How do I schedule a building inspection in Aleutians East Borough, AK?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Aleutians East Borough: (907) 383-2699, Alaska DBS: (907) 269-4955 (Anchorage).

City Building Permits

Aleutians East Borough, AK - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Alaska Aleutians East Borough Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

The Aleutians East Borough is a second-class borough covering unincorporated areas outside the four incorporated cities (Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass). The borough administers land use, zoning, conditional use permits, and variances for unincorporated areas. For structural building permits in unincorporated areas, the Alaska Division of Building Safety (DBS) has concurrent or primary jurisdiction over commercial, industrial, public assembly, and multi-family buildings. Single-family residential construction in unincorporated Alaska is not subject to state DBS permit requirement but must comply with local zoning.

Department: Aleutians East Borough Community and Economic Development Department, Planning and Permitting
Address: P.O. Box 349, Sand Point, AK 99661
Phone: (907) 383-2699
Website: https://www.aleutianseast.org/

Online Permit Portal

Open Aleutians East Borough

Platform: Paper/Phone • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Confirm whether the property is in an incorporated city (Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, or False Pass) or in unincorporated borough territory.
Contact the Aleutians East Borough at (907) 383-2699 to determine required land use, zoning, or conditional use permits.
For structural construction (commercial, industrial, or multi-family), contact Alaska Division of Building Safety at (907) 269-4955 to determine if a state structural permit is required.
Complete and submit all required borough land use permit applications with documentation (site plan, project description).
Determine if the project is in a FEMA-mapped floodplain; contact the borough or ADEC for floodplain permits if required.
For projects affecting wetlands or federal lands, obtain required USACE Section 404, USFWS, and ADEC permits.
Submit complete permit package, pay applicable fees, and await review.
Post issued permits on job site and schedule required inspections.

Typical processing time: Contact borough directly for timeline estimates; remote location logistics may significantly affect scheduling.

Source: Aleutians East Borough Community and Economic Development Department, Planning and Permitting

General Requirements

Land use and zoning permits are required for new construction, substantial improvements, and changes of use in zoning-regulated areas of unincorporated Aleutians East Borough. For commercial, industrial, public assembly, and multi-family structural construction, Alaska Division of Building Safety (DBS) has statewide jurisdiction regardless of local permits. Single-family residential construction in unincorporated areas does not require a state building permit unless locally administered, but must comply with local zoning.

Required Documents

Completed permit application
Site plan showing parcel boundaries and structure locations
Floor plans and elevation drawings (for structural review)
Project description/narrative
Contractor license information (if applicable)
Environmental review documentation for wetland-adjacent projects

Permit validity: Not publicly specified by the borough; contact planning/permitting office for permit term and renewal policy.
Building code: Aleutians East Borough does not maintain a locally adopted building code for unincorporated areas. The State of Alaska DBS enforces 8 AAC 61 (Alaska Building Safety Standards) for applicable projects, with adopted base codes: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), with Alaska-specific amendments. High seismic design category (D–E) and extreme wind provisions apply throughout the Aleutian region.
Owner-builder: Alaska does not require a general contractor license for owner-occupied single-family residential construction. However, licensed contractors are required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.
Contractor requirements: State of Alaska contractor licensing required for commercial construction and all licensed trades (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC). Verify license status at Alaska CBPL Professional Licensing Lookup.

Fees

Payment note: Borough fee schedule is not publicly posted. Contact Aleutians East Borough Planning and Permitting at (907) 383-2699 for current fee information. For Alaska DBS structural permits, fees are valuation-based; see https://labor.alaska.gov/dbs/forms.htm. DBS accepts electronic payment through the online portal.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Aleutians East Borough Community and Economic Development Department, Planning and Permitting to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Aleutians East Borough: (907) 383-2699 (phone)
Alaska DBS: (907) 269-4955 (Anchorage) (phone)

Inspection hours: Contact borough and DBS for current hours.

Typical inspection sequence: For DBS-administered structural permits: footing/foundation, rough framing, rough mechanical/plumbing/electrical, insulation and vapor barrier, sheathing, final inspection. High-seismic-zone projects require additional special inspections of concrete, masonry, and structural connections per 8 AAC 61.

All Aleutians East Borough communities except Cold Bay are accessible only by small aircraft. All inspections require advance planning and coordination with DBS and/or borough. Inspector travel arrangements may involve air charter costs and weather delays. Remote access costs should be factored into project scheduling.

Additional Resources

Building code: Aleutians East Borough does not maintain a locally adopted building code for unincorporated areas. The State of Alaska DBS enforces 8 AAC 61 (Alaska Building Safety Standards) for applicable projects, with adopted base codes: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), with Alaska-specific amendments. High seismic design category (D–E) and extreme wind provisions apply throughout the Aleutian region.
Verify contractor license: Alaska Contractor Registration Lookup
Alaska Division of Building Safety
FEMA Map Service Center (Flood Maps)
Alaska Volcano Observatory (Volcanic Hazard Maps)
Alaska Geological & Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) Hazard Maps
National Tsunami Warning Center
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District (Wetlands Permits)
License lookup guide: Alaska Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: Alaska Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
Alaska hub: Alaska Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Aleutians East Borough Community and Economic Development Department, Planning and Permitting before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aleutians East Borough Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Aleutians East Borough, AK?: Land use and zoning permits are required for new construction, substantial improvements, and changes of use in zoning-regulated areas of unincorporated Aleutians East Borough. For commercial, industrial, public assembly, and multi-family structural construction, Alaska Division of Building Safety (DBS) has statewide jurisdiction regardless of local permits. Single-family residential construction in unincorporated areas does not require a state building permit unless locally administered, but must comply with local zoning.
How do I apply for a building permit in Aleutians East Borough, AK?: 1. Confirm whether the property is in an incorporated city (Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, or False Pass) or in unincorporated borough territory. 2. Contact the Aleutians East Borough at (907) 383-2699 to determine required land use, zoning, or conditional use permits. 3. For structural construction (commercial, industrial, or multi-family), contact Alaska Division of Building Safety at (907) 269-4955 to determine if a state structural permit is required. 4. Complete and submit all required borough land use permit applications with documentation (site plan, project description). 5. Determine if the project is in a FEMA-mapped floodplain; contact the borough or ADEC for floodplain permits if required. 6. For projects affecting wetlands or federal lands, obtain required USACE Section 404, USFWS, and ADEC permits. 7. Submit complete permit package, pay applicable fees, and await review. 8. Post issued permits on job site and schedule required inspections.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Aleutians East Borough, AK?: Typical processing time is Contact borough directly for timeline estimates; remote location logistics may significantly affect scheduling..
How do I schedule a building inspection in Aleutians East Borough, AK?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Aleutians East Borough: (907) 383-2699, Alaska DBS: (907) 269-4955 (Anchorage).

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.