Skip to content
Oakclause

Adverse Possession Laws in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, an action to recover land is barred after 20 years, with an exception for land held by nonprofit land conservation groups.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Standard period
20 years
Property taxes required
No
The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

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

Standard period in Massachusetts: 20 years.

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

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

Where do the Massachusetts adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, 21. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The 20 year limit does not bar actions by nonprofit land conservation corporations or trusts for land held for conservation, parks, recreation, water or wildlife protection.

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.