Chugach Census Area Deed Records
Deed records for the Chugach Census Area are filed through two recording districts: the Valdez Recording District and the Cordova Recording District. Both are served by the Alaska DNR Recorder's Office in Anchorage. The Chugach Census Area was created in 2019 when the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area was split into two separate areas, with the Chugach Census Area covering the Valdez and Cordova communities along with a large expanse of southcentral Alaska. This area has no organized borough government, so all deed recording is handled at the state level.
Chugach Census Area Overview
Recording Districts for Chugach Census Area
When you search for deed records in the Chugach Census Area, you may need to check two separate recording districts depending on where the property is located. The Valdez Recording District covers the Valdez area and nearby communities. The Cordova Recording District covers Cordova, Eyak, and surrounding areas. Both are managed by the Anchorage DNR Recorder's Office.
The Anchorage DNR Office is at 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108, Anchorage, AK 99501-3564, phone (907) 269-8876. All deed documents for properties in the Chugach Census Area are sent to this office for recording. The office processes the document, assigns a recording number, and enters it into the statewide index. From that point the deed is a searchable public record.
The Chugach Census Area was created in 2019 out of the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area. The split was a census boundary change, not a change in recording structure. The same recording districts that covered Valdez and Cordova before 2019 still cover them now. If you are searching for older deed records, look under the same district names.
| Recording Districts | Valdez Recording District, Cordova Recording District |
|---|---|
| Served By | Anchorage DNR Recorder's Office |
| Address | 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 108 Anchorage, AK 99501-3564 |
| Phone | (907) 269-8876 |
| Online Search | dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff |
Note: The Chugach Census Area is not an organized borough. No local clerk or assessor maintains deed records. All recording is at the state level through the Anchorage DNR Office.
Searching Deed Records for Chugach Census Area
Go to dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff to search recorded documents for properties in the Chugach Census Area. When prompted to select a recording district, choose Valdez or Cordova depending on the property location. The search tool lets you look up documents by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or date. Most records from 1970 to present are available online as scanned images.
For properties in Valdez, you can also use the city's own property tools as a starting point to get parcel numbers and legal descriptions. For deed documents themselves, the DNR system is the official source. The Alaska Mapper GIS tool is useful when you have a location but not a name. It shows parcel boundaries for the Chugach region and links to recorded documents in the DNR database.
Under AS 40.17.030, recording a deed creates constructive notice to all future parties. A deed that is signed but not recorded is valid between the buyer and seller, but it does not protect against a later claim from someone who records a competing document first. Always record your deed promptly after a real estate closing.
Document Preparation for Chugach Area Deeds
Before you submit a deed for recording in the Chugach Census Area, review the DNR's document preparation requirements. Alaska has specific formatting rules that all recorded documents must meet.
Review the DNR document preparation requirements to make sure your deed meets Alaska's formatting rules before you submit it for recording in the Valdez or Cordova Recording District.
Recording Fees in Chugach Census Area
Standard Alaska recording fees apply. The fee is $20 for the first page of any document and $5 for each additional page. Certified copies of recorded documents cost $5 for the certification stamp plus the copy fee. The full fee schedule is posted at the DNR website. Fees are payable by check or money order when mailing documents.
Before submitting, all deed documents must meet Alaska's preparation requirements. The first page needs a 3-inch top margin for the recorder's stamp. The document must clearly identify the grantor and grantee, include a valid legal description, have notarized signatures, and show a return address. Documents that do not meet these requirements will be returned without recording.
Electronic recording is available for title companies and law offices using an approved vendor. See the e-recording page for vendor details and enrollment. Most private sellers and buyers mail their documents to the Anchorage office. For questions, call (907) 269-8876 or visit the DNR FAQ page.
Property Document Types in Chugach Districts
The Valdez and Cordova Recording Districts hold all the standard deed record types for land in the Chugach Census Area. Warranty deeds and quitclaim deeds document ownership transfers. Deeds of trust and mortgages secure lender interests in real property. Easements grant access rights, and liens record financial claims against property. Release documents and reconveyances show when a debt or claim has been cleared.
Under AS 40.17.110, every recorded instrument in the Chugach area serves as constructive notice from the date it is filed. This makes the recording index the definitive source for understanding a property's legal status. Buyers, lenders, and title companies rely on this system to confirm clean title before any transaction closes.
Subdivision plat maps and survey documents are also filed in these districts. For the Valdez and Cordova areas, plat records show how residential and commercial land has been divided over time. You can access both deed records and plat maps through the DNR system. For geographic context, Alaska Mapper integrates parcel boundaries with deed records for the entire Chugach region.
Note: Under AS 40.17.150, recording a false or fraudulent deed in Alaska is a criminal offense with potential civil liability as well.
Cities in Chugach Census Area
Valdez is the only qualifying city in the Chugach Census Area with its own page on this site. Cordova, while a significant community, does not meet the population threshold for an individual city page. Deed recording for both communities goes through the respective recording districts at the Anchorage DNR Office.
Cordova and other communities in the census area do not have individual city pages. All deed records for those areas are in the Cordova Recording District through the Anchorage DNR Office.
Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas
These areas border or are near the Chugach Census Area. Each uses the Alaska DNR system for deed recording.