North Dakota Adverse Possession (Squatters Rights)

Section 28-01-04 bars an action to recover real property 'unless the plaintiff... was seized or possessed of the premises in question within twenty years before the commencement of such action,' and § 28-01-08 deems possession under a written instrument adverse only after 'a continued occupation and possession... under such claim for twenty years.' The short 10-year route is § 47-06-03: title is valid where a person 'in the actual open adverse and undisputed possession of the land under such title for a period of ten years' has 'paid all taxes and assessments legally levied thereon.' That statute adds that 'a contract for deed shall constitute color of title within the meaning of this section.' Possession must be actual, open, hostile, exclusive, and continuous. A tenant's possession is presumed to be the landlord's, defeating adverse claims by tenants (§ 28-01-12).

No specific statutory penalty for civil adverse possession: if the 20-year period (or 10 years with color of title and paid taxes) is not met, the occupant has no claim and is removed by a court action, typically an eviction or quiet-title suit.