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Adverse Possession Laws in Maine

In Maine, an owner's action to recover land is barred after 20 years of adverse possession, and a mistaken belief about the boundary line does not defeat a claim.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maine at a glance

Standard period
20 years
With color of title
20 years (same period)
Claims under recorded deeds to uncultivated land also take 20 years, plus tax payment (14 M.R.S. 816).
Property taxes required
Only for some uncultivated land
Only the 14 M.R.S. 816 route for uncultivated land under recorded deeds requires paying all taxes for 20 years.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maine

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

Standard period in Maine: 20 years.

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

With color of title in Maine: 20 years (same period). Claims under recorded deeds to uncultivated land also take 20 years, plus tax payment (14 M.R.S. 816).

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

Only for some uncultivated land. Property taxes required in Maine: only for some uncultivated land. Only the 14 M.R.S. 816 route for uncultivated land under recorded deeds requires paying all taxes for 20 years.

Where do the Maine adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from 14 M.R.S. 801, 14 M.R.S. 810-A, 14 M.R.S. 815 and 14 M.R.S. 816. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Under 14 M.R.S. 810-A, possession taken by mistake about the true boundary line can still support adverse possession.

14 M.R.S. 815 separately bars actions against a person in adverse possession for more than 40 years.

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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