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.
Marysville, WA
Marysville does not have a commercial airport. Paine Field (PAE) in Everett is approximately 20 miles to the south. Aircraft noise is regulated federally by ...
Marysville, WA
Barking dogs that cause a public nuisance are subject to MMC Ch. 6.76. Noise originating from property that is a public nuisance is unlawful. Animal control ...
Marysville, WA
Under MMC Ch. 6.76 (Ord. 3204, 2022), construction noise is prohibited before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. Construction is defined broadly to include site prepara...
Marysville, WA
Marysville noise is regulated by MMC Ch. 6.76, which adopts WAC 173-60 Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) standards. Noise limits for resid...
Marysville, WA
The Community Service Unit (CSU) investigates abandoned vehicles on public property and enforces junk vehicle codes on private property. For impounded vehicl...
Marysville, WA
Street parking in Marysville is regulated by the Community Service Unit (CSU), which enforces state and MMC parking laws. The CSU addresses parking violation...
See how Marysville'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.