Please reach us at nikiskicommunitycouncil@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question. Check our business page for more information on services that are listed here.
There are several Facebook community groups associated with Nikiski and they can be helpful with recommendations. The longest-established group is Nikiski Chats. Other groups include Nikiski Community Banter (which welcomes political discussions), Nikiski Neighborhood Watch (for crime awareness), Nikiski Give & Take (free goods to share), as well as Nikiski 411 and Nikiski Area News and Info. If you search for "Nikiski" on Facebook you will find even more.
The Nikiski Community Council, which hosts this page, as well as the North Peninsula Community Club, the North Road Pioneers (a local history group), the Advisory Planning Commission all provide volunteer opportunities, as well as local churches.
Nikiski has a grocery store, hardware store, bakery, gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, and many other businesses to serve you locally. You'll find more details our business page.
Many areas of Nikiski have natural gas available through Enstar Natural Gas. Look under "Construction" at Enstar's website: https://www.enstarnaturalgas.com/
Homer Electric Cooperative serves the entire Kenai Peninsula including Nikiski. Check their website under "Member Services" to connect or discontinue service: https://www.homerelectric.com/
While Kenai and Soldotna do, Nikiski does not have zoning, nor or building permits required. It is advisable to hire an inspection company if you will have a mortgage at any point, as this reassures financial institutions about construction quality. Individual neighborhoods may have "Local Option Zoning" if they so choose; this is decided by the property owners themselves.
Moose, bear, coyotes, wolves and lynx are seen in Nikiski from time to time. Please don't feed them and do your best to keep them from being attracted to your garbage. If you find a dead wild animal, this link tells you where to report it:
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=distressedwildlife.main
You'll also find a link to report wildlife encounters or threats on the same page.
If the road is borough-maintained, see info on this website:
https://www.kpb.us/rds-service-area/about-rds
To find out whether your road is borough maintained, click this map:
https://geohub.kpb.us/datasets/KPB::kpb-maintained-roads/about
If the road is state-maintained, you'll find info on this site under North Kenai:
https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdmno/mno_cr.shtml
This map shows state-maintained roads and indicates the priority they're given during winter:
There is a siren in the industrial area of Nikiski (around the Marathon Refinery area) that is sounded periodically as a drill. It may also sound if there is a fire, even a small one. Don't panic if you hear the siren, as usually you'll find it's just a drill or non-emergency matter.
Like most parts of Alaska, Nikiski is subject to natural disasters like earthquakes and fires. (Fortunately, Nikiski doesn't typically have tsunamis that affect local homes, though bluff properties might be more affected.)
This website from the Kenai Borough contains helpful information on how to prepare yourself and your family.
Locally, K-5 students may be bused to Nikiski-North Star Elementary, which is located at 45600 Holt Lamplight Road.
https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-north-star/
Students in grades 6-12 attend Nikiski Middle & High School, located at 52275 Education Drive in Nikiski.
https://kpbsd.org/schools/nikiski-middle-high/
Parents also may opt to homeschool or apply to attend one of the area charter schools. Charter schools are public schools within KPBSD and are free of charge, but students must enter by lottery.
https://kpbsd.org/departments/assistant-superintendent/instructional-support/charter-schools/
Snowshoe Gun Club is located between Kenai and Soldotna, and many people use that facility for target practice. You are entitled to shoot your gun on your own property in Nikiski if your land is sufficient for this purpose, but you must use safety so as not to endanger neighbors enjoying their own property.
To be a good neighbor, it's generally polite to avoid making a lot of noise between 10pm and 8am. Alaska is a constitutional carry state, but schools, banks and some other institutions are not areas where guns are permitted. There's some helpful info here:
Many roads in Nikiski have designated ATV paths alongside the road. Some roads have no separate path and it is legal to drive an ATV on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less in Alaska under certain circumstances (see below). We advise extreme caution in this, however, because many such roads have blind curves and the ultimate "rule" is to consider safety wherever you want to go. You may not drive a four-wheeler on a bike path.
To legally operate an ATV on a road with a 45 mph or less speed limit, the operator must:
More info at: https://dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/off-highway-vehicles/
Fire stations offer a faucet where you can get drinking water. For drinking water, we suggest you check with the stations located at 44800 Kenai Spur Highway or 51904 Holt Lamplight Road.
If you need just washing water, then Fire Station 2 ( 51770 Kenai Spur Highway) can help you.
If you're hiking you might encounter a plant called cow parsnip (aka Indian Celery or Pushki). We advise you to steer clear of this plant. The sap, which can be on the leaves of this plant, can cause burn-like blisters that will scar skin, as well as hyperpigmentation.
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