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Adverse Possession Laws in Kansas

In Kansas, adverse possession takes 15 years of open, exclusive and continuous possession, either under a claim knowingly adverse or under a belief of ownership, and a 2026 law lets owners have squatters removed by law enforcement on a notarized affidavit.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Kansas at a glance

Standard period
15 years
Property taxes required
No
The statute requires open, exclusive and continuous possession; it does not list payment of taxes.
Squatter removal law
Yes, affidavit to law enforcement (2026)
The Removal of Squatters Act (HB 2378, approved April 6, 2026) lets an owner submit a notarized affidavit; police then serve a notice to vacate immediately.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Kansas

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

Standard period in Kansas: 15 years.

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

No. Property taxes required in Kansas: no. The statute requires open, exclusive and continuous possession; it does not list payment of taxes.

Does Kansas have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, affidavit to law enforcement (2026). Squatter removal law in Kansas: yes, affidavit to law enforcement (2026). The Removal of Squatters Act (HB 2378, approved April 6, 2026) lets an owner submit a notarized affidavit; police then serve a notice to vacate immediately.

Where do the Kansas adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Kan. Stat. 60-503 and 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 56 (HB 2378). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A knowingly false affidavit under the 2026 act is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

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.