Alabama Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Alabama requires 10 years of adverse possession under Ala. Code § 6-5-200. HB 182 (2024) lets law enforcement remove squatters without a court eviction. Learn your rights.
4 min read
Squatters Rights Laws
53 articles
Alaska Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Alaska gives squatters 10 years to claim land via adverse possession under AS 09.10.030 and AS 09.45.052. Learn the five elements, the removal process, and what property owners must do.
7 min read
Arizona Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Arizona adverse possession requires 10 years under A.R.S. § 12-526, or 3 years with color of title (§ 12-523), or 5 years with a recorded deed and tax payments. SB 1426 (2026) fast-tracks removal for unauthorized occupants.
6 min read
Arkansas Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Arkansas requires 7 years of adverse possession under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-61-101. A 2003 statutory overlay adds color of title and tax payment requirements. Learn how to remove a squatter in Arkansas.
6 min read
California Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
California requires 5 years of continuous occupation plus full property tax payment to claim adverse possession. Learn how to remove squatters using unlawful detainer.
4 min read
Colorado Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Colorado adverse possession requires 18 years of open, continuous possession, or 7 years with color of title and paid taxes. Learn how to remove squatters via the FED process under C.R.S. § 13-40-101.
6 min read
Connecticut Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Connecticut requires 15 years of adverse possession under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-575. Learn the five elements, how to remove a squatter through summary process, and what the law says in 2026.
6 min read
DC Squatters Rights: Washington D.C. Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Washington D.C. squatters rights require 15 years of continuous adverse possession under D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(1). Learn how to remove a squatter and quiet title in the District of Columbia.
7 min read
Delaware Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Delaware requires 20 years of continuous adverse possession under Del. Code tit. 10 § 7901. Learn the five elements, how to remove a squatter via JP Court summary possession, and what property owners must know.
6 min read
Florida Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Florida requires 7 years of adverse possession plus annual tax payments under Fla. Stat. § 95.18. Learn the 2024 § 82.036 sheriff-removal process and standard eviction route.
6 min read
Georgia Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Georgia requires 20 years of adverse possession without color of title and 7 years with it. The 2024 Squatter Reform Act (HB 1017) lets property owners remove squatters within 3 days via a magistrate-court affidavit.
7 min read
Hawaii Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Hawaii requires 20 years of continuous adverse possession under HRS § 657-31. Learn the strict AP limits, the quiet title process under § 669-1, and how to remove squatters via summary possession.
5 min read
Idaho Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Idaho requires 20 years of continuous possession plus payment of all property taxes to claim adverse possession under Idaho Code § 5-210. Learn how to remove squatters under Idaho law.
6 min read
Illinois Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Illinois adverse possession requires 20 years of open, hostile, continuous possession under 735 ILCS 5/13-101. A 7-year track applies with color of title and tax payment. Removal requires a court eviction under 735 ILCS 5/9.
7 min read
Indiana Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Indiana requires 10 years of adverse possession plus payment of all property taxes. Learn the elements, the removal process, and how Indiana courts handle squatter disputes.
6 min read
Iowa Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Iowa requires 10 years of adverse possession to claim property. Learn the elements, how to remove a squatter via forcible entry and detainer, and Iowa law.
4 min read
Kansas Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Kansas requires 15 years of open, exclusive, and continuous possession to claim adverse possession under K.S.A. 60-503. Learn how to remove a squatter in Kansas legally.
6 min read
Kentucky Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Kentucky's adverse possession law gives squatters two tracks to ownership: 15 years of open, hostile possession under KRS 413.010, or 7 years with connected record title under KRS 413.060.
6 min read
Louisiana Squatters Rights and Acquisitive Prescription Laws (2026)
Louisiana uses acquisitive prescription instead of adverse possession. Learn the 30-year and 10-year rules, civil-law elements, and how to remove a squatter under SB 466 (2024).
7 min read
Maine Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Maine requires 20 years of continuous adverse possession to claim land under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 801. Learn the elements, removal process, and 2026 updates.
6 min read
Maryland Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Maryland requires 20 years of adverse possession under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-103. Learn the elements, removal process, and 2025 law changes for squatters in Maryland.
6 min read
Massachusetts Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Massachusetts requires 20 years of adverse possession under ch. 260 § 21. Learn the elements, the registered-land exception, and how to remove a squatter via summary process.
6 min read
Michigan Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Michigan requires 15 years of continuous adverse possession under MCL 600.5801 to claim squatters rights. Learn the elements, removal steps, and district court process.
6 min read
Minnesota Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Minnesota requires 15 years of adverse possession plus 5 consecutive years of property tax payments on assessed parcels under Minn. Stat. § 541.02. Learn how to remove a squatter legally.
6 min read
Mississippi Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Mississippi requires 10 years of adverse possession under Miss. Code § 15-1-13 to claim land. Learn the elements, how to remove a squatter, and what property owners must do.
6 min read
Missouri Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Missouri requires 10 years of continuous, hostile, open, exclusive, and actual possession to claim adverse possession under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.010. Learn the elements, removal process, and FAQ.
6 min read
Montana Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Montana requires 5 years of continuous possession plus payment of all property taxes to claim adverse possession under Mont. Code Ann. § 70-19-411. Learn how the law works and how owners can remove squatters.
