Alaska Stat. § 18.80. § 18.80.200
Purpose
Operative Text
(a) It is determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that discrimination against an inhabitant of the state because of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood is a matter of public concern and that this discrimination not only threatens the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the state but also menaces the institutions of the state and threatens peace, order, health, safety, and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. (b) Therefore, it is the policy of the state and the purpose of this chapter to eliminate and prevent discrimination in employment, in credit and financing practices, in places of public accommodation, in the sale, lease, or rental of real property because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. It is also the policy of the state to encourage and enable physically and mentally disabled persons to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment. It is not the purpose of this chapter to supersede laws pertaining to child labor, the age of majority, or other age restrictions or requirements. (c) Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit a private employer from granting an employment preference described in AS 23.88.010.
Alaska Statute AS 18.80.200 establishes the foundational policy behind the state's anti-discrimination law. The legislature formally recognized that discrimination based on characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood harms not just individuals but the broader public welfare of Alaska. The chapter's stated aim is to eliminate and prevent such discrimination across employment, credit, public accommodations, and the sale, lease, or rental of real property—while explicitly clarifying that it does not override laws governing child labor, the age of majority, or other age-specific requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under AS 18.80.200, Alaska's anti-discrimination policy applies directly to the sale, lease, and rental of real property, meaning property owners and managers operating in the state are expected to conduct their practices without regard to a prospective or current tenant's race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood status. Compliant operators typically review their application processes, lease terms, and tenant communications to ensure none of these protected characteristics influence decisions. Because AS 18.80.200 sets the overarching purpose for the entire chapter, understanding it helps contextualize the more specific obligations found in subsequent sections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
AS 18.80.200 declares it Alaska's public policy to eliminate discrimination in the rental and leasing of real property on the basis of characteristics including race, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, and parenthood. Tenants who believe they have experienced such discrimination in a housing context may have grounds to raise a violation under this chapter, including by filing a complaint with the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, which administers the law. Tenant-rights organizations can help individuals understand how the protections established by AS 18.80.200 connect to specific enforcement mechanisms available under the broader chapter.
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
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