California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A squatter or trespasser who has not paid taxes gains no ownership and can be removed by unlawful detainer, ejectment, or a police trespass action.
Under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 318 and 325, title by adverse possession requires possession for "the period of five years continuously" that is actual, open and notorious, hostile, and exclusive, with the land protected by substantial enclosure or usually cultivated or improved. Critically, § 325 requires the claimant "have timely paid all state, county, or municipal taxes that have been levied and assessed upon the land for the period of five years," proven by certified tax-collector records. A trespasser has no permission and no possessory claim; a squatter occupies without right but may claim tenancy-like status if allowed to remain. Without five years of possession plus tax payment, no ownership passes; removal is by unlawful detainer or ejectment.
A squatter who cannot prove five years of continuous possession plus full tax payment acquires no title and can be ejected. Filing a fraudulent deed is a crime, and unlawful occupation may be prosecuted as trespass.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Concord, CA
Concord enforces the California Vehicle Code 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) citywide, prohibits parking on unpaved surfaces in front yards, and operates permit ...
Concord, CA
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR are prohibited from overnight parking on residential streets in Concord and cannot be stored on residentially zoned ...
Concord, CA
California Public Resources Code §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severi...
Concord, CA
All fireworks, including "safe and sane" fireworks, are completely banned in Concord. Possession, sale, or use of any consumer fireworks is a misdemeanor pun...
Concord, CA
Concord regulates removal of protected trees under Concord Municipal Code chapter 8.50 (Tree Preservation). Protected trees over 10 inches DBH require a perm...
Concord, CA
Concord water customers served by Contra Costa Water District must follow permanent statewide conservation rules: no runoff, no watering during or 48 hours a...
See how Concord'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.