Why Purple Paint on Trees and Fences Usually Means "Keep Out" — The Story Behind the "Purple Paint Law"

Why you sometimes see purple marks on trees and fence posts

Purple paint on trees, posts, or fences is a legal and low-cost boundary marker used in many U.S. states to warn people not to enter private land. The practice began as a practical alternative to fragile or vandalized "No Trespassing" signs and is commonly called a "Purple Paint Law."

Where it started and why purple?

Arkansas was the first state to adopt this idea in 1989. Lawmakers chose purple because it was not widely used by forestry operations, stands out against natural backgrounds, and is distinguishable by people with many common types of color vision deficiency. A painted swatch is harder to remove than a sign and generally lasts longer in the elements.

Which states use purple (and other colors)?

More than 20 states have statutes or regulations that recognize purple paint as legal notice, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Some states permit or use other colors — for example, Maryland uses blue and Virginia references aluminum or silver — and others allow orange, yellow, red, or different markings.

Typical rules for painted markers

• Most laws require a vertical swatch at least 8 inches long and more than 1 inch wide.
• The mark is usually placed between 3 and 5 feet above ground level.
• Spacing between marks varies: for example, Alabama requires marks no more than 100 feet apart on forest land, but up to 1,000 feet apart on other land.

What the markings mean and legal variations

Although purple paint generally signals "do not enter" or "no trespassing," the exact legal effect differs by state and sometimes by county. In some places purple specifically prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping rather than general entry. Pennsylvania updated its Crimes Code in 2020 to explicitly permit purple paint as legal notice and included an exception that allows an unarmed person to enter private land to retrieve a hunting dog despite posted signs or paint. Some counties or municipalities (for example, Philadelphia and Allegheny counties in Pennsylvania) may be exempt from state-level rules.

Penalties for ignoring marked boundaries

Penalties vary widely. Most violations result in fines; in some jurisdictions trespassing on marked land can lead to misdemeanor charges or even jail time. For example, Texas law allows fines up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail for certain trespassing offenses involving posted or marked property. Always check local statutes for precise penalties.

Practical advice

If you spend time outdoors, learn your state and local rules: know which colors are recognized locally, what they prohibit, and the spacing and size requirements for legal markings. When in doubt, treat painted boundary marks as a signal to stay off private property and seek permission from the landowner if you need to cross.

Bottom line: Purple paint is a simple, durable legal notice used in many states to communicate private property boundaries. The details matter — learn the rules where you recreate.