Adverse Possession Laws in Arkansas

In Arkansas, adverse possession takes 7 years, the claimant must hold color of title and pay the property taxes during that time (or hold color of title to contiguous land and pay taxes on it), and a 2025 law made unlawful squatting a crime.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Standard period: 7 years
With color of title: 7 years (color of title required); Color of title is a requirement, not a shortcut. Paying taxes for 7 years on unimproved, unenclosed land (15 years for wild land) can create color of title.
Property taxes required: Yes; Ad valorem taxes must be paid during the 7 years, except for persons or entities exempt from those taxes.
Squatter removal law: Yes, unlawful squatting crime (2025); Act 238 of 2025 created the offense of unlawful squatting (Ark. Code 5-39-215), reported to law enforcement by the owner, with a private cause of action for damages.

Sources

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Arkansas

How many years of possession are required for adverse possession in Arkansas?

Standard period in Arkansas: 7 years.

Is the adverse possession period shorter with color of title in Arkansas?

With color of title in Arkansas: 7 years (color of title required). Color of title is a requirement, not a shortcut. Paying taxes for 7 years on unimproved, unenclosed land (15 years for wild land) can create color of title.

Does the occupant have to pay property taxes to claim adverse possession in Arkansas?

Yes. Property taxes required in Arkansas: yes. Ad valorem taxes must be paid during the 7 years, except for persons or entities exempt from those taxes.

Does Arkansas have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, unlawful squatting crime (2025). Squatter removal law in Arkansas: yes, unlawful squatting crime (2025). Act 238 of 2025 created the offense of unlawful squatting (Ark. Code 5-39-215), reported to law enforcement by the owner, with a private cause of action for damages.

Where do the Arkansas adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Ark. Code 18-11-106, Ark. Code 18-61-101 and Ark. Code 5-39-215. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Unlawful squatting is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for a second and a Class D felony for a third.

What this means in practice

Courts usually require possession that is actual, open, continuous, exclusive and hostile (without the owner's permission) for the full statutory period. The person claiming the land generally has to prove each element, and courts read these requirements strictly.

Owners can protect themselves by inspecting vacant or rural land regularly, keeping boundary lines marked, and responding quickly to fences, buildings or other uses that cross the line. Written permission, such as a simple license or lease, can make a neighbor's use permissive instead of hostile.

Adverse possession does not usually transfer title automatically. The occupant often needs a court judgment, such as in a quiet title action, before the new ownership can be recorded. Boundary disputes between neighbors are often settled with a survey and a recorded deed instead of a lawsuit.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

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