FAQs | Petersburg Alaska

Administration

Information about Borough land sales can be found here.
Search the current Municipal Code online here.

Still need help? Contact Rebecca Regula, Borough Clerk .

Assembly & Boards

Information about how to file for candidacy in the October General Election can be found on the Borough Clerk's page.
Listen live to Assembly meetings on KFSK Public radio.

View meeting agendas, packets and recordings.

Listen to archived recordings of Borough meetings on our YouTube channel.
A complete list of current Assembly members can be found here.

Building Permits & Inspections

In Service Area 1 of the Petersburg Borough, the following building codes are adopted:

2021 International Building Code
2021 International Residential Code
2021 International Mechanical Code
2021 Uniform Plumbing Code
2021 International Fire Code
2020 National Electrical Code
According to the 2012 International Residential Code and 2012 International Building Code, a permit is required when “Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
- In general, anything that effects foundations or roof support structures, or adding to an existing structure requires a building permit.
- In general, adding to, or running a new circuit, circuits, or service on any voltage over 50 requires an electrical permit.
- In general, adding to, or running new drains, vents or potable hot and cold-water piping requires a plumbing permit.
For more information, see When is a Building Permit Required?
You will need to submit a completed Building Permit Application, an Electrical Supplement Application, if applicable, and a site plan, and a complete set of legible building plans to the Building Official.

The Building Official will review your plans for compatibility with municipal code and criteria and may contact you with questions, may request revisions to your plan to meet adopted codes, and will forward your plans to other departments for review and approval. Commercial and industrial projects may also require review by the State Fire Marshal.

Once your plans are approved, the building official will contact you to sign and pick up your permits. The permits may also include a plan review letter that will detail certain code requirements relevant to your project. Permit fees are payable at the time the permit is picked up.

Please post your building permits in a conspicuous place at your construction site.
In most typical cases, yes. When the project includes electrical or plumbing, permits are also required for these trades. For an electrical permit, you must also complete an electrical permit supplement application in addition to the general building permit application.
Design Criteria:

Roof Snow Load: 50 psf
Decks: 50 psf Live Load
Wind: 100 mph = 30 psf
Wind exposure = c
Seismic: 2B

Minimum Insulation Values:

Ceiling: R-49 minimum required
Walls: R-21 minimum required
Floor: R-38 minimum required
Glazing: u-0.35 maximum required

Current Building Codes (PMC 17.02.005)

2021 International Building Code
2021 International Residential Code
2021 International Mechanical Code
2021 Uniform Plumbing Code
2021 International Fire Code
2017 National Electrical Code
The primary contact for municipal power, water and sewer availability is the Utility Director at 772-4203. Alternatively, the Public Works Director can also assist with water and sewer inquires at 772-4430.

For telephone/internet: Contact AP&T at 772-3000
For cable/internet: Contact GCI at 772-3292
A building permit is required unless the deck meets the criteria for exemption.

A deck not requiring a permit must meet ALL of the following criteria:
1. does not exceed 200 sq. ft. in area;
2. is not more than 30 inches above grade at any point;
3. is not attached to the dwelling; and
4. does not serve the exit door required by IRC.
Call the Building Inspector for a Final Inspection. This way we can assure the final product is code compliant and we can close out our files.

Note: A Certificate of Occupancy cannot be issued until a final inspection has been performed and approved.

Businesses

Apply for a local business license with the Finance Department here.

Apply for a State of Alaska business license here.
File your business's sales tax return here.

Elections - Voter Information

Any qualified elector who is absent or expects to be absent from the Borough, or who will be unable to go to the polling place for reasons of physical disability on the day of the Election, may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballot information can be found on the Borough Clerk's page.
Register to vote with the State of Alaska Division of Elections.
The polls for the election will be open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on October 5, 2021. The polling place for the election is the Community Gym.
Voters must register with the State of Alaska. To vote, you must:
- be a United States citizen qualified to vote in the State of Alaska elections and registered to vote in the State of Alaska;
- at least eighteen (18) years of age;
- a resident of the Petersburg Borough for at least thirty (30) days preceding the election; and
- not disqualified under Article V of the State of Alaska Constitution as recited in Section 2.08.030.

