Idaho Adverse Possession Laws

While trespassing is a crime, adverse possession statutes provide loopholes in the law to account for certain situations in which a "squatter" or "continuous trespasser" may actually have a valid claim to the land. Under these laws, individuals who openly inhabit and improve an otherwise neglected piece of property may gain legal title to the parcel after a statutory period of time has passed (often 10 to 20 years). Adverse possession laws typically are used to help resolve confusion over property boundaries or to provide legal title in the absence of an official record of home ownership.

Adverse possession laws are rooted in common law and date back to the Roman Empire, where anyone who was in possession of any good without a title would become the rightful owner if the original owner failed to claim the property. Of course, stolen goods or land were not covered by this law in Ancient Rome.

Idaho Adverse Possession Law at a Glance

Idaho once had a relatively short, five-year time period after which a continuous trespasser could claim legal title, but it has been expanded to 20 years. The state requires payment of property taxes in order to qualify.

See FindLaw's Land Use Laws section for more related articles and resources.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the enactment of newly signed legislation, higher court decisions, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of these pages, you also may want to contact an Idaho land use and zoning attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Requirements for Claiming Property Under Adverse Possession Laws

State adverse possession laws all generally follow these six guidelines:

1. Actual Possession - Physically present and actually using the property
2. Continuous Period - Possession is not divided into periods, but continuous
3. Hostile - No permission has been granted by the lawful owner
4. Open and Notorious - No attempt has been made to hide from the lawful owner
5. Exclusive Possession - Possession has been maintained by a single party
6. Color of Title - Good faith belief that they are legally entitled to the property (a requirement in some states)

Research the Law

• Idaho Law
• Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.

Idaho Adverse Possession Law: Related Resources

• Real Estate Center: Land Use
• Trespassing Basics
• Adverse Possession: Continuous Trespassers' Rights
• Idaho Civil Statute of Limitations
• Find a Land Use & Zoning Attorney