Adverse possession by state
How long each state's statute gives an owner to recover land held by someone else, quoted from the state's own code for 39 states, with any shorter period the code allows, for example with color of title or paid taxes.
Years required, state by state
The basic period is the one each state's statute sets for recovering land from someone in possession. A shorter period applies only on the conditions that state's code sets. Follow a state link for the quoted text and its conditions.
| State | Basic period | Shorter period | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 10 years | 7 years | Alaska Stat. 09.10.030 |
| Arizona | 10 years | 3 years, 5 years | Ariz. Rev. Stat. 12-526 |
| Colorado | 18 years | None in the sections quoted | Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-41-101 |
| Delaware | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | 10 Del. C. 7901 |
| Florida | 7 years | None in the sections quoted | Fla. Stat. 95.12 |
| Hawaii | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | Haw. Rev. Stat. 657-31 |
| Idaho | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | Idaho Code 5-203 |
| Indiana | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Ind. Code 34-11-2-11 |
| Iowa | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Iowa Code 614.1 |
| Kansas | 15 years | None in the sections quoted | Kan. Stat. 60-503 |
| Kentucky | 15 years | 7 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. 413.010 |
| Louisiana | 30 years | 10 years | La. Civ. Code art. 3486 |
| Maine | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, 801 |
| Maryland | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. 5-103 |
| Massachusetts | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, 21 |
| Michigan | 15 years | 5 years, 10 years | Mich. Comp. Laws 600.5801 |
| Minnesota | 15 years | None in the sections quoted | Minn. Stat. 541.02 |
| Missouri | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Mo. Rev. Stat. 516.010 |
| Montana | 5 years | None in the sections quoted | Mont. Code Ann. 70-19-401 |
| Nebraska | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-202 |
| Nevada | 5 years | None in the sections quoted | Nev. Rev. Stat. 11.150 |
| New Hampshire | 20 years | None in the sections quoted | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 508:2 |
| New Jersey | 30 years | None in the sections quoted | N.J. Stat. Ann. 2A:14-30 |
| New Mexico | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | N.M. Stat. Ann. 37-1-22 |
| New York | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | N.Y. C.P.L.R. 212(a) |
| North Carolina | 20 years | 7 years | N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-40 |
| North Dakota | 20 years | 10 years | N.D. Cent. Code 28-01-04 |
| Oregon | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Or. Rev. Stat. 105.620 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 years | None in the sections quoted | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. 5530 |
| Rhode Island | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | R.I. Gen. Laws 34-7-1 |
| South Carolina | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | S.C. Code Ann. 15-3-340 |
| South Dakota | 20 years | 10 years | S.D. Codified Laws 15-3-1 |
| Texas | 10 years | 3 years, 5 years | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.026 |
| Vermont | 15 years | None in the sections quoted | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, 501 |
| Virginia | 15 years | None in the sections quoted | Va. Code Ann. 8.01-236 |
| Washington | 10 years | 7 years | Wash. Rev. Code 4.16.020 |
| West Virginia | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | W. Va. Code 55-2-1 |
| Wisconsin | 20 years | 7 years, 10 years | Wis. Stat. 893.25 |
| Wyoming | 10 years | None in the sections quoted | Wyo. Stat. Ann. 1-3-103 |
Locating the line on the ground
A property boundary survey creates, defines, marks, retraces or reestablishes the boundaries of a parcel of land.
When a Texas surveyor retraces a boundary, the rules say to follow the footsteps of the original land surveyor and the intent shown in the record.
Sources: What a boundary survey does; Surveyors follow the original surveyor's footsteps
Common questions
How long does adverse possession take?
It depends on the state. In the 39 states on this page the basic period runs from 5 to 30 years, and some states allow a shorter period on conditions such as color of title or paid taxes.