Adverse possession in Illinois generally requires 20 years of possession (735 ILCS 5/13-101). The period drops to 7 years when the occupant holds under claim and color of title 'made in good faith' and pays all taxes assessed (735 ILCS 5/13-109), or holds connected record title with 7 years of actual residence (735 ILCS 5/13-107).
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-101, no action to recover land may be brought 'unless within 20 years after the right to bring such action... first accrued,' the baseline adverse-possession period. Two shorter 7-year paths exist. Section 13-107 covers land 'possessed by actual residence thereon for 7 successive years' under 'a connected title, deductible of record' from the State or United States. Section 13-109 reduces the period to 7 years where the occupant holds vacant or unoccupied land 'under claim and color of title, made in good faith' and 'pays all taxes legally assessed' during that time. Possession must always be actual, hostile, exclusive, continuous, and open and notorious. Owners remove unauthorized occupants through the Article IX eviction process, not self-help.
No specific statutory penalty for the owner. An adverse-possession claim that fails to meet every element (including the full statutory period and, for the 7-year color-of-title path, payment of all taxes) is defeated, and the record owner retains title. Unauthorized occupants who do not satisfy the statute can be evicted through court action.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Tinley Park, IL
Tinley Park regulates amplified music under Village Code noise provisions. Amplified sound plainly audible at 50 feet during daytime, or at any neighboring p...
Tinley Park, IL
Tinley Park prohibits dogs from barking, howling, or making noise that disturbs neighbors. Continuous barking for 15 minutes or intermittent barking for 30 m...
Tinley Park, IL
Industrial noise in Tinley Park is regulated by Village Code noise standards and Illinois Pollution Control Board decibel limits (35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 900...
Tinley Park, IL
Outdoor music in Tinley Park must comply with Village Code noise provisions, with amplified sound required to stop or move indoors by 10:00 PM. The Credit Un...
Tinley Park, IL
Tinley Park requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet in height and for any wall supporting a surcharge or structure. Engineered plans are re...
Tinley Park, IL
Tinley Park limits residential fence height to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards. Corner lots have additional sight-triangle restrictio...
See how Tinley Park's squatter's rights & adverse possession rules stack up against other locations.
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