What is the property tax rate in Ketchikan Gateway County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska is approximately 0.96%.

Ketchikan Gateway County Property Tax Calculator (2026)

Property Tax in Ketchikan Gateway County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Ketchikan-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Ketchikan Gateway Borough — including Alaska's borough-only property tax structure (NO statewide tax; Unorganized Borough has NO property tax — covers ~57% of Alaska land area but ~13% of population), the 100% full-and-true-value assessment (AS 29.45.110), the constitutional 30-mill cap (AS 29.45.090), the mandatory $150,000 Senior/Disabled Vet AV exemption (AS 29.45.030 — among the most generous senior exemptions in the US, no income limit), the optional Municipal Residential Exemption (Anchorage $50K, Mat-Su $50K, Fairbanks $46,620, Juneau $50K), and the Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,702 per resident in 2025, offsetting property tax for many residents).

Ketchikan Gateway Borough operates under Alaska's borough-level property tax system — there is NO statewide property tax. Real property is assessed at 100% of full and true value (AS 29.45.110). Ketchikan Gateway's borough mill rate is approximately 9.67 mills per $1,000 of AV, producing typical effective rates around 0.96%. Alaska's mandatory $150,000 Senior/Disabled Veteran AV exemption (AS 29.45.030) is among the most generous in the United States — and Alaska has no state income tax, no state sales tax, plus the annual Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,702 per resident in 2025).

How the bill is built

Alaska is unique among US states: property tax is local-only (boroughs and home-rule municipalities), and the Unorganized Borough — covering ~57% of Alaska's land area but ~13% of population — has NO property tax at all. For organized boroughs: AV = 100% of full and true value (AS 29.45.110). Tax = AV × borough mill rate / 1000. Apply mandatory $150K Senior/Disabled Vet exemption (AS 29.45.030) and any optional municipal residential exemption (Anchorage $50K, Mat-Su $50K, Fairbanks $46,620) before the rate. The Alaska Constitution caps property tax at 30 mills (3% of AV) per AS 29.45.090, but no borough comes close.

The $150K Senior/Disabled Vet exemption is mandatory and dramatic. Owner-occupied 65+/widow(er) 60+/50%+ service-connected disabled vet homestead receives first $150,000 of AV exempt — no income limit, no application fee. On a typical Alaska home valued at $400K, that's a $$1,451+ annual tax reduction. Apply with the borough assessor by January 15 (varies by borough). One of the most valuable senior property tax benefits in the United States.

Alaska is NOT a categorical full-vet-exemption state. The $150K AV exemption (AS 29.45.030) functions as full exemption only for homes valued at or below $150K (rare in Anchorage); larger homes pay on the AV above $150K. Stack with optional municipal residential exemption for compounded benefit. Alaska also offers no state property tax exemption for non-disabled veterans — must use the senior or disabled-vet path.

2026 Ketchikan Gateway County rate breakdown (borough mill rate per $1,000 of AV (100% full and true value; AS 29.45.090 caps at 30 mills; $150K Senior/Disabled Vet AV exemption per AS 29.45.030), Ketchikan district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District	5.2500
Ketchikan Gateway Borough (general)	4.4200
Combined total	9.6700

As of April 27, 2026 · From Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessor.

Note: Ketchikan Gateway Borough is the southernmost borough in Alaska — 'Alaska’s First City’ (the first stop for northbound cruise ships and the state's traditional southeastern gateway). Substantial cruise-ship tourism (~1.2 million visitors per summer, ~85x resident population) drives the economy alongside commercial fishing, salmon canning, the Tongass National Forest timber industry (much-reduced from peak), and the US Coast Guard base.

Note: Ketchikan Gateway's combined mill rate runs ~9-10 mills on 100% AV, producing typical effective rates around 0.95-1.0%. The substantial cruise-ship-related commercial property base (cruise terminals, gift shops, marine support) supplements residential taxation. The 1954 closure of the Ketchikan Pulp Mill was a major economic shock that reshaped the borough's tax base.

Note: Ketchikan Gateway offers the mandatory $150K Senior/Disabled Vet exemption (AS 29.45.030). The borough's optional municipal residential exemption is more modest than other organized boroughs ($25K). Combined exemptions on a $290K Ketchikan home reduce taxable AV to ~$115K — about $1,100/year at 9.7 mills. Apply with the KGB Assessor's office by January 15.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Alaska's property tax exemption structure is among the most generous in the United States — and it's all locally administered, with the state mandating only the senior/disabled-vet exemption. The four primary mechanisms: the $150K Senior Citizen Exemption (AS 29.45.030, mandatory for organized boroughs), the $150K Disabled Veteran Exemption (AS 29.45.030, mandatory for 50%+ rated), the Optional Municipal Residential Exemption (set by each borough — Anchorage $50K, Mat-Su $50K, Fairbanks $46,620), and the Permanent Fund Dividend (~$1,702 in 2025; offsets property tax for many residents).

Senior Citizen Exemption (AS 29.45.030)

First $150,000 of AV exempt for owner-occupied primary residence of 65+ OR widow/widower 60+ of qualifying senior. NO income limit. Mandatory for all organized boroughs and home-rule municipalities under Alaska statute. Apply with the borough assessor by January 15 of the tax year (varies slightly by borough). One-time application — auto-renews unless ownership or residency changes. On a $400K Anchorage home with the 14-mill rate, this saves ~$2,100/year.

