HousingAnchorage · September 13, 2026
the valley builds three times more
The Mat-Su builds three times as many homes a year as Anchorage, and part of the reason is literally the dirt under them.
Daily Alaska staff · September 13, 2026 · Anchorage
Alaska Public Media examined why homebuilding moves far faster in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough than in the Municipality of Anchorage, finding the Mat-Su builds roughly three times as many homes each year. The report cites geologist Bob Doehl, developer Andre Spinelli, builder Max Sumner, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and the Anchorage Assembly as central to understanding the gap.
Geology is the first factor. The Mat-Su sits on gravel, which is cheap and easy to build on, while Anchorage contends with swampy, silty soil, smaller parcels, steep terrain and drainage problems. Bob Doehl said land in Anchorage is often in smaller parcels than people want to live on or develop, or is too steep, or has drainage issues.
Regulation is the second factor, and it directly affects how long and how much it costs to build a home. Parts of the Mat-Su require minimal permitting, with some areas asking for little more than a driveway permit. Anchorage enforces the international building code, with earthquake, snow load and wind standards, and permit turnaround commonly running 20, 40 or 60 days. Andre Spinelli described the process as a seven-headed snake, where cutting back one requirement makes a new one pop up. Max Sumner said everyone says they need more affordable housing, then adopts policies antithetical to it.
The tradeoff shows up after disaster strikes. Following the 2018 earthquake, the damage rate in less-regulated areas north of Anchorage was five times higher than in the Anchorage Bowl.
Mayor LaFrance has set a goal of 10,000 new homes in Anchorage over the next decade. The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to vote this September on a revised density zoning proposal, after an earlier version was delayed in 2025. Anchorage relaxed accessory dwelling unit rules in 2023 and allowed duplexes in all residential districts in 2024.
In this story
Questions people ask
why does the mat-su build more homes than anchorage
The Mat-Su has gravel soil that's cheap and easy to build on, lighter permitting, and faster approvals, while Anchorage deals with swampy soil, steep lots, drainage issues and stricter building codes that slow things down.
how many more homes does mat-su build than anchorage yearly
About three times as many, a pace driven partly by the ground conditions and lighter regulations in parts of the Mat-Su.
what is anchorage doing to build more homes
Mayor LaFrance set a goal of 10,000 new homes over the next decade, the Assembly allowed duplexes in all residential districts starting in 2024, relaxed accessory dwelling unit rules in 2023, and is scheduled to vote on a revised density zoning proposal this September.
did lighter building rules in mat-su cause earthquake damage
The 2018 earthquake caused five times more damage in less-regulated areas north of Anchorage than in the Anchorage Bowl, suggesting the lighter rules came with a safety tradeoff.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The Mat-Su builds about three times as many homes a year as Anchorage. · alaskapublic.org
- Anchorage permit turnaround commonly runs 20, 40 or 60 days. · alaskapublic.org
- After the 2018 earthquake, the damage rate in less-regulated areas north of Anchorage was five times higher than in the Anchorage Bowl. · alaskapublic.org
- Mayor LaFrance has set a goal of 10,000 new homes in Anchorage over the next decade. · alaskapublic.org
- The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to vote this September on a revised density zoning proposal. · alaskapublic.org
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