Adverse possession in Florida requires 7 years of actual, continued, exclusive possession plus paying all taxes within a year and filing a return with the property appraiser (Fla. Stat. § 95.18). Separately, the 2024 anti-squatter law HB 621 (Fla. Stat. § 82.036) lets owners have a sheriff remove unauthorized occupants within hours, without a lawsuit.
Under § 95.18, a person claiming title without a written instrument must hold 'actual continued possession of real property for 7 years under a claim of title exclusive of any other right,' pay all outstanding taxes within 1 year of entering possession, keep paying taxes, and file an adverse-possession return with the county property appraiser within 30 days; the property must be enclosed or 'cultivated, maintained, or improved in a usual manner.' The return 'does not create any interest enforceable by law.' HB 621 (effective July 1, 2024) created § 82.036: an owner or agent files a verified complaint and the sheriff 'shall, without delay, serve a notice to immediately vacate' on unlawful occupants who are not current or former tenants or family.
Under § 82.036, removed occupants who are actually lawful may sue for wrongful removal and recover actual damages, triple the fair market rent, costs, and fees. Squatters who present fraudulent documents face a first-degree misdemeanor, and those who intentionally cause $1,000 or more in damage face a second-degree felony.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Temple Terrace, FL
Commercial noise along Fowler Avenue and 56th Street commercial corridors must stay within zoning compatibility standards. HVAC, loading docks, and dumpster ...
Temple Terrace, FL
Construction activity in Temple Terrace is generally restricted to 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday, with Sunday and legal holidays prohibited for powere...
Temple Terrace, FL
Temple Terrace enforces nighttime quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM under Chapter 10 of the City Code. Unreasonable noise audible at the property line during th...
Temple Terrace, FL
Temple Terrace limits residential fences to 6 feet in rear and side yards and 4 feet in front yards. Corner lots have a 3-foot visibility triangle rule at in...
Temple Terrace, FL
Corner lots in Temple Terrace must maintain a clear sight triangle at intersections. No fence, wall, hedge, or structure over 3 feet tall is permitted within...
Temple Terrace, FL
No breed-specific restrictions are allowed in Temple Terrace. FL 767.14 preempts breed bans statewide, and Miami-Dades grandfathered pit bull ban was repeale...
See how Temple Terrace's squatter's rights & adverse possession rules stack up against other locations.
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