City of Wasilla, AK
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Expand/Contract Questions and Answers
- There are many requirements to file for elected City office in Wasilla. Visit our Candidate Information page to find out information about available seats, when and where to file, qualifications and more.
- The City of Wasilla holds elections annually on the 1st Tuesday of October. You will find our Election Information page helpful in answering many of your questions.
- You may submit an Absentee By-Mail Ballot Application. Please visit our Absentee Voting By-Mail page for information.
Click HERE to see the zoning map for the City.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
Yes. All properties within the city limits have been designated one of the following zoning districts:
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Rural Residential (RR)
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Single-Family Residential (R1)
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Residential (R2)
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Residential Multifamily (RM)
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Commercial (C)
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Industrial (I)
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Public (P)
Each zoning district has different regulations regarding the allowed uses and permit requirements. There are also regulations addressing minimum setbacks, maximum building height, maximum number of residential dwellings, minimum lot size, landscaping, minimum parking spaces, etc. The regulations are in Title 16 of the Wasilla Municipal Code, which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
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- Applications and resumes for employment are accepted only during the opening period listed on each job announcement. Application packages received after the posted deadline will not be considered. The City does not accept unsolicited applications/resumes, and will not keep any such unsolicited documents received on file.
If I apply for one job posting, will my application be kept on file and considered for other job openings?
No, your application will only be considered for the open position for which it was originally received. If you would like to apply for another open position, you should resubmit an application package for that job. Applicants are encouraged to keep a master copy of their application and modify it to apply for additional positions.- Applicants who were not selected will be notified by letter.
- All positions that are open to the public for recruitment are posted on the City website under the “Job Opportunities” section. Application packages are also available on the “Job Opportunities” board which is located outside of the Human Resources office in City Hall. Application requirements for each position are posted on the job announcement.
- For a list of benefits, please see the “Benefits and Compensation” page maintained by Human Resources.
- All current job openings will be posted on the “Job Opportunities” page on the website, on the “Job Opportunities” board outside of Human Resources at City Hall, and also on Alexsys.
You can mail the application to us at:
City of Wasilla
Attn: Human Resources
290 E. Herning Avenue
Wasilla, AK 99654You can fax your completed application package to us at 907.373.9039 or you can email your completed application package directly to Human Resources at hr@cityofwasilla.gov. Finally, you can also deliver your application directly to the Human Resources Department.
Human Resources office hours are Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Remember, only applications received by the deadline posted on the job opening announcement will be considered.- Unfortunately, we are unable to make any exceptions regarding the posted deadline for applications; regardless of the reason. This rule applies to all open City of Wasilla employment opportunities.
Yes! You may sign up for our E-Notification feature by visiting the following link:
All requests for employment verification should be directed to the City of Wasilla Human Resources Department. You may contact us at 907.373.9038 or 907.373.9035. You may also fax your request to 907.373.9039.
Turn around time for verifications are generally within a 24 hour period; weekends and holidays excluded.
- If all the delinquent tax, penalty and interest are paid within 45 business days after the date of delinquency, the taxpayer may request in writing that the Finance Director waive the penalty. This penalty waiver is available only ONE TIME in any period of 24 consecutive months. See WMC 5.16.120-150 for more details.
- We send out sales tax forms and notices to the last address you gave us. You are responsible for providing us with a current mailing address and turning in your sales tax form each month. We suggest that you keep a copy of the sales tax form on file in case you don't receive one in the mail. If necessary, a sales tax form is available in our office, online or we could fax one to you. Make sure you put your business name as it appears on your license and period ending date that you are remitting the sales tax for on the generic form.
Each month you will receive a notice from the City that has the due date printed on it. It must be IN our office by 5 p.m. on the last BUSINESS day we are open (not the last day) of the following month. Postmarks are not considered. The sales tax form and payment must be in our office on the due date before our office closes at 5 p.m.
The drop boxes are checked at 5 p.m. the last business day. Therefore, anything placed in the drop boxes after that time are considered delinquent and subject to penalty and interest charges. For your convenience a schedule is available indicating when sales tax is due for each month.
