Don’t Get Arrested – The Meaning Behind Purple Paint in Texas & Arkansas

Warmer temperatures are here! Now is the time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, but there is something to watch out for while you are out walking and enjoying the day.

Whether you are camping or out for a hike in Arkansas or Texas, there is something you need to be on the lookout for, and that is purple paint. Do you know about the Purple Paint Law? You need to know about it; otherwise, you could break the law and be fined or worse, arrested.

If you are walking or hiking and you all of a suddenly run across a tree or fence post with purple paint on it you need to turn around and walk a different way.

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Understanding the Purple Paint Law

The Purple Paint Law is all about trespassing on private property. Of course, trespassing on private property is illegal in all states. But the Purple Paint Law is used in only 11 states: Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Kansas, Montana, Maine, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. This law lets landowners use purple paint to mark their property line on trees and fence posts.

Specifics of the Texas & Arkansas Purple Paint Law

Arkansas and Texas Purple Paint Laws are the same when marking your land with purple paint

- The paint marks must be vertical lines, each at least eight inches long and one inch wide.
- These lines must be placed between three and five feet above the ground.
-The markings should be readily visible to anyone approaching the property and spaced no more than:
-100 feet apart on forest land
-1,000 feet apart on other types of land

Important Note on Signage

Even though the Purple Paint Law is effective in marking a property. Landowners are told they should still post No Trespassing signs at all their property entrances.

Have you ever been out walking and seen purple paint used on a property?