The Strip You Have Been Mowing
MCL 600.5801 — 15 years in most cases, and none against the state or a municipality
In Michigan, an action to recover land, or an entry on it, must come within the periods this section sets, counted from when the right first accrued to the owner or to someone the owner claims through.
| The possessor | The period in the statute |
|---|---|
| The possessorClaims under a deed from an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, or a sale under court order or mortgage foreclosure | The period in the statute5 years |
| The possessorClaims under a tax deed from a state or federal officer | The period in the statute10 years |
| The possessorClaims through a will | The period in the statute15 years after the will is probated in this state |
| The possessorAll other cases | The period in the statute15 years |
Not against the public. An action by the state to recover land is not subject to the periods of limitations. A municipality, other political subdivision or county road commission is not subject to a claim of adverse possession, acquiescence for the statutory period, or a prescriptive easement, including over a public highway, street, alley or easement.
The statute sets the time. What kind of possession counts beyond what the statute itself says comes from Michigan court decisions, which this page does not quote. Whether a particular strip of land has changed hands, and how to bring or answer an action over it, are questions for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- MCL 600.5801 — Limitation on actions for recovery of lands; time periods
- MCL 600.5821 — Recovery of land or public ground; period of limitations
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.