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Indiana Posting Laws: How to Post Land
Posting land in Indiana means giving clear notice that people may not come onto it without your permission. The state code names purple paint on trees and posts as one way to give that notice, and it sets no rule for sign size, lettering or spacing. This guide explains what the statute text we read shows and how to put it to use on your own ground.
What the law asks for on signs
Indiana's criminal trespass section, Ind. Code 35-43-2-2, is where posting is covered. In the text we read, there is no owner-name requirement, no minimum letter height, no minimum sign size and no spacing figure for signs.
Because the law sets no specific number for signs, the sensible approach is to place them where people will see them: at gates, trail entrances and along road edges. Read the statute itself before relying on any summary, since the wording can change.
Purple paint on trees and posts
Indiana lets you use purple marks instead of signs. On a tree, paint a vertical line at least 8 in long, with the bottom of the mark 3 to 5 ft from the ground. Each marked tree should be not more than 100 ft from the nearest marked tree.
On a post, the purple mark must cover at least the top 2 in, and the bottom of it sits 3 ft to 5 ft 6 in above the ground. Posts can be not more than 36 ft from the nearest marked post. Either way, the marks must be readily visible to any person approaching. The statute text we read does not state a mark width.
A fence shared with a neighbor needs agreement from all the owners before anyone paints it purple. Talk with them first, and settle who will keep the marks fresh over the seasons.
Practical tips
Walk the whole boundary once and note every spot where a stranger could step in: field edges, creek crossings, old logging roads. Put a sign or a mark at each one, and look again after a season of sun and rain, since faded signs are easy to miss.
Take dated photos of your signs and paint marks after you put them up. Our signs are custom printed on aluminum or plastic with a live preview, and the builder follows the sign rules in the statute text we read, but you should check the current statute yourself.
Questions about posting land in Indiana
Does Indiana require the owner's name on a no trespassing sign?
No. The statute text we read shows no owner-name requirement for signs in Indiana. It also shows no minimum letter height, no minimum sign size and no spacing rule. Still, read the current statute, Ind. Code 35-43-2-2, to confirm nothing has changed since we checked.
Is purple paint legal for posting land in Indiana?
Yes, the code describes purple marks on trees or posts as a form of notice. A tree mark is a vertical line at least 8 in long, and a post mark covers at least the top 2 in. The marks must be readily visible to any person approaching.
How far apart should purple marks be in Indiana?
Marked trees should be not more than 100 ft from the nearest marked tree. Marked posts should be not more than 36 ft from the nearest marked post. For signs, the law sets no spacing figure, so place them where people will see them.
This guide explains the law in plain words; it is not legal advice. We read the statute text on 2026-10-24. Laws change: check the current text here or ask your county or state wildlife agency.