Squatters Rights Connecticut Summary
Statutory Period
15 years of continuous possession
Primary Statute
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-575
Additional Requirements
- Open, notorious, exclusive, and hostile possession
- Continuous and uninterrupted possession for 15 years
- Actual possession (physical occupation)
- Ouster of the true owner
Squatters Rights 30 Days Connecticut
Origins of the 30-Day Myth in Connecticut
- Confusion with tenant laws: Connecticut's landlord-tenant laws provide specific protections to legal tenants, including notice requirements before eviction. These do not apply to unauthorized occupants.
- Misunderstanding of adverse possession: The actual statutory period for adverse possession in Connecticut is 15 years, not 30 days.
- Eviction process timelines: Connecticut's formal eviction process can take several weeks, creating the false impression that squatters have gained rights during this procedural period.
- Confusion with "tenant at sufferance": Connecticut law recognizes a "tenant at sufferance" status for former tenants whose lease has expired, but this does not apply to squatters who never had permission to occupy the property.
Connecticut's 2025 Squatter Removal Process
Connecticut law provides property owners with several options to remove unauthorized occupants:
- Property owners can request law enforcement assistance in removing trespassers through Connecticut's criminal trespass laws (Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-107 to § 53a-109)
- For situations requiring court action, Connecticut offers a summary process eviction procedure
- Connecticut requires proper notice periods before filing for eviction, even for unauthorized occupants
- Property owners must provide proof of ownership such as a deed or proper documentation
- As of 2025, Connecticut has clarified procedures for distinguishing between legitimate tenants and squatters
Important 2025 Update: Connecticut has clarified its trespassing laws to better address squatting situations, with amendments to Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-107 to § 53a-109 (criminal trespass) to more explicitly address unauthorized property occupation. Law enforcement can now more readily remove unauthorized occupants when there is clear evidence they have no legal right to be on the property. For actual adverse possession in Connecticut, a claimant must occupy the property for 15 years, not 30 days as commonly misunderstood.
Overview of Adverse Possession in Connecticut
Key information about squatter's rights in Connecticut
Connecticut's adverse possession laws require a lengthy 15-year possession period and follow traditional common law principles. The state has maintained relatively strict requirements to protect property owners.
Statutory Time Requirements
Connecticut requires a 15-year period of continuous possession to establish adverse possession under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-575.
Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
Common Law Elements
To establish adverse possession in Connecticut, the following elements must be proven:
- Actual: Physical occupation of the property
- Hostile: Possession without the owner's permission
- Exclusive: Using the property as if the possessor were the owner
- Open and Notorious: Visible use that would be obvious to the true owner
- Continuous: Uninterrupted possession for the entire 15-year period
Ouster Requirement
Connecticut law specifically requires "ouster" of the true owner, which means the adverse possessor must effectively exclude the true owner from the property. Connecticut courts have interpreted this to require:
- Clear acts demonstrating exclusive possession
- Acts that would give the true owner notice of the adverse claim
- Possession that is incompatible with the owner's rights
- Physical changes or improvements to the property that demonstrate ownership
This requirement makes adverse possession claims in Connecticut more difficult to establish than in some other states.
Connecticut Adverse Possession Statutes
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-575. Entry upon land to be made within fifteen years
No person shall make entry into any lands or tenements but within fifteen years next after his right or title to the same first descends or accrues or within fifteen years next after such person or persons have been ousted from possession of such land or tenements; and every person, not entering as aforesaid, and his heirs, shall be utterly disabled to make such entry afterwards; and no such entry shall be sufficient, unless an action is commenced thereupon and prosecuted to effect within one year next after such entry; but, if any person who has such right or title of entry into any lands or tenements is, at the time of the first descending or accruing of such right or title, a minor, non compos mentis or imprisoned, he and his heirs may, notwithstanding the expiration of such fifteen years, make such entry and maintain such action at any time within five years next after his death or the removal of such other disability, whichever first occurs.
