Can someone claim ownership of my Ontario land by using it for years?

Adverse possession is a legal doctrine that can allow someone who occupies land openly, continuously, and without permission — for at least ten years — to claim legal title to it. In Ontario, the doctrine still exists but applies differently based on which land registration system governs the property.

Under the older Registry Act system, adverse possession claims are possible where occupation has been open, notorious, exclusive, and continuous for the required period. The Basic Limitations Act and related provisions set out the procedural framework.

Under the Land Titles Act system — which covers most of Ontario's real estate today — adverse possession claims are much more limited. The Land Titles Act abolished adverse possession for most Land Titles parcels, so a squatter cannot generally displace a registered owner on a Land Titles property by possession alone.

If your land is under Land Titles, your registered title is generally protected from adverse possession. However, any parcel that began under Registry and was converted to Land Titles may carry a transitional period where older Registry-based claims were preserved. A lawyer reviewing your title can tell you which system applies and whether any registered adverse possession claim exists.

The practical takeaway: if someone is using a portion of your land without permission, address it in writing now — do not wait and hope it does not become a problem.