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Adverse Possession Laws in Colorado

In Colorado, adverse possession takes 18 years, or 7 years under color of title with payment of all taxes, and an owner can ask the county court for an expedited order removing unauthorized persons from a home.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Colorado at a glance

Standard period
18 years
Since July 1, 2008, the claimant must prove each element by clear and convincing evidence and show a reasonable good faith belief of ownership.
With color of title
7 years (with taxes paid)
Property taxes required
Only for the 7-year route
Not required for the 18-year period.
Squatter removal law
Yes, expedited court order
Owners may file a complaint and verified motion in county court for a temporary mandatory injunction removing unauthorized persons from a residential premises.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Colorado

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

Standard period in Colorado: 18 years. Since July 1, 2008, the claimant must prove each element by clear and convincing evidence and show a reasonable good faith belief of ownership.

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

With color of title in Colorado: 7 years (with taxes paid).

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

Only for the 7-year route. Property taxes required in Colorado: only for the 7-year route. Not required for the 18-year period.

Does Colorado have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, expedited court order. Squatter removal law in Colorado: yes, expedited court order. Owners may file a complaint and verified motion in county court for a temporary mandatory injunction removing unauthorized persons from a residential premises.

Where do the Colorado adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-41-101, Colo. Rev. Stat. 38-41-108 and Colo. Rev. Stat. 13-40.1-101. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Land owned by the state or local governments cannot be acquired by adverse possession.

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.