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Adverse Possession Laws in Louisiana

In Louisiana, a possessor can acquire land by 30 years of possession, or by 10 years with good faith and just title, and the criminal trespass law expressly covers squatters.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Louisiana at a glance

Standard period
30 years
Louisiana calls this acquisitive prescription; no just title or good faith is needed.
With color of title
10 years
Requires good faith and just title (Louisiana's version of color of title).
Property taxes required
No
The Civil Code requisites for 10 and 30 year prescription do not include paying taxes.
Squatter removal law
Yes, squatters covered by trespass law
R.S. 14:63 makes it trespass for a squatter to stay after a lawful possessor directs them to vacate.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Louisiana

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

Standard period in Louisiana: 30 years. Louisiana calls this acquisitive prescription; no just title or good faith is needed.

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

With color of title in Louisiana: 10 years. Requires good faith and just title (Louisiana's version of color of title).

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

No. Property taxes required in Louisiana: no. The Civil Code requisites for 10 and 30 year prescription do not include paying taxes.

Does Louisiana have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, squatters covered by trespass law. Squatter removal law in Louisiana: yes, squatters covered by trespass law. R.S. 14:63 makes it trespass for a squatter to stay after a lawful possessor directs them to vacate.

Where do the Louisiana adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from La. Civ. Code art. 3475, La. Civ. Code art. 3486 and La. R.S. 14:63. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Louisiana uses the civil law term acquisitive prescription instead of adverse possession.

R.S. 14:63 was most recently amended by Acts 2024, No. 652.

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.