New Mexico requires 10 years of continuous, good-faith adverse possession under color of title plus continuous payment of all state, county, and municipal taxes before title can be claimed (NMSA 37-1-22). All three elements are required, making successful squatter claims rare.
NMSA 37-1-22 bars an action to recover land after a person has 'had adverse possession continuously and in good faith under color of title for ten years.' The statute defines adverse possession as 'an actual and visible appropriation of land, commenced and continued under a color of title and claim of right inconsistent with and hostile to the claim of another,' and adds that adverse possession is not established 'unless the party claiming adverse possession... have for the period mentioned in this section continuously paid all the taxes, state, county and municipal... assessed against the property.' A claimant must therefore show (1) ten years of continuous, hostile, good-faith possession, (2) color of title — a written instrument purporting to convey the land, and (3) continuous payment of all taxes for the full ten years.
No specific statutory penalty. An occupant who fails to meet the 10-year term, color-of-title, or tax-payment requirements has no ownership claim and is removed by court action; the true owner pursues ejectment or restitution.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Albuquerque, NM
Under Noise Control Ordinance section 9-9-11, each act in violation is a public nuisance and a separate civil violation, carrying a $250 fine for the first o...
Albuquerque, NM
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Albuquerque, NM
Under ROA 1994 Sec. 8-5-1-4(b), Albuquerque may establish residential on-street permit parking zones where a study shows a significant portion of available p...
Albuquerque, NM
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Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque Code Section 8-5-2-3 declares a vehicle abandoned if it sits unattended on a public street for 36 hours, on private property without owner consen...
Albuquerque, NM
On Albuquerque corner lots, the portion of a rear-yard wall abutting the front yard of a residential lot is held to the 3-foot front-yard limit within 10 fee...
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