6 min read
Nebraska Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Nebraska requires 10 years of adverse possession to claim property rights. Learn the legal elements, how to remove a squatter under Nebraska law, and your rights as a property owner.
6 min read
Nevada Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Nevada requires 5 years of continuous adverse possession under NRS 11.070, plus a tax-payment condition under NRS 11.150. Learn the elements, removal process, and criminal squatting statutes.
8 min read
New Hampshire Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
New Hampshire requires 20 years of adverse possession to claim property (RSA 508:2). Learn the elements, how to remove a squatter, and the NH circuit court eviction process.
6 min read
New Jersey Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
New Jersey requires 30 years of adverse possession for most land and 60 years for woodlands under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-30. Learn the rules, removal process, and FAQ.
8 min read
New Mexico Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
New Mexico requires 10 years of possession, color of title, AND property tax payment to claim adverse possession under NMSA § 37-1-22. Learn the removal process and your rights as a property owner.
7 min read
New York Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
New York requires 10 years of continuous, open, and exclusive possession to claim adverse possession under RPAPL § 501. Learn how to remove a squatter in New York and the squatter vs. tenant distinction.
5 min read
North Carolina Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
North Carolina requires 20 years of adverse possession without color of title (§ 1-40) or 7 years with color of title (§ 1-38). Learn how to remove a squatter using NC's expedited removal law or summary ejectment.
7 min read
North Dakota Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
North Dakota requires 20 years for adverse possession, or 10 years with color of title and tax payments. Learn how squatter removal works under N.D. Cent. Code ch. 47-32.
6 min read
Ohio Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Ohio requires 21 years of continuous adverse possession under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.04. Learn how to remove a squatter in Ohio through forcible entry and detainer under Chapter 1923.
6 min read
Oklahoma Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Oklahoma requires 15 years of continuous, open, hostile possession to claim adverse possession under Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 93. A 2023 bill that would have shortened this to 5 years never passed. Learn the removal process and your rights as a property owner.
8 min read
Oregon Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Oregon requires 10 years of adverse possession plus an honest belief of ownership under ORS 105.620. Learn the elements, removal steps, and FAQ for 2026.
7 min read
Pennsylvania Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Pennsylvania adverse possession requires 21 years under § 5530, or 10 years for residential parcels of 0.5 acres or less under § 5527.1. Learn the elements, removal process, and 2026 rules.
6 min read
Rhode Island Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Rhode Island requires 10 years of continuous possession to claim adverse possession under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-7-1. Learn the elements, removal process, and owner protections.
8 min read
South Carolina Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
South Carolina requires 10 years of adverse possession to claim property under S.C. Code Ann. §§ 15-67-210 to 15-67-260. Learn the elements, removal process, and 2026 updates.
6 min read
South Carolina's New Squatter Law Creates a Fast Ex Parte Removal Process (H.3387)
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed H.3387 on June 30, 2026, creating an ex parte court order to remove unlawful occupants from a home. It took effect on approval.
9 min read
South Dakota Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
South Dakota requires 20 years for adverse possession under SDCL § 15-3-1, or 10 years with color of title and payment of property taxes. Learn the FED process to remove a squatter.
9 min read
Squatters Rights by State: Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Squatters rights and adverse possession: the five legal elements, statutory periods for all 50 states, 2024 anti-squatting laws, and how to remove a squatter.
18 min read
Tennessee Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Tennessee requires 7 years of adverse possession with color of title or 20 years without. Learn how Public Chapter 1009 (2024) lets property owners use a sheriff process to remove squatters quickly.
9 min read
Texas Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Texas adverse possession requires 10 years under § 16.026, or 5 years with a deed and taxes paid, or 3 years with color of title. Learn how to remove squatters via Justice Court.
6 min read
Utah Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Utah requires 7 years of continuous possession plus payment of all property taxes to claim adverse possession (a shorter 4-year track applies to certain tax-title claims). Learn how Utah property owners can remove squatters using unlawful detainer and the 2025 trespasser-removal law.
7 min read
Vermont Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Vermont requires 15 years of open, continuous, hostile possession to claim adverse possession under 12 V.S.A. § 501. Learn how to remove a squatter in Vermont and what property owners must do.
7 min read
Virginia Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Virginia requires 15 years of adverse possession under Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-236. Learn how to remove squatters using unlawful detainer in Virginia General District Court.
6 min read
Washington Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Washington adverse possession requires 10 years under RCW 4.16.020, or 7 years with color of title. Learn how to remove squatters legally using unlawful detainer under RCW 59.12.
6 min read
West Virginia Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
West Virginia requires 10 years of adverse possession under W. Va. Code § 55-2-1. The 2024 Stop Squatters Act (HB 4940) makes squatting criminal trespass removable by arrest, not eviction.
7 min read
Wisconsin Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Wisconsin adverse possession requires 20 years without a deed, 10 years with a recorded instrument, or 7 years with recorded title plus tax payments. Learn how Wisconsin property owners can remove squatters.
7 min read
Wyoming Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Wyoming requires 10 years of adverse possession under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-103. Learn the elements, the FED removal process, and what property owners can do.
6 min read