Anchorage designates WUI zones covering Hillside, Eagle River, Chugiak, Girdwood, and Stuckagain Heights. These zones face high wildfire risk and trigger stricter roofing, vent, and defensible-space guidance.
The Municipality of Anchorage, working with Alaska DNR Division of Forestry, has mapped Wildland Urban Interface zones where residential development meets boreal forest. After the 2019 Swan Lake smoke event and ongoing spruce bark beetle mortality (roughly 1.5 million acres affected statewide), AFD adopted enhanced WUI construction guidance aligned with IWUIC. In mapped zones, new construction should use Class A roofing, ember-resistant attic and crawlspace vents (1/8 inch mesh), and non-combustible siding within 5 feet of grade. AMC Title 21 zoning coordinates setbacks with fuel-break requirements. Residents should register for AK Alerts and maintain Ready-Set-Go evacuation plans. Insurers in Hillside and Eagle River increasingly require wildfire mitigation documentation for renewals.
Construction not meeting WUI standards can fail final inspection. Owners who ignore Fire Marshal abatement orders face liens for municipal clearing work.
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage has no specific ordinance regulating decorative lawn ornaments (statues, garden gnomes, flamingos, seasonal yard decor) at residential properties. ...
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage has no specific ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays (giant Santas, pumpkins, etc.) at single-family or two-family homes. T...
Anchorage, AK
Anchorage has no specific ordinance limiting residential holiday-light displays at single-family or two-family homes. Decorative lights generally fall outsid...
Anchorage, AK
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Anchorage are regulated under Title 23 (Anchorage Building Code, AK-amended 2018 IBC/IRC) and Title 21.05 accessory structure s...
Anchorage, AK
Pellet smokers, offset smokers, kamado-style (Big Green Egg), and any charcoal- or wood-fired smoker are treated as open-flame cooking devices under IFC §308...
Anchorage, AK
The Anchorage Fire Code (AMC Title 15, adopting the 2018 International Fire Code) enforces IFC §308.1.4 prohibiting open-flame cooking devices, charcoal burn...
See how Anchorage's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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