Did you know that landowners in N.C., and many other states, may use signs, purple paint marks, or both to post their properties? Have you ever been traveling and seen bright purple paint on trees or fences?
I saw several painted fence posts along a rural North Carolina road and wondered why the top of the fence posts was purple. I looked it up.
Property owners often need help keeping posted signs posted or undamaged. Using paint marks, in addition to signage, is a suitable and effective way of marking a property as posted that Is not only cost-efficient but also requires little maintenance.
North Carolina is one of several states with the purple paint law. The painted post is a no-trespassing symbol against hunting, fishing, or trapping while letting you know you are on private property.
Of course, a no trespassing sign should be used in North Carolina for other reasons not covered under the law.
Although the laws in these states are similar, there are some variations by state. For example, the purple paint law in Texas encompasses the total equivalent of a no-trespassing sign. In Montana, the paint is not purple but is orange.
Are there rules for painting the post? Someone evenly painted the fence post I saw. The answer is yes.
In North Carolina, Statue G.S. 14-159.7 states that a lessee of the property may place identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts around the area to be posted. Each paint mark shall be a vertical line of at least eight inches in length, and the bottom of the mark shall be no less than three feet nor more than five feet from the base of the tree or post.
Paint marks shall be placed at most 100 yards apart. They shall be readily visible to any person approaching the property. To prohibit fishing or the taking of fish by any means in any stream, lake, or pond, it shall only be necessary that the paint marks be placed along the stream or shoreline of a pond or lake at intervals of not more than 100 yards apart.
When you see purple paint on a post, trees, or fences, you now know that the purple paint color serves an excellent purpose in protecting your property.
It’s time to go out and buy some purple paint and start painting!
Other states that have purple paint laws in effect are as follows:
