Yes, squatting in Poland is illegal and punishable under criminal law, though enforcement varies by jurisdiction and property type.
Squatting constitutes unauthorized occupation of immovable property under Article 289 of the Polish Penal Code, carrying penalties of up to 2 years’ imprisonment. The 2023 amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1111) expedited eviction proceedings for illegal occupiers, reducing court processing time to as little as 30 days for flagrant cases. Local police units (Policja) and municipal guards (Straż Miejska) enforce removals, while the 2026 draft of the Law on Property Protection proposes stricter penalties for organized squatting rings, including fines up to 500,000 PLN for repeat offenders.
Key Regulations for Squatting in Poland
- Criminal Liability: Article 289 §1 of the Penal Code criminalizes squatting, with penalties escalating to 5 years if violence or threats are used against property owners.
- Civil Eviction: Owners may file for eviction under Article 222 §1 of the Civil Code, with courts prioritizing cases involving vacant residential or commercial properties.
- Administrative Sanctions: Municipalities can impose administrative fines (up to 10,000 PLN) on squatters occupying public land, per the Law on Local Self-Government (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 436).