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New Jersey
30
Ohio
21
Pennsylvania
21
Delaware
20
Hawaii
20
Maine
20
Maryland
20
Massachusetts
20
New Hampshire
20
North Carolina
20
Connecticut
15
Kansas
15
Michigan
15
Minnesota
15
Nevada
15
Oklahoma
15
Vermont
15
Virginia
15
Alabama
10
Idaho
10
Indiana
10
Iowa
10
Louisiana
10
Mississippi
10
Missouri
10
Nebraska
10
New Mexico
10
New York
10
North Dakota
10
Oregon
10
Rhode Island
10
South Carolina
10
South Dakota
10
Washington
10
West Virginia
10
Wyoming
10
Alaska
7
Arkansas
7
Colorado
7
Florida
7
Georgia
7
Illinois
7
Kentucky
7
Tennessee
7
Utah
7
Wisconsin
7
California
5
Montana
5
Texas
5
Arizona
3

Squatters Rights by State 2024

Squatters Rights by State 2024

Every state has laws regarding squatters. Squatters are people who stay in another’s house or property with no permission. The property’s owner will obviously want to remove squatters, but each state has its own rules and laws for how and when this can be done. Some notable examples of state laws regarding squatters are below.

Arkansas

After 7 years, squatters can claim a home that isn’t theirs. However, they must not sneak in and around the place. Unless an owner tries to evict them, they eventually take over that property. Financial rules also apply, such as having to pay property taxes. One person per property only typically applies to squatters attempting to claim land. An adverse possession cannot be divided among more than one person.

California

Squatters can claim property after having lived on it continuously for 5 years. During this time, the trespassing person must have paid property taxes. They also need to make improvements on the property, and the owner has to know they are there without trying to conceal their presence. The owner must not have tried to evict them either.

Florida

Florida sees anyone that occupies a property without an owner’s consent as a squatter. Unlike trespassing, which usually might only last a few days or weeks, squatters intend on permanently taking over the property. They must have lived on the premises for 7 years without owner eviction. Moreover, they must not hide the fact that they stay on site, and they also must prove they have paid property taxes. Other rules apply too, and owners typically need to take legal action against squatters if they want.

Montana

A squatter must have lived on a piece of Montana property without an owner's permission for 5 years. In addition, they need to have claimed a title to the real estate. That one squatter must be the only one living there for that period. They must not hide and the owner must know they are occupying that space. Once these and related criteria are met, the squatter takes adverse possession of that land. Situations like this are complicated and often require legal representation.

Tennessee

A case published in a Nashville newspaper illustrated how a squatter lived in a home that foreclosed in 2012. This person paid property taxes, and he moved in to keep the county from taking the house. In Tennessee, a person has to occupy a property for 7 continuous years. If the owner doesn’t kick out the squatter, they can claim the property. It’s not necessarily this simple, however. Situations like this might involve time in court, such as if the owner tries to evict squatting inhabitants.

Utah

If persons in Utah have continuously occupied property for 7 years, they could take adverse possession of it. However, several stipulations apply. They must claim title to that land and have paid related taxes. The original owner also must not have forced them to leave. To claim possession of land not inhabited with the owner’s permission, it usually only applies to one person living on the property. The adverse title claim cannot usually be divided among multiple people.

Squatters Rights by State 2024

Property ownership laws and Required Time of Ownership (RTOO) can change at any time. Interested parties are encouraged to confirm local laws before filing any legal claims.

50 Rows

State
Squatters Rights RTOO Minimum Yrs
Squatters Rights RTOO Maximum Yrs
Notes
Alabama1020
RTOO drops from 20 years to 10 with paid property taxes
Alaska710
RTOO is 10 year in good faith, 7 years for color of title
Arizona310
RTOO is 10 years with occupation, dropping to 3 years with paid property taxes
Arkansas715
RTOO is 7 years with paid property taxes, color of title for wild land is 15 years
California55
Squatter must have paid property taxes during the five years
Colorado718
18 years with possession of property, shortened to 7 years with color of title and paid property tax...
Connecticut1515
Delaware2020
Claimant must live on property
Florida77
Must occupy for 7 years and either pay taxes or hold color of title
Georgia720
RTOO drops from 20 years to 7 with color of title
Hawaii2020
Idaho1010
Requires payment of taxes and possession for 20 years
Illinois720
20 years with color of title and possession, 7 years for possession and continuous payment of taxes.
Indiana1010
Requires payment of taxes
Iowa1010
Requires continuous possession
Kansas1515
Kentucky715
15 years with residency alone, 7 years with residency and color of title
Louisiana1030
30 years with residency alone, 10 years with residency and color of title
Maine2020
Maryland2020
Massachusetts2020
Michigan1515
Minnesota1515
Requires payment of taxes
Mississippi1010
Missouri1010
Montana55
Requires payment of taxes
Nebraska1010
Nevada155
15 years with residency alone, 5 years with residency and color of title while paying taxes
New Hampshire2020
New Jersey3030
New Mexico1010
Requires color of title
New York1010
North Carolina207
20 years with residency alone, 7 years with residency and color of title
North Dakota1020
20 years with residency alone, 10 years with residency and paid taxes
Ohio2121
Oklahoma1515
Oregon1010
Pennsylvania2121
Rhode Island1010
South Carolina1010
South Dakota1020
20 years with possession alone, 10 years with possession and color of title while paying taxes
Tennessee720
20 years with residency alone, 7 years with residency and color of title
Texas510
10 years with residency alone, 5 years with possession and color of title
Utah77
Vermont1515
Virginia1515
Washington107
10 years with residency alone, 7 years with residency and color of title or while paying taxes
West Virginia1010
Wisconsin720
20 years with residency alone, 10 years with residency and color of title, 7 years with residency wh...
Wyoming1010

Sources