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The homeowner originally bought the five-acre plot from his grandfather in 1994, believing the sale covered the full area around his family home. For 32 years, he mowed the yard, paid property taxes, and lived on the land without ever hearing about any boundary dispute from local government. The issue came up recently when Oklahoma County officials reviewed regional land records and found an unassigned, tax-delinquent strip measuring 40 feet wide right along his house.
An Oklahoma homeowner who bought five acres of land from his grandfather in 1994 has learned that local authorities claim ownership of a narrow strip of land right next to his house, which is now set to be sold at a public tax auction. Thirty-two years after buying the rural property, the homeowner was told by Oklahoma County officials that a 40-foot strip of land just inches from his front door technically belongs to the county. Local authorities plan to put the disputed piece of land up for auction, with bidding set to start at $29,000. The homeowner continues to seek a resolution with county officials or legal counsel to secure ownership of the 40-foot strip and stop the land from going up for auction.
The dispute centers on a long-standing boundary mistake that went unnoticed for more than three decades, despite multiple tax assessments and property reviews, according to an investigation published by AOL News. County boards must follow state legal rules when it comes to selling tax-delinquent properties, according to meeting minutes available on DocketCity. Oklahoma County officials said tax sales are carried out strictly under state property laws to resolve long-standing ownership gaps and return unclaimed land to active tax rolls.
The land dispute was placed on the official agenda during Oklahoma County commission meetings, where officials discussed the legal status of county-acquired property and tax sale procedures. Once a property is formally certified for tax sale, removing it from the process often requires court involvement or clear approval from the board to pause the auction.