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Area overview

The Anchorage area for homeowners: geography, utilities and permits

The Municipality of Anchorage covers nearly 2,000 square miles, from Eklutna in the north to Portage in the south. Which utility serves you and how permits work can depend on where in the Municipality you live.

Aerial view of an Anchorage neighborhood in fall with the Chugach Mountains behind

How the Municipality is organized

Anchorage is a unified home-rule municipality: the former city and the surrounding borough merged in 1975. Most residents live in the Anchorage Bowl, the area between Cook Inlet and the Chugach front range. North along the Glenn Highway are Eagle River and Chugiak; far to the southeast on Turnagain Arm is Girdwood. All are part of the Municipality, not separate cities.

For local civic purposes the Municipality is divided into community councils. The Assembly approved updated council boundaries in January 2026, which merged some councils, so older maps may be out of date. ZIP codes are a different system again — postal routes, not neighborhood boundaries.

Map of the Anchorage area Map of upper Cook Inlet showing the Anchorage Bowl between Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm, Eagle River and Chugiak to the northeast, Girdwood to the southeast, and Wasilla and Palmer in the Mat-Su Borough to the north. Points mark communities for orientation only; no business locations are shown. Cook Inlet Knik Arm Turnagain Arm CHUGACH MOUNTAINS JBER Mat-Su Borough Downtown & South AdditionSpenardMidtownHillsideEagle RiverChugiakGirdwoodWasillaPalmer 01020 km N
Area guide — click a point to open itOther community in the MunicipalityMat-Su Borough (not covered)
For orientation only — points are approximate community centers, not service locations or boundaries. Official boundaries: Municipality of Anchorage planning maps. Coastline data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Who supplies electricity

Electric utilities by area (verify for your address)
AreaElectric utilityNotes
Most of the Anchorage BowlChugach Electric AssociationIncludes the former Municipal Light & Power area (Chugach’s “North District”), purchased in 2020
Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters CreekMatanuska Electric Association (MEA)Edges of service areas vary — confirm by address
GirdwoodChugach Electric AssociationChugach lists Girdwood within its service territory

Natural gas in the Anchorage area is supplied by Enstar Natural Gas, and gas is the most common home heating fuel in the Railbelt region. Water and sewer come from AWWU in much of the Bowl, but thousands of Hillside lots — and many homes in Eagle River and Chugiak — use private wells and septic systems. Those details matter for backup power planning.

Where municipal permits and inspections apply

Municipal building permits and inspections are administered within the Building Safety Service Area (BSSA). News reporting and commentary from 2019 described Eagle River and Chugiak as outside that service area for residential plan review and inspection, and residents there had declined proposals to expand it. That can change, so confirm current status with Development Services for your address.

Being outside municipal inspection does not remove state requirements. Alaska still regulates who may perform electrical work for hire. See our licensing guide and permits guide.

Areas compared

Utilities, water and municipal inspections by area (ZIPs reported by third parties; verify with USPS)
AreaElectric utilityWaterMunicipal inspections (BSSA)ZIP (reported)
Downtown & South AdditionChugach (North District)Municipal (AWWU)Yes99501
SpenardChugachMunicipal (AWWU)Yes99503, 99517
HillsideChugachMany private wells & septicYes99516, others
Eagle River & ChugiakMatanuska Electric Assn.Many private wellsHistorically no — confirm99577, 99567
GirdwoodChugachVariesNot confirmed99587

Area guides

We cover the main neighborhoods of Anchorage and its suburbs. The guides below add local details for a few of them; to confirm we can help at your address, call (907) 555-0100.

Other communities we considered

Midtown

Midtown is Anchorage’s main commercial district. Reporting on community council boundaries has described the Midtown council area as primarily business-oriented with relatively few residents, so we cover nearby residential questions in our Spenard guide and service pages rather than in a separate Midtown page.

Girdwood

Girdwood sits roughly 40 miles southeast of downtown along the Seward Highway and Turnagain Arm. It is part of the Municipality and served by Chugach Electric, but its distance means contractor availability can be limited. We do not imply guaranteed service there.

Wasilla, Palmer and the Mat-Su Valley

Wasilla and Palmer are separate cities in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, with their own rules and utilities. They are outside the scope of this site for now.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eagle River a separate city from Anchorage?

No. Eagle River and Chugiak are communities within the Municipality of Anchorage, which unified the former city and surrounding borough in 1975. They differ from the Anchorage Bowl in practical ways, though: most homes there are served by Matanuska Electric Association rather than Chugach Electric, and the area has historically been outside the Municipality’s Building Safety Service Area for residential inspections.

How do I find out which electric utility serves my home?

Your electric bill names the utility. Most of the Anchorage Bowl — including the former Municipal Light & Power area downtown and in parts of East Anchorage — is served by Chugach Electric, which also serves Girdwood. Eagle River, Chugiak and Peters Creek are mostly served by Matanuska Electric Association. Service-area edges vary, so if you are unsure, look up your address with the utility or on the State’s electric service area map.

Can I call for service if I live in Girdwood or the Mat-Su Valley?

You can call from Girdwood, but because it is roughly 40 miles from downtown, provider availability there is not guaranteed. Wasilla and Palmer are in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, outside the area this site covers for now, with different rules and utilities.

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