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.
Ocean County, NJ
Ocean County does not have a countywide residential noise ordinance. Noise quiet-hours are set by each of the county's 33 municipalities under their own loca...
Ocean County, NJ
Construction noise hours in Ocean County are set by each individual municipality, not at the county level. Ocean County Soil Conservation District reviews er...
Ocean County, NJ
Barking dog enforcement in Ocean County is handled at the municipal level. Each of Ocean County's 33 municipalities enforces its own animal control ordinance...
Ocean County, NJ
Amplified music in Ocean County requires compliance with local noise ordinances and NJDEP N.J.A.C. 7:29 limits of 65 dBA day / 50 dBA night at the property l...
Ocean County, NJ
Abandoned/junk vehicles on Ocean County streets and yards prohibited under N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5 and Toms River Ch. 368 Nuisances. 48-72 hour notice then tow. I...
Ocean County, NJ
Driveway regulations in Ocean County are set at the municipal level through local zoning and land use ordinances. The Ocean County Planning Board reviews dri...
See how Holiday City-Berkeley'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.