Local Boundary Commission

The Local Boundary Commission was created by the Constitution of the State of Alaska to ensure that arguments for and against proposals to create or alter municipal governments are analyzed objectively, and take areawide and statewide needs into consideration.  

The Commission’s role is to receive, review, and make final decisions on petitions for:

• Incorporation of cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.
• Reclassification of cities.
• Annexation to cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.
• Detachment from cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.
• Dissolution of cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.
• Merger of cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.
• Consolidation of cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities.

The Commission’s public process and actions are subject to State of Alaska’s statutes AS 44.62.310. Government Meetings Public, and AS 40.25. Inspection and Copying of Public Records.

Role of department staff.  

A department employee assigned under AS 44.33.020(a)(4) as a member of the commission staff serves as an advisor. The advisory staff may not act in an advocacy capacity as a petitioner under 3 AAC 110.410.

During a proceeding, the advisory staff to the commission may provide technical assistance, information, and forms to petitioners, respondents, and interested persons who have procedural questions regarding local government or boundary issues. If the commissioner, a department subdivision, or a department employee not assigned under AS 44.33.020(a)(4) to the commission’s advisory staff serves in an official capacity as a petitioner in a case before the commission,

(1) communications with the commission’s advisory staff regarding the case are subject to the limitations of this subsection and 3 AAC 110.500; and

(2) communications with members of the commission are subject to the ex parte limitations of 3 AAC 110.500.

(c) Nothing in this section limits the role and ability of the commission’s advisory staff to ensure that the commission is fully and accurately informed by providing to the commission new or additional information that supplements, questions, or refutes information provided by, or a position taken by, a petitioner, respondent, or other person.

Melissa Taylor
Division of Community & Regional Affairs
Department of Community, Commerce, and Economic Development
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1770, Anchorage, AK 99501-3510
Phone: 269-4587 FAX: 269-4539
E-mail: melissa.taylor1@alaska.gov
Website: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/lbc.htm

Please Note: Information provided on this site is updated continually, please check regularly for the most current information.