- If a seller has over collected tax, a refund should be issued to the buyer when possible. If it is not possible to refund the buyer the tax must be remitted to the City for the period it was collected for. The reason for the error should be rectified as soon as possible to prevent it from happening in the future.
- If you have been overcharged sales tax, the buyer should immediately contact the seller and request a refund. If a refund is not given after requested, the buyer must contact the City to complete a protest within 30 days of the transaction receipt. A certificate of protest must be completed along with copies of the receipt that detail the name of the business, the date of the transaction and the amount of tax charged.
I obtained a copy of an Invitation to Bid or Request for Proposal from a source other than the City of Wasilla. Can I submit a bid or proposal?
NO! A company or individual that submits a bid MUST be on the official City of Wasilla planholders list which is maintained at the City. Failure to be on the list will be cause for their bid to be deemed non-responsive. In addition, any copies of this bid, attachments or addendums obtained from any source other than www.cityofwasilla.com/purchasing or the City of Wasilla Purchasing Officer are not valid.The city uses competitive means for the purchase of all goods and services as required by Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The city also utilizes contracts and price agreements established by the State of Alaska, the Western States Contracting Alliance and other cooperatives or agencies when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City. The city believes in open, fair competition and strives to ensure that all vendors have equal opportunity to compete for city business.
The City of Wasilla operates under a decentralized purchasing system. This means a purchasing decision up to $5,000 is made independently by the departments in the city. When the estimated amount for goods or services is between $5,000 and $9,999 the city is required too obtain three quotes prior to purchase. The departments may utilize the services of the Purchasing/Contracting Officer (PCO) for this process or may do it themselves.For purchases beyond $10,000, the city requires all departments to contact the PCO who will administer the city's bid process according to Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The bid process is initiated through either an Invitation to Bid (ITB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Click HERE to view all City of Wasilla solicitations (Invitation to Bid & Request for Proposals).
- Onvia DemandStar maintains the City of Wasilla’s vendor database (bidders list). Businesses may register their goods or services based on the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) code with Onvia DemandStar. When the city releases an Invitation to Bid (ITB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) that matches the selected NIGP code, the vendor is automatically notified that there is a bid available for their goods or services. The business can then download the ITB or RFP documents off the Internet, or have it emailed or faxed to them from the City. The status of the ITB/RFP as well as the planholder’s lists is kept current on the Demand Star website. Direct inquiries can be made via e-mail by contacting the Purchasing and Contracting Officer (PCO). Businesses interested in opportunities with the City of Wasilla should register with Onvia DemandStar at www.demandstar.com/regsiter.rsp or monitor the City's website on their own.
I heard the Wasilla Police Department has a Reserve Officer program. How can I participate in the Reserve program?
The Wasilla Police Department does have a Reserve Officer program, though it is not currently active.
Participation is on a voluntary basis and offers training, experience and opportunities to serve the community in a worthwhile manner. Reserve officers act as volunteer police officers for the department. They may be called upon to assist in normal patrol functions, at special events and details, with investigations and in times of disaster or emergency. The selection process is basically the same as for a regular full time officer. The process may include a written test, oral board, individual interview, physical agility test, background investigation, polygraph exam and a psychological examination. Initial training normally consists of approximately 120 hours of introductory law enforcement training. The training is provided by the department. Following initial training, reserve officers are expected to dedicate at least 20 hours per month to the unit. Normally, there is no set schedule and reserve officers can complete their 20 hour per month commitment at their convenience. In addition, two training sessions are offered each month. Officers are expected to attend at least one of these sessions. Uniforms and other required equipment are provided by the department. Footwear is not provided. Reserve officers may purchase and provide approved personal equipment if they desire. Active hiring for the Reserve Program occurs usually once or twice a year and is advertised on our social media pages and our website. You may also inquire at the Wasilla Police Department as to whether active hiring is taking place at 907.352.5401.The open positions for Wasilla Police Department are located at Governmentjobs.com. You can also see the police officer recruitment page for additional details about the hiring process for officers.
The Wasilla Police Department completed an investigation of an incident in which I was involved. How can I get a copy of the report?
Requests for reports may be obtained by filling out a Public Records Request. The record request form is located on our public record page. Police reports, including collision reports, are $10. Additional media (photos, audio & video) is $20, if it exists for the incident you are requesting. Wasilla Police Department currently only takes cash and check. If you have any questions about your record request, or whether or not the records can be released, please call the admin office at (907) 352-5401.
