Washington's general adverse possession period is 10 years under RCW 4.16.020, requiring possession that is actual, open and notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous. A shorter 7-year period applies under RCW 7.28.070 when the occupant holds under good-faith color of title and pays all taxes legally assessed on the land for those seven years.
RCW 4.16.020 bars an action to recover real property 'unless it appears that the plaintiff, his or her ancestor, predecessor or grantor was seized or possessed of the premises in question within ten years before the commencement of the action,' establishing the 10-year adverse-possession baseline (possession must be actual, open, notorious, exclusive, hostile, and continuous). RCW 7.28.070 provides a shorter route: anyone who, 'under claim and color of title, made in good faith,' shall 'for seven successive years continue in possession' and 'pay all taxes legally assessed' shall be 'adjudged to be the legal owner.' Successors who continue both possession and tax payment may complete the seven years. A squatter lacking these elements remains a removable trespasser.
No specific statutory penalty. An occupant who fails to satisfy every element of RCW 4.16.020 or RCW 7.28.070 acquires no title and may be removed through ejectment or unlawful detainer (RCW 59.12.030 covers entry without permission or color of title); willful trespass may also carry criminal liability.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
See how Kent's squatter's rights & adverse possession rules stack up against other locations.
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