Who needs a zoning approval, building permit, fire marshal plan review and certificate of occupancy in Alaska?
Issued by Your city or borough planning and building departments; outside the cities that run their own building departments, the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire and Life Safety), at step 3 of 6 in the opening sequence: approve the space.
Every kind of business in Alaska
The Alaska table lists this for every kind of business.
Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction. Much of the state outside city limits has no zoning at all. Confirm the zoning allows your use before signing; the food permit and the alcohol license both ask for the approved premises.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 3 of 6: Approve the space
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Your city or borough planning and building departments; outside the cities that run their own building departments, the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire and Life Safety).
Sources and dates
Department of Public Safety Division of Fire and Life Safety plan review pages; municipal zoning and building codes. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Yes. Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and a handful of other cities review plans and issue certificates of occupancy themselves; everywhere else a commercial build-out or change of use goes to the State Fire Marshal for plan review before construction.
Your city or borough planning and building departments; outside the cities that run their own building departments, the State Fire Marshal (Division of Fire and Life Safety).
Step 3 of 6, approve the space. The steps before it: set up the business and register for tax.
Who needs a zoning approval in Alaska? | DoorWorthy
