Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MSB § 8.50.020(B)
- Applies
- Unincorporated borough only, § 8.50.015(A)
- Junk vehicle threshold
- 3 or more vehicles in plain view
- Boarded-up exception
- Vacant buildings secured at all openings
- Fines
- $150 / $300 / $500 by offense number
Summary
Vacant or abandoned buildings, and junk or trash left in plain view from a public road, are declared a public nuisance in the unincorporated Matanuska-Susitna Borough under Matanuska-Susitna Borough Code § 8.50.020. A vacant structure escapes the nuisance label only if every door, window, and opening is boarded up and the building is otherwise secured, and the rule stops at the Palmer, Houston, and Wasilla city limits.
This chapter is not applicable within the city limits of Palmer, Houston, or Wasilla. ... Vacant, abandoned or unoccupied buildings are a public nuisance, except those that have been boarded up at all doors, windows, and other openings sufficiently to prevent ingress and otherwise secured. ... Property where junk or trash, as defined in MSB § 8.50.005, is disposed of, scattered upon, or kept in plain view from any public right-of-way.
Full Breakdown
015(A), so the vacant-lot rules described here reach only the unincorporated borough and its special land use districts. 020(B) enumerates public nuisances: vacant, abandoned, or unoccupied buildings are a nuisance unless boarded up at every opening and otherwise secured; property where junk or trash is disposed of, scattered, or kept in plain view from a public right-of-way is a nuisance; property with abandoned or junk vehicles, trailers, snowmachines, four-wheelers, or farm equipment in plain view is a nuisance once three or more junk vehicles are present; and property maintained in a state of deterioration that measurably diminishes surrounding property values, shown through borough tax assessments or a licensed real estate agent's testimony of at least a 10 percent hit, also qualifies.
020(C) the borough meets its burden of proof if the offending condition has sat on the property for more than three months or covers a significant area visible from the right-of-way. 45 to the owner, the owner's agent, or any occupant, tenant, or operator responsible for the property.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 8.50.020 is charged as a Trash and Junk Violation infraction under the Chapter 1.45 fine schedule: $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense within the applicable period. The manager can also pursue abatement through an enforcement order under Chapter 1.45, and civil remedies including injunctive relief remain available under § 1.45.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the borough's vacant property nuisance rule apply inside Wasilla, Palmer, or Houston?
How many junk vehicles on a lot counts as a nuisance?
Can I leave a vacant building standing instead of demolishing it?
What's the fine for a first trash and junk nuisance violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Compare Matanuska-Susitna Borough to another location·View the Alaska property maintenance overview
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