1. The act, state, or condition of holding, possessing, or residing in or on something; actual possession, residence, or tenancy, esp. of a dwelling or land. • In this sense, the term denotes whatever acts are done on the land to manifest a claim of exclusive control and to indicate to the public that the actor has appropriated the land. Hence, erecting and maintaining a substantial enclosure around a tract of land usu. constitutes occupancy of the whole tract.
constructive occupancy. A manifest intent to occupy property physically, followed within a reasonable time by actual occupancy.
2. The act of taking possession of something that has no owner (such as abandoned property) so as to acquire legal ownership. See ADVERSE POSSESSION.
3. The period or term during which one owns, rents, or otherwise occupies property.
4. The state or condition of being occupied.
5. The use to which property is put.