You may call the Wasilla Police Department at (907) 352-5401 for non-emergency reports. Any emergency will receive immediate attention by dialing 9-1-1. You may also stop by the Wasilla Police Department to report the incident. The Administrative Offices are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, there is a dispatch phone outside you can pick up and report your incident directly to MATCOM Dispatch. The Wasilla Police Department is located at 801 N Wasilla-Fishhook Road, located on the same lot as the Veteran's Wall of Honor.
You can also report incidents in the city limits where no follow-up is expected (no suspects or leads) by using our Citizen Report Form.- Thank you for your interest in Mat-Su Youth Court. Please click this link for more information.
Please refer to the particular department that has jurisdiction over the subject matter, i.e.:
- road maintenance (Public Works Department);
- water/sewer bill (Public Works Department);
- location of marker at cemetery (Clerk's Office);
- sales tax (Finance Department);
- traffic accident (Police Department);
- need of a variance for my property (Planning Department)
- Regularly scheduled Council meetings are held twice a month on the second and fourth Monday. Please visit the meetings portal for upcoming meetings or contact the Office of the City Clerk at 907-373-9090.
- Our Finance Department here at City Hall. Their phone number is 373-9088.
290 E. Herning Avenue
Wasilla, AK 99654(Come up Main Street off of the Parks Highway and take your first left on Herning Avenue)
Yes. Typically setbacks are 25' from the front lot line (not the edge of pavement), 25' from the rear lot line, and 10’ from the side lot lines. If the property abuts a lake, stream, creek, or other waterbody, there is a minimum 75' setback from the ordinary high water mark. Setback regulations are in Section 16.24.030 of the Wasilla Municipal Code, which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
Yes. They apply to all properties except a single-family home, duplex, or uses located at the Wasilla Municipal Airport. The regulations are in Section 16.33 of the Wasilla Municipal Code, which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
- $50 – Administrative Approval Permit
- $100 – Use Permit (Public notice with 14-day comment period)
- $500 – Conditional Use Permit (Public notice and approval by Planning Commission)
The District Use Chart in WMC 16.20.020 indicates what type of permit is required for specific uses within all of the zoning districts. This chart can be viewed by clicking HERE.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
State law provides several methods to annex contiguous property into the City limits. Please contact the Planning Department to get information about possible annexation into the City limits.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
Yes, a land use permit is typically needed prior to any clearing or construction on a lot/parcel. Please call the Planning department to find out whether a permit is needed before beginning any construction activity within the City limits. Examples of activities that require a land use permit include, but are not limited to, construction of any building over 120 square feet, building additions, expansion of an existing use into a larger space, new tenant leasing a space in an existing commercial building, conversion of a residential building to a commercial building, construction of additional residential dwelling units on a lot, and lot clearing, grading, excavation, or extraction of resources.
The City does not require building permits or building plans review. However, the Matanuska-Susitna Fire Code office requires plans review for new multi-family buildings and new or remodeled commercial and industrial buildings. Please contact the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fire Code Official’s office to determine if a permit is needed before beginning any construction or remodeling. They can be reached at 907-861-8030. Additional information is available on their website: www.matsugov.us/firecode.
NOTE: If you are building less than three residential housing units per lot, we recommend you contact your lender to determine the required building inspections and/or contact a residential building inspector to arrange for independent inspections.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
Yes, a land use permit is typically needed. Please call the Planning Division Office to verify whether a permit is needed before beginning construction or any commercial activity within the City limits. Examples of activities that require a land use permit include, but are not limited to, construction of a building, adding onto an existing building, expanding an existing use, changing a use in a space in an existing commercial building, changing a residential building to a commercial building, adding additional residential dwelling units, clearing trees, grading and excavation, or extracting resources.
NOTE: Although links are provided to the appropriate sections of the Wasilla Municipal Code for the questions above, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Wasilla Planning Department prior to leasing or purchasing property to ensure that the proposed use and/or building is allowed in the zoning district and meets the code requirements in Title 16. A free pre-application conference is available by appointment to assist with these questions and the permitting process.
