Maine Statewide Rule

Maine Adverse Possession / Squatters' Rights (Tit. 14 §§ 801, 810-A)

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Maine (2026)

Key Facts

Required possession period: 20 years
Limitations statute: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 801
Boundary-mistake rule: Mistake does not defeat the claim (§ 810-A)
Other elements: Open, notorious, exclusive, continuous, hostile (case law)

Last verified: September 5, 2026

Summary

Maine requires 20 years of possession before a squatter can claim land by adverse possession. Under tit. 14 § 801 a real action to recover land must be brought within 20 years, and § 810-A confirms that a mistaken belief about a boundary line does not defeat an adverse possession claim.

No person shall commence any real or mixed action for the recovery of lands, or make an entry thereon, unless within 20 years after the right to do so first accrued, or unless within 20 years after he or those under whom he claims were seized or possessed of the premises, except as provided in this subchapter.

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Full Breakdown

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 § 801 sets the limitations period: "No person shall commence any real or mixed action for the recovery of lands, or make an entry thereon, unless within 20 years after the right to do so first accrued." Because the owner's right to eject is barred after 20 years, possession that is open, notorious, exclusive, continuous, and hostile for that full 20-year period can ripen into title. Section 810-A adds that "if a person takes possession of land by mistake as to the location of the true boundary line, the possessor's mistaken belief does not defeat a claim of adverse possession," addressing boundary-line disputes. Maine's remaining adverse-possession elements come from case law rather than a single statute.

Violations & Penalties

No specific statutory penalty; this is a civil limitations and quiet-title matter resolved between the owner and the possessor in court (tit. 14 §§ 801, 810-A).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long must a squatter possess property in Maine to claim it?

20 years. A real action to recover land must be brought within 20 years (tit. 14 § 801), so uninterrupted adverse possession for that period can defeat the owner's claim.

Does a boundary mistake stop adverse possession in Maine?

No. Section 810-A provides that a possessor's mistaken belief about the true boundary line does not, by itself, defeat an adverse possession claim.

Sources

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