Aleutians East Borough

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.

Note: Contact the Aleutians East Borough at (907) 383-2699 to confirm whether your project requires a permit. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements.

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.

Permit validity

Not publicly specified by the borough; contact planning/permitting office for permit term and renewal policy.

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.

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

1. 01
   Confirm whether the property is in an incorporated city (Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, or False Pass) or in unincorporated borough territory.
2. 02
   Contact the Aleutians East Borough at (907) 383-2699 to determine required land use, zoning, or conditional use permits.
3. 03
   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. 04
   Complete and submit all required borough land use permit applications with documentation (site plan, project description).
5. 05
   Determine if the project is in a FEMA-mapped floodplain; contact the borough or ADEC for floodplain permits if required.
6. 06
   For projects affecting wetlands or federal lands, obtain required USACE Section 404, USFWS, and ADEC permits.
7. 07
   Submit complete permit package, pay applicable fees, and await review.
8. 08
   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 ↗

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

Inspection hours

Contact borough and DBS for current hours.

Typical 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.

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