Disabled Veteran Exemption (AS 29.45.030)

First $150,000 of AV exempt for owner-occupied primary residence of veteran with 50%+ service-connected disability rating. NO income limit. Same statute as the Senior Citizen Exemption — boroughs must offer both. Cannot stack (one or the other on the same property — but they\u2019re typically equivalent in benefit). Surviving unremarried spouse may continue receiving. Apply with borough assessor and submit VA disability rating decision + DD-214.

Optional Municipal Residential Exemption

Each organized borough may adopt an additional exemption for owner-occupied primary residences. Anchorage Municipality adopted $50,000 (saves ~$700/year at 14 mills); Matanuska-Susitna Borough $50,000; Fairbanks North Star Borough $46,620; Juneau City and Borough $50,000. Most boroughs require a one-time application; some auto-apply at closing. Check the borough assessor\u2019s office for the specific exemption amount and application requirements.

The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)

Not a property tax exemption, but offsets property tax for many residents. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is an annual cash distribution to all eligible Alaska residents from oil-and-gas royalty earnings. The 2025 PFD was $1,702 per person — a family of 4 received $6,808, often more than the annual property tax bill on a modest Mat-Su home. Apply between January 1 and March 31 each year for that year\u2019s dividend.

Appealing your assessment

Assessment notices are mailed by late January (Anchorage by January 15; varies by borough). Owners must file an appeal within 30 days of notice (per AS 29.45.190 — varies slightly by borough ordinance). The first level is informal review with the borough assessor; if unsatisfied, formal appeal to the Borough Board of Equalization (typically meets May-June). Final appeal is to the Alaska Superior Court within 30 days of BOE decision. Grounds for appeal are limited to unequal, excessive, improper, or under-valuation per AS 29.45.200 — you cannot appeal the mill rate itself (that\u2019s set at the borough assembly\u2019s budget hearings).

Cities and towns in Ketchikan Gateway County

Ketchikan Gateway County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Ketchikan to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Ketchikan Gateway County is subject to Ketchikan Gateway County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Ketchikan County seat	city	8,200
Mountain Point	unincorporated	600
Saxman	city	410
Herring Cove	unincorporated	100
Pennock Island	unincorporated	50
Ward Cove	unincorporated	50

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Ketchikan tax district. Other cities in Ketchikan Gateway County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Alaska property taxes due?

Bills are issued annually after assessment certification. Most organized boroughs use a split-payment schedule: first half due June 15, second half due August 15 (Anchorage, Mat-Su); some boroughs use single annual due dates. Late payments accrue 8-10% interest annually (varies by borough ordinance). Most homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

Why do some parts of Alaska pay no property tax at all?

Alaska is divided into 19 organized boroughs (which levy property tax) and the Unorganized Borough (which does NOT). The Unorganized Borough covers ~57% of Alaska's land area but only ~13% of its population, including most of rural Alaska, much of the Bush, and parts of Southeast outside Juneau/Sitka/Ketchikan/etc. Residents there pay no property tax — but also receive fewer municipal services. The state legislature has periodically debated whether to mandate borough formation; no consensus.

How does the $150,000 Senior/Disabled Vet exemption work?

Per AS 29.45.030, all organized boroughs MUST exempt the first $150,000 of AV on the owner-occupied primary residence of: (1) homeowners 65+, (2) widow/widower 60+ of a qualifying senior, or (3) veterans with 50%+ service-connected disability. NO income limit. NO application fee. On a $400K Anchorage home with the 14-mill rate, this is ~$2,100/year savings. Apply with the borough assessor by January 15 (varies); auto-renews.

Why isn't Alaska a "full vet exemption" state?

The $150K AV reduction (AS 29.45.030) functions as full exemption only for homes valued at or below $150K — rare in Anchorage and Juneau where most homestead values exceed that. Larger homes pay on the AV above $150K. Stack with the optional municipal residential exemption ($50K Anchorage, $50K Mat-Su, $46,620 Fairbanks) to push the effective tax-free threshold to $200K. Alaska has no full-exemption category for 100% disabled vets like NJ, MD, VA, or other categorical-exemption states.

How does the Permanent Fund Dividend offset property tax?

The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is an annual cash distribution to all eligible Alaska residents from the Alaska Permanent Fund's oil-and-gas royalty earnings. The 2025 PFD was $1,702 per person — a family of 4 received $6,808. For many Mat-Su or Kenai residents with modest homes, the household PFD exceeds the annual property tax bill. Apply between January 1 and March 31 each year for that year's dividend; must have been an Alaska resident the entire prior calendar year.

About Ketchikan Gateway County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Ketchikan is known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World' and contains the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles — located at Saxman Native Village (~3 miles south of downtown), Totem Bight State Historical Park, and the Totem Heritage Center. The Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples have carved totems in the region for thousands of years.

Hometown hero

Ray Troll

Cult-classic Alaska artist ("Spawn Til You Die," "Trout Fish-O-Phile") whose fish-themed art and t-shirts are ubiquitous in Alaskan tourism shops. Long-time Ketchikan resident; his Soho Coho gallery in downtown Ketchikan is a major tourist attraction. His scientific paleoart has appeared in national museum exhibitions.

Biggest annual event

Ketchikan King Salmon Derby

Annual May-June salmon-fishing derby at Ketchikan — among the largest king salmon derbies in Alaska, with substantial cash prizes and significant participation from sportfishing tourists. The Salmon Capital marketing builds heavily on the derby’s reputation.

Property Tax in Ketchikan Gateway County, 2026