Earlier this year, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill aimed at protecting landowners from squatters. The bill goes into effect on Saturday, June 1.

The new law imposes stiff penalties on individuals who trespass on homes they do not own and creates new criminal offenses for those who cause damage to property exceeding $1,000.

These crimes are classified as Class C felonies, which carry a prison sentence of one to ten years in Alabama. Additionally, creating a document falsely representing a binding lease, deed, or other document of ownership or occupancy is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $6,000.

The new law establishes a process, administered by local law enforcement, to quickly remove individuals who are squatting on landowners' dwellings without permission.

The law, which goes into effect June 1, allows homeowners to evict squatters by filing an affidavit with their local sheriff's office. Squatters have 24 hours to leave or face criminal charges, including theft.

RELATED: Alabama House passes bill to protect homeowners from squatters

“They say a man's home is his castle, but with the rise in illegal occupation of homeowners' private property across the country, it's clear we must do more to stop criminals from taking over people's homes,” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said as she signed the bill.

“The best home for squatters is jail, and our state government should never rest until the rights of Alabama homeowners are fully protected,” Ivey said.

The first bill was sponsored by state Rep. Craig Lipscomb, R-Gadsden, who said it aims to establish a fast-track process for removing squatters from property in Alabama, where illegal occupation is generally less of a problem than in other states. Other states.

To contact the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected]