Adverse possession in Georgia requires 20 years of possession under O.C.G.A. § 44-5-163, or just 7 years under written 'color of title' under § 44-5-164. The possession must be public, continuous, exclusive, uninterrupted, peaceable, and under a claim of right (§ 44-5-161). A squatter lacking that is a trespasser, removable through the dispossessory process.
O.C.G.A. § 44-5-163 provides that possession meeting the § 44-5-161 requirements 'for a period of 20 years shall confer good title by prescription' against everyone except the state. Section 44-5-164 shortens this to 7 years where the claimant holds 'under written evidence of title' (color of title), unless that writing is forged or fraudulent and the claimant had actual notice. Under § 44-5-161, possession 'must be public, continuous, exclusive, uninterrupted, and peaceable' and 'accompanied by a claim of right'; it cannot originate in fraud, and 'permissive possession cannot be the foundation of a prescription.' A mere squatter lacking these elements is a trespasser, removable via the dispossessory action or charged under criminal trespass law (§ 16-7-21).
Possession that is permissive, secret, interrupted, or shorter than the statutory period confers no title. A squatter who never meets §§ 44-5-161, 44-5-163, or 44-5-164 is a trespasser and may be removed through the dispossessory process and may face criminal trespass charges under O.C.G.A. § 16-7-21.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Suwanee, GA
Suwanee enforces Gwinnett County's animal nuisance ordinance. Continuous barking for 15+ minutes or intermittent barking for 30+ minutes constitutes a nuisan...
Suwanee, GA
Amplified music audible beyond property lines after 10 PM is prohibited. Outdoor events at Town Center Park and commercial venues require a sound permit from...
Suwanee, GA
Construction noise is permitted 7 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 8 PM Sundays and holidays in Suwanee. Outside these windows requires a speci...
Suwanee, GA
RVs, boats, and trailers in Suwanee residential zones must be stored in side or rear yards, screened from street view, per Suwanee Unified Development Code (...
Suwanee, GA
Abandoned vehicles regulated under GA Code §40-11-1+ (10 days on public property). Suwanee Code Enforcement handles inoperable vehicles on residential proper...
Suwanee, GA
Suwanee UDC requires residential driveways be paved (concrete, asphalt, or approved pavers). Max width at right-of-way typically 20–24 ft for single-family. ...
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