Chapter 516 — Adverse Possession

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 516 covers adverse possession, which allows a person to gain legal ownership of land through continuous, open use over time.

Chapter 516 governs adverse possession in Minnesota. Adverse possession is a legal principle that allows someone who has been using another person’s land openly, continuously, and without permission for a long enough period of time to become the legal owner of that land. In Minnesota, the general period for adverse possession is 15 years. The idea behind the law is that if a true owner neglects their land for many years, and someone else uses it as their own, the law will eventually transfer ownership to the person who has been using it.

To claim adverse possession, you must show that your use of the property was actual (you really used it), open and notorious (obvious to anyone), continuous (uninterrupted for the required period), exclusive (not shared with the true owner), and hostile (without the owner’s permission). Meeting all of these requirements is difficult, and adverse possession claims are closely scrutinized by courts.

Key Sections

• 516.01 — Adverse possession of real property; general rule
• 516.02 — Fifteen-year limitation; standard adverse possession period
• 516.03 — Adverse possession under color of title; shorter period with a defective deed
• 516.04 — Adverse possession of government land; additional requirements
• 516.05 — Tacking; combining successive periods of possession by different people
• 516.06 — Disabilities; tolling of the limitation period for minors and incapacitated persons
• 516.07 — Effect of adverse possession; title vests in the adverse possessor
• 516.08 — Payment of taxes; relevance to adverse possession claims
• 516.10 — Actions to determine adverse claims; quiet title
• 516.12 — Registered (Torrens) land; adverse possession limitations

Related Guides

• Small Claims — Property boundary disputes in conciliation court