How many years must one possess property to claim adverse possession in Colorado?

In Colorado, the requirement for claiming adverse possession is that the individual must possess the property for a continuous period of 18 years. This time frame reflects the state's acknowledgment that long-term possession can establish a superior claim to property when the original owner's rights are neglected. The 18-year period provides a sufficient length of time for the possessor to integrate into the use of the land and for the original owner to be expected to take action to assert their rights.

Adverse possession in this context requires not only a significant duration of possession but also certain conditions, such as that the possession must be actual, open, notorious, exclusive, and hostile to the true owner's interests. The law aims to promote the productive use of land and resolve disputes over title by encouraging landowners to actively maintain and assert their rights.