Private investigator licensing in Alaska

There is no statewide licence in Alaska, but local licensing may apply. Alaska has no statewide private investigator licence; bills to create one (HB 158 in 2007, HB 9 in 2015) died in committee. Licensing happens at municipal level: the Municipality of Anchorage issues a two-year private detective agency licence through the Municipal Clerk, and the City of Fairbanks licenses private detectives under Fairbanks General Code 14-121 to 14-134. Everywhere else a State of Alaska business licence is the main requirement.

Fairbanks only: $10,000 bond or approved financial security ($20,000 for out-of-state applicants not licensed in at least two other states)

Anchorage: 2-year term running 1 October to 30 September ($100). Fairbanks: biennial licence ($400 plus $75 application fee on each renewal)

No state licence fee. Anchorage private detective agency licence $100 for 2 years. Fairbanks: $75 non-refundable application fee plus $400 biennial licence fee. A State of Alaska business licence is also required

1. Get a State of Alaska business licence (required everywhere, and a prerequisite for both city licences) 2. Check whether your city licenses private detectives (Anchorage and Fairbanks do) 3. Anchorage: submit the Private Detective Agency application to the Municipal Clerk with your work history and a State of Alaska background check from the Department of Public Safety, and pay $100 4. Fairbanks: submit the notarised Private Detective License application to the City Clerk with ID, city and state business licences, a photo, the $10,000 bond and the fees 5. Renew every two years with each city

No state licence is needed, so out-of-state investigators can work in most of Alaska; in Anchorage and Fairbanks a municipal licence is needed to operate a detective business there

Alaska is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.