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Adverse Possession Laws in North Carolina

In North Carolina, adverse possession takes 20 years, or 7 years under color of title, and since 2025 owners can use an expedited court proceeding to remove unauthorized occupants of residential property.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

North Carolina at a glance

Standard period
20 years
Possession must be under known and visible lines and boundaries.
With color of title
7 years
Property taxes required
No
The statute sets no property tax payment requirement.
Squatter removal law
Yes, expedited removal proceeding (2025)
Added by S.L. 2025-88; the owner must allege the occupant is not a tenant and has never been asked for or paid rent.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in North Carolina

How many years of possession are required for adverse possession in North Carolina?

Standard period in North Carolina: 20 years. Possession must be under known and visible lines and boundaries.

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

With color of title in North Carolina: 7 years.

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

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

Does North Carolina have a special law for removing squatters?

Yes, expedited removal proceeding (2025). Squatter removal law in North Carolina: yes, expedited removal proceeding (2025). Added by S.L. 2025-88; the owner must allege the occupant is not a tenant and has never been asked for or paid rent.

Where do the North Carolina adverse possession laws come from?

The rules above come from N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-38, N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-40 and N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-159.51. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.