The City of Wasilla Planning Department is located at 290 E. Herning Avenue, Wasilla Alaska and can be reached by phone at (907) 373-9020 or by email at planning@cityofwasilla.gov.
- All payments of sales tax received from a seller owing delinquent sales tax shall be applied first to accrued penalty, second to accrued interest, and then to sales tax payments owed by the seller in the order of their due dates.
- Yes.
- No. Title to sales tax vests in the City upon collection by the seller. The seller holds the sales tax in trust for the city, and is therefore accountable to the City .
- The city follows a regular request pattern for the remittance of the sales tax. Failure to pay may result in the revocation of your business license. Delinquent sales tax is charged up to a 25% penalty, plus 15% interest, as well as a $250 ordinance violation fee per month that is not reported. The city employs Cornerstone Credit Services to its handle collections. In addition, the city can foreclose a recorded sales tax lien as provided by law.
- You must turn in any and all sales tax report forms that you receive, either with the payment due or with a zero ($0) listed as the amount due. Make sure you date and sign the return before returning it to the city. Even reports, where there is no tax to report (zeros), are subject to the $250 violation should they not be delivered in a timely manner.
- Only if you make notice to your customers that the price includes sales tax.
The first $500 of any one sale or transaction is taxed at the current 2% rate. You will never charge a customer more than $10.00 on any one transaction. In the case of an ongoing project, which is billed for monthly, the sales tax is billed once per month. Commercial rentals follow this same suit; assuming that the commercial rental is over $500 per month, the tenant would be charged the $10.00 maximum tax each month.
- Yes. Everyone is charged sales tax. Only those payers who have evidence of a current City of Wasilla sales tax exemption, obtained through the Finance Department at city hall will not be charged. It is in your best interest to obtain a copy of each exemption that is granted.
- Yes. The city of Wasilla sales tax is imposed and collected pursuant to the authority granted by Alaska Statutes (Section 29.45.700 et. Seq.) This sales tax is to be liberally construed to include within the tax all retail sales, rentals and service activities.
- Yes. The license may be revoked or suspended if the seller fails to remit delinquent sales tax, penalty and interest within thirty (30) days after notice. It is then unlawful for a seller to engage in business without a current city business license.
If it is close to the end of the calendar year will I have to obtain a new license the following year?
Newly established businesses applying for a city business license after December 1st, each year, will be issued a license valid through the following calendar year.- No. Licenses are non-transferable. Along that same line, if you close a business you are required to surrender your license to the city and report the closure.
- The city license shall be displayed prominently at the place of business; any seller who has no regular place of business shall display such license upon request.
- The license is valid through December 31st of each calendar year.
- Yes. The State of Alaska and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough require that all businesses be in compliance with their statutes. The Finance Department has the State and Borough license applications on hand although we do not process them in our office. They are processed at their respective addresses listed on the applications.
- For the privilege of engaging in any business in the city, a person shall first apply to do so, and pay the $25 fee. A license issued to a firm for a particular line of business covers all its operations in the city in that line of business regardless of the number of establishments. Nonprofit organizations are required to obtain a city business license and pay the license fee as provided for in WMC 6.04.040.A.
- You can register for the next available criminal law training class by calling 352-5446. Classes are held several times a year. If there is no class scheduled, you will be put on a waiting list for the next available class.
- Mat-Su Youth Court is a diversion program and offers an informal way of handling your case, rather than going through the formal juvenile system. If you successfully complete your sentence, there will be no conviction record, so when answering the question on job applications - you can state that you have never had a conviction. Defendants who complete their sentence through Mat-Su Youth Court are invited to join the program as members. Your first-hand knowledge of the program will make you an invaluable member of Mat-Su Youth Court.
- You will get the chance to become a part of the juvenile justice system by joining Mat-Su Youth Court. You will learn about the juvenile justice system and about criminal law. After 94 hours of participation you can receive a half credit social studies elective from the Mat-Su Borough School District. Members go on field trips and may have the chance to go to an annual statewide conference. It is also an opportunity to give back to your community. The volunteer service you provide the Mat-Su community will also help you with your future plans - such as job hunting, college applications and scholarships.