Adverse possession in Florida requires 7 years of actual, continued, exclusive possession plus paying all taxes within a year and filing a return with the property appraiser (Fla. Stat. § 95.18). Separately, the 2024 anti-squatter law HB 621 (Fla. Stat. § 82.036) lets owners have a sheriff remove unauthorized occupants within hours, without a lawsuit.
Under § 95.18, a person claiming title without a written instrument must hold 'actual continued possession of real property for 7 years under a claim of title exclusive of any other right,' pay all outstanding taxes within 1 year of entering possession, keep paying taxes, and file an adverse-possession return with the county property appraiser within 30 days; the property must be enclosed or 'cultivated, maintained, or improved in a usual manner.' The return 'does not create any interest enforceable by law.' HB 621 (effective July 1, 2024) created § 82.036: an owner or agent files a verified complaint and the sheriff 'shall, without delay, serve a notice to immediately vacate' on unlawful occupants who are not current or former tenants or family.
Under § 82.036, removed occupants who are actually lawful may sue for wrongful removal and recover actual damages, triple the fair market rent, costs, and fees. Squatters who present fraudulent documents face a first-degree misdemeanor, and those who intentionally cause $1,000 or more in damage face a second-degree felony.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Apopka, FL
Apopka quiet hours run 10 PM to 7 AM on weeknights and 11 PM to 8 AM weekends under Apopka Code Chapter 38 (Noise). Unreasonable noise at any hour violates F...
Apopka, FL
Modified exhaust, loud stereos, and jake-brake use are prohibited in Apopka. Car stereos audible 25 feet away violate state law, and Apopka Code Chapter 38 b...
Apopka, FL
Gas and electric leaf blowers are permitted in Apopka between 7 AM and 7 PM daily. There is no decibel cap specific to leaf blowers, and commercial landscape...
Apopka, FL
Apopka tags vehicles as abandoned after 72 hours of inoperable condition on public or private property. Inoperable means flat tires, missing parts, expired t...
Apopka, FL
Apopka follows Florida Building Code EV-ready provisions and FL §366.94 which preempts local restrictions on residential EV charging. Level 2 home charger in...
Apopka, FL
Apopka generally permits overnight on-street parking in residential zones unless posted otherwise. No citywide overnight ban exists. HOAs frequently prohibit...
See how Apopka's squatter's rights & adverse possession rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.