Finance

Yes - credit card payments are offered to customers over the counter or on our website.
Auto-pay is available for utility accounts. Print an application form and mail or hand deliver to the Finance Department. You can also pick up forms at the Finance Department.
Yes- A drop box is available outside the front door of the Municipal building at 12 S. Nordic Drive for customer convenience and dropping off payments after hours.

Finance - Property Tax

Property lines for a parcel of land can be found on a plat map filed here at the Alaska DNR State Recorder’s Office. Select District: “Petersburg Recording District”.

To locate a plat number or a survey that is needed for “Plat Search” or “Survey Search” visit our Petersburg Map Viewer. By zooming in and selecting the property, a pop up screen will appear with the information needed for the Recorders Office. (“Plat” or “Survey”).
Property tax invoices are mailed every year on July 1st.
Property taxes are due October 15 by 4:30 pm at the Finance Office.

Harbor

Inquires can be made by calling the Harbor Department at (907) 772-4688 or by contacting the Harbormaster: Glo Wollen at gwollen@petersburgak.gov.

Property Tax

Local property ownership, legal description, physical address, current year assessment information, and zoning can be searched through the Borough's Online Property Viewer.
The property tax payment deadline can be found on the Finance Department's Property Tax page.

Public Safety

Sign up for CodeRED emergency alerts here.
For more information about volunteering, contact the Fire Department

Sanitation/Baler

Vehicles can be dispose of at the Baler Facility in the Vehicles in the Landfill disposal area. Vehicles have all the fluids drained and the tires and battery removed.
Hazardous waste is accepted at the Baler Facility for disposal; please contact the Baler Facility to learn the proper procedure for the disposal of hazardous waste. An annual Household Hazardous Waste collection event is held annual in June.

Baler Phone: (907) 772-3228

Baler Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm
Sun 9:00am-3:00pm
Closed Saturdays and holidays
Call Public Works or Sanitation during regular business hours.

Public Works Phone: (907) 772-4430
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 12:00pm, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Closed weekends & holidays

Baler Phone: (907) 772-3228
Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm
Sun 9:00am-3:00pm
Salvaging days at the landfill are Sundays & Mondays. When you drive up let the attendant know you would like to salvage. The charge is $10 per person.
Call Public Works for Sanitation during regular business hours.

Public Works Phone: (907) 772-4430
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 12:00pm, 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Closed weekends & holidays

Baler Phone: (907) 772-3228
Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm
Sun 9:00am-3:00pm
Baler Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm
Sun 9:00am-3:00pm
Learn what can be recycled here.
The recyclables collected from your blue cart are taken to the Borough's baler facility, where they are cleaned and compacted into bales using the same machine that processes trash. These bales are then stored in the facility until there are enough to fill a 40-foot shipping container. Once full, the container is sent to a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in downtown Seattle, operated by Republic Services. There, the bales are broken apart and sorted. The facility will determine whether the plastic is clean enough to be recycled or if it will be sent to the landfill.

Residents can help by ensuring all recyclables are clean. This helps ensure that only the best-quality material is sent to the MRF, improving the chances of successful recycling.

Check out this video to see the entire process in action: https://youtu.be/Jda_9_30-WU?si=zAlEL8o-QRNnu6JU
Vouchers expire one year less a day from date of purchase.
You can purchase a voucher at the Baler during regular business hours.

Baler Hours:
Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm
Sun 9:00am-3:00pm

Utilities

The primary contact for municipal power, water and sewer availability is the Utility Director at 772-4203. Alternatively, the Public Works Director can also assist with water and sewer inquires at 772-4430.

For telephone/internet: Contact AP&T at 772-3000
For cable/internet: Contact GCI at 772-3292
Establish a new account or make changes to an existing account with the Finance Department.
For after hours emergencies call the Police Department (907) 772-3838.

Water/Wastewater

Call Public Works or the Water Department during business hours. After hours call and leave a message at either department.

Public Works
Phone: (907) 772-4430

Water Department
Phone: (907) 772-4760