Skip to content
Oakclause

Adverse Possession Laws in Maryland

In Maryland, an owner's action to recover land is barred after 20 years, and the wrongful detainer law gives owners a fast court process against people holding property without a right to possession.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Standard period
20 years
Property taxes required
No
The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.
Squatter removal law
Yes, expedited wrongful detainer action
Hearing within 10 business days after the complaint; the court can order the sheriff to restore possession.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

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

Standard period in Maryland: 20 years.

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

No. Property taxes required in Maryland: no. The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.

Does Maryland have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, expedited wrongful detainer action. Squatter removal law in Maryland: yes, expedited wrongful detainer action. Hearing within 10 business days after the complaint; the court can order the sheriff to restore possession.

Where do the Maryland adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. 5-103 and Md. Code, Real Prop. 14-132. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Wrongful detainer under Real Prop. 14-132 does not apply where a landlord and tenant remedy under Title 8 is available.

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.