It doesn’t prohibit, for example, hiking or birdwatching. The paint only protects against hunting, fishing, or trapping. Using paint marks, as an alternative or in addition to signage, is a convenient and effective means of marking lands as posted, and requires less frequent maintenance and cost, since paint marks are more difficult to vandalize than signs.ĭoesn’t prohibit trespassing generally.

Landowners in North Carolina who want to post their lands can have difficulty keeping posted signs erected and intact. Why purple paint? In an online FAQ about the law, the Wildlife Resources Commission explains: Without written permission, it’s prohibited. If a person obtains the written permission of the owner or lessee, hunting, fishing, or trapping is allowed to the extent otherwise permitted. For the purpose of prohibiting 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. The paint marks shall be placed no more than 100 yards apart and shall be readily visible to any person approaching the property. 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.

The owner or lessee of the property may place identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts around the area to be posted. The posting may be done with signs, but G.S. In North Carolina, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to hunt, fish, or trap on another’s land if the land has been posted against such activity. Here’s an example of a tree with a purple bar painted on it: Purple paint on trees? If you live in a rural area, you’re probably familiar with the purple paint phenomenon. At a recent class, someone showed me the relevant statute, which led me to learn a little more about it. I’ve been asked a few times about the meaning of purple bars painted on trees.

Purple tree property management