Unalaska Deed Records
Deed records for the City of Unalaska are filed through the Alaska DNR Aleutian Islands Recording District, administered by the Anchorage Recorder's Office. Unalaska, located on Unalaska Island and adjacent Amaknak Island, is the main community in the Aleutians West Census Area. You can search Aleutian Islands Recording District deed records through the Alaska DNR online index at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff. Mail requests and in-person visits to the Anchorage Recorder's Office are also available for certified copies and records that predate the online index.
Unalaska Overview
Unalaska Deed Recording Office
All deed records for Unalaska are processed by the Anchorage DNR Office through the Aleutian Islands Recording District. The Anchorage office at 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108 handles submissions, indexing, and copy requests for Unalaska properties. There is no local DNR recorder's office in Unalaska.
Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real property instruments are indexed in the statewide grantor-grantee system under the Aleutian Islands Recording District. The online index covers 1970 to present.
| Recording District | Aleutian Islands Recording District |
|---|---|
| Recording Office | Alaska DNR - Anchorage Recorder's Office |
| Address | 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108 Anchorage, AK 99501 |
| Phone | (907) 269-8876 |
| Website | dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff |
The City of Unalaska's website at unalaska.gov provides city government information. Deed recording for Unalaska is handled at the state level through the DNR Aleutian Islands Recording District.
How to Search Unalaska Deed Records
The Alaska DNR free online grantor-grantee index is the primary tool for Unalaska deed searches. Visit dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff and select the Aleutian Islands Recording District. Search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or date range. The database covers 1970 to present.
For copies of specific recorded documents, call the Anchorage DNR at (907) 269-8876 or use the online ordering system. Mail requests can be sent to the Anchorage DNR office. The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov provides parcel boundary information for Unalaska properties. Land ownership in Unalaska may involve Ounalashka Corporation (the ANCSA village corporation) and Aleut Corporation holdings, so title research may require checking multiple sources.
Recording Fees
Recording fees for the Aleutian Islands Recording District follow Alaska law under AS 40.17.030. The standard fee is $20 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Non-standard documents add $50. Copies are $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 per additional page. Certified copies add $5. E-recording through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN is available.
Document Requirements
Documents submitted to the Aleutian Islands Recording District must meet Alaska's standard requirements. Paper must be white, 8.5 x 11 inches. The first page needs a 3-inch top margin. Font must be 10 points or larger. Deeds must include full grantor and grantee names, the property legal description, the consideration amount, and a notarized grantor signature. A return mailing address for the recorded original must appear on the first page. See full requirements at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/PreparingDocs.
Assessor Records and Chain of Title
The City of Unalaska has a local assessor that maintains property assessment records for parcels within the city limits. The City Clerk's Office at 400 Salmon Way, Unalaska, AK 99685, handles public records requests for city government documents. For deed and real property instrument records, the DNR Aleutian Islands Recording District is the correct source, not the city.
Land ownership in Unalaska is more complex than in most Alaska communities. Ounalashka Corporation, the ANCSA village corporation for the Native village of Unalaska, holds significant acreage in the area. Aleut Corporation, the ANCSA regional corporation, also holds subsurface rights. Some residential lots on Amaknak Island -- where the commercial fishing harbor and Dutch Harbor are located -- were originally leased or sold by the corporations. When researching title for an Unalaska property, confirm whether the land involves any corporation surface or subsurface estate before relying solely on the DNR deed index.
To trace the ownership history of a private property in Unalaska, start with the DNR Aleutian Islands Recording District grantor-grantee index at dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff. Select the Aleutian Islands Recording District and search by grantor or grantee name. Work backward through each deed. The online index covers 1970 to present. For older records, contact the Anchorage DNR at (907) 269-8876. The Alaska Mapper GIS at mapper.dnr.alaska.gov shows current parcel boundaries for Unalaska properties. This helps confirm the correct legal description before you search the deed index and also shows any BLM or state land boundaries adjacent to the parcel. Copy fees are $1.25 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Certified copies add a $5 certification fee and are required for legal proceedings and estate matters. E-recording through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN is available for the Aleutian Islands Recording District. Documents must follow Alaska's standard formatting: 8.5 x 11 white paper, 3-inch top margin on the first page, 10-point minimum font, title at the top. The City Clerk at Unalaska can assist with municipal records requests for city government documents separate from deed recording.
Aleutians West Census Area Deed Records
Unalaska is the main city in the Aleutians West Census Area. All deed recordings for the area go through the Aleutian Islands Recording District. For more details, visit the Aleutians West Census Area deed records page.