Adverse possession in Illinois generally requires 20 years of possession (735 ILCS 5/13-101). The period drops to 7 years when the occupant holds under claim and color of title 'made in good faith' and pays all taxes assessed (735 ILCS 5/13-109), or holds connected record title with 7 years of actual residence (735 ILCS 5/13-107).
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-101, no action to recover land may be brought 'unless within 20 years after the right to bring such action... first accrued,' the baseline adverse-possession period. Two shorter 7-year paths exist. Section 13-107 covers land 'possessed by actual residence thereon for 7 successive years' under 'a connected title, deductible of record' from the State or United States. Section 13-109 reduces the period to 7 years where the occupant holds vacant or unoccupied land 'under claim and color of title, made in good faith' and 'pays all taxes legally assessed' during that time. Possession must always be actual, hostile, exclusive, continuous, and open and notorious. Owners remove unauthorized occupants through the Article IX eviction process, not self-help.
No specific statutory penalty for the owner. An adverse-possession claim that fails to meet every element (including the full statutory period and, for the 7-year color-of-title path, payment of all taxes) is defeated, and the record owner retains title. Unauthorized occupants who do not satisfy the statute can be evicted through court action.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code 6-2-7(E) applies its dBA limits to vehicles and equipment on the public right of way (excessive at 65 dBA daytime / 50 dBA quiet hours ...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code 6-2-7(F) makes it unlawful to operate any sound-production or amplification device whose sound crosses a property line and raises total...
Des Plaines, IL
Outdoor music in Des Plaines falls under Title 6, Chapter 6's amplified-sound provisions. Backyard gatherings with amplified music must comply with the 10 PM...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code Title 12 (Zoning) and Title 8 (Building) require residential driveways to be paved with approved hard-surface materials and meet width ...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines prohibits feeding deer, coyotes, raccoons, and other wild animals that creates a nuisance or attracts dangerous wildlife. Bird feeding is general...
Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines City Code prohibits keeping horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other livestock in all residential and most commercial districts. Only tradi...
See how Des Plaines'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.