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-573. Action to settle title or claim interest in real or personal property
An action may be brought by any person claiming title to, or any interest in, real or personal property, or both, against any person who may claim to own the property, or any part of it, or to have any estate in it, or any lien or encumbrance on it, adverse to the plaintiff, or against any person in whom the land records disclose any interest, lien, claim or title conflicting with the plaintiff's claim, title or interest, for the purpose of determining such adverse estate, interest or claim, and to clear up all doubts and disputes and to quiet and settle the title to the property. Such action may be brought whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate or exclusive possession of the property.
Important Legal Notes
- Connecticut has one of the longer statutory periods for adverse possession at 15 years.
- Connecticut courts have consistently held that the burden of proof for adverse possession claims is "clear and convincing evidence," which is a higher standard than many other states.
- Under Connecticut law, multiple periods of adverse possession may be "tacked" together if there is privity between successive occupants.
- Connecticut requires "ouster" of the true owner, which means effectively excluding them from the property.
- Connecticut specifically exempts municipally-owned land dedicated for public use from adverse possession claims.
Key Connecticut Adverse Possession Cases
Schlichting v. Cotter (2018)
The Connecticut Supreme Court re-examined the "claim of right" requirement in this case, clarifying that a claimant must establish that they intended to use the property as their own without recognizing the rights of the true owner. The court emphasized that mistaken belief about boundary lines can satisfy the claim of right element, rejecting the notion that a claimant must have a specific belief about ownership.
Eberhardt v. Imperial Construction Services, LLC (2016)
The Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed that adverse possession requires "clear and convincing evidence" of all elements. This case is notable for reinforcing that a claimant's use must be exclusive, meaning they must act as if the property is theirs alone, even if the true owner occasionally accesses the property.
Boccanfuso v. Conner (2009)
In this landmark case, the Connecticut Supreme Court found that even when the occupation of the land was originally permissive, it can become adverse if clear actions demonstrate a change in the nature of possession. The court specified that an overt act that clearly repudiates the owner's right must be communicated to the owner to transform permissive use into adverse use.
Connecticut Adverse Possession Procedures
Making an Adverse Possession Claim
To establish adverse possession in Connecticut, a claimant typically must:
- File a quiet title action in the Superior Court of the county where the property is located
- Provide evidence meeting all elements required by Connecticut law, including:
- Actual, open, visible, notorious possession
- Hostile possession under a claim of right
- Exclusive possession
- Continuous and uninterrupted possession for 15 years
- Present evidence such as:
- Witness testimonies
- Photographs showing use over time
- Evidence of improvements made to the property
- Evidence of maintenance and upkeep
- Tax records (if applicable)
- Survey records
Defending Against Adverse Possession
Property owners can take several steps to protect against adverse possession claims:
- Periodically inspect property boundaries
- Give written permission to neighbors or others using portions of your property, thereby making their use permissive rather than hostile
- Post "No Trespassing" signs at regular intervals around property boundaries
- Install fencing or other clear boundary markers
- Document any communications with adjacent property owners regarding boundaries
- File trespassing complaints if unauthorized use is discovered
- Consider filing a declaratory judgment action to establish boundary lines if a dispute arises
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must someone occupy my property in Connecticut to claim adverse possession?
In Connecticut, a person must occupy your property continuously for 15 years to claim adverse possession. The "30-day squatter's rights" claim is a myth - no one can gain ownership rights to your property after just 30 days of occupation.
If a neighbor has been using part of my property, have they acquired title through adverse possession?
Not necessarily. In Connecticut, the neighbor must prove all elements of adverse possession by "clear and positive proof" - a high standard. If you have given permission (express or implied) for the use, or if the use has not been continuous for 15 years, their claim would likely fail.
Can adverse possession be interrupted in Connecticut?
Yes. If the true owner takes action to reassert ownership rights during the 15-year period, the continuity requirement is broken and the adverse possession "clock" restarts. Actions that can interrupt adverse possession include filing a lawsuit, physically removing encroachments, or getting the occupier to acknowledge the true owner's superior right through written or verbal agreement.
Does payment of property taxes automatically prove adverse possession in Connecticut?
No. Unlike some states, Connecticut does not require payment of property taxes as an element of adverse possession. However, evidence of tax payment can help strengthen a claim by demonstrating the claimant's belief that they owned the property.