving an imitation controlled substance,” “illegal activity involving a place of prostitution,” and “prostitution” have the meanings given in AS 34.03.360.
Alaska Statute AS 09.50.170 classifies certain buildings, structures, or properties as legal nuisances when they are used for activities such as prostitution, illegal alcohol or controlled-substance activity, or illegal gambling. Any person who owns, leases, or maintains such a place may be found guilty of maintaining a nuisance. The property itself—including its furniture, fixtures, and contents—can be subject to court-ordered injunction and abatement, meaning a court can order the activity stopped and the nuisance condition remedied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under AS 09.50.170, property owners and managers are generally expected to ensure that their buildings and structures are not used for prostitution, illegal drug activity, illegal alcohol activity, or illegal gambling. Compliant operators typically conduct reasonable oversight of how their properties are used and take prompt action when they become aware of prohibited activities occurring on-site. Because the statute extends liability to those who 'lease' or 'maintain' a place, operators who knowingly allow such uses risk having the property itself declared a nuisance subject to injunction and abatement proceedings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
AS 09.50.170 establishes that tenants who use or permit a rental property to be used for prostitution, illegal controlled-substance activity, illegal alcohol activity, or illegal gambling may be found to be maintaining a nuisance under Alaska law. This provision can have significant consequences for a tenancy, as the property itself—including its contents—may be subject to court-ordered abatement. Tenants who believe they are being wrongly implicated in nuisance proceedings, or who have concerns about how this statute is being applied to their situation, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Alaska housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation