A squatter cannot gain title quickly in New Jersey. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-30, thirty years of actual, continuous possession of real estate vests title in the possessor, and sixty years is required for woodlands or uncultivated tracts. The possession must be open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and uninterrupted, and time can be tacked across successive occupiers.
New Jersey's adverse-possession period is among the nation's longest. N.J.S.A. 2A:14-30 provides that thirty years' actual possession of any real estate, excepting woodlands or uncultivated tracts, and sixty years' actual possession of woodlands or uncultivated tracts, "uninterruptedly continued by occupancy, descent, conveyance or otherwise," vests a full and complete title in the possessor and bars the prior owner's claim. A related limitations statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-31, bars recovery of real estate after 60 years regardless. Courts require the possession to be actual, open and notorious, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for the full term; a predecessor's qualifying possession may be "tacked" to a successor's to total the years.
No specific statutory penalty. A squatter without the full statutory period has no possessory right and is a trespasser subject to ejectment; a record owner who proves up adverse possession under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-30 may quiet title against competing claims.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cherry Hill, NJ
Township Code Chapter 5 (Police Regulations) prohibits exterior radios, musical instruments, televisions, phonographs, drums, or other sound-producing device...
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chapter 5 forbids using a motor vehicle in a manner that creates a noise disturbance, including modified or defective exhaust, repeated horn-honking off publ...
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chapter 40 Zoning limits the storage of recreational vehicles, boats, and utility trailers on residential lots. Storage is generally restricted to rear yards...
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chapter 10 bars trucks, tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, or omnibuses with a registered gross weight over 5 tons (10,000 lbs) from parking on any Township ...
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chapter 10 (Traffic On-Street Regulations) governs on-street parking. During declared snow events, vehicles may not park on the street from 1 hour after snow...
Cherry Hill, NJ
Township Code prohibits barbed wire, fences topped with metal spikes, broken bottles or glass, and any fence material or construction dangerous to persons or...
See how Cherry Hill'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.