As the weather warms and you venture outside, be careful where you walk. If you come across a purple fence post, it’s best to stay away.

A purple fence post is meant to send a message to anyone who comes across it, and that message is: No trespassing! While property owners can hang signs to indicate private property, signs can deteriorate over time, while paint will last longer and still convey the same message.

In 1987, Arkansas became the first state to implement a purple paint law. Currently, 22 states have laws allowing landowners to mark the perimeter of their property with purple paint. “A painted post or tree means no trespassing.”

To comply with the law, the purple stripe must be 3′ to 5′ off the ground, at least 8″ long and 1″ wide, and the markings must not be more than 100′ apart.

Please share this story to make sure everyone knows about the purple paint law.