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Kentucky Posting Laws: How to Post Land
In Kentucky, notice against trespass can be given with purple paint marks on trees or posts, and no sign needs to go alongside them. The rules for the marks are specific, including how far apart they go. Here is what KRS 511.070 says in the statute text we read, and how to use it on your land.
What the law asks for on signs
The notice rule is KRS 511.070(2), part of criminal trespass in the second degree. The statute text we read shows no owner-name requirement, no minimum letter height, no minimum sign size and no spacing figure for signs.
Where the law sets no specific number for signs, place them where people will see them. Hunting rules in Chapter 150 were not located in the statute text we read, so check those too if you lease land for hunting.
Purple paint and spacing
Purple paint marks on trees or posts count as notice. Each mark is a vertical line not less than 8 in long and not less than 1 in wide, with the bottom 3 to 5 ft from the ground. It must be readily visible to any person approaching.
Spacing depends on the land. Marks go no more than 100 ft apart on forest land and no more than 1,000 ft apart on other land. No sign is needed alongside the marks.
Practical tips
Wooded ground is where purple paint earns its keep, since a sign nailed to one tree is hard to spot from a distance. Walk your boundary in winter, when leaves are down, and check whether marks are still readily visible.
Our signs are custom printed on aluminum or plastic with a live preview, and are handy at gates and road entrances. The builder follows these sign rules, but read the current statute, and keep photos with dates.
Questions about posting land in Kentucky
How far apart do purple paint marks go in Kentucky?
Under KRS 511.070(2), marks go no more than 100 ft apart on forest land and no more than 1,000 ft apart on other land. Each must be readily visible to any person approaching, so closer spacing is a safe choice.
Do I need a sign if I use purple paint in Kentucky?
No. The statute text we read says no sign is needed alongside purple paint marks. The marks themselves are the notice, as long as they follow the size, height and visibility rules in KRS 511.070(2).
How big is a purple paint mark in Kentucky?
A vertical line not less than 8 in long and not less than 1 in wide, with the bottom of the mark 3 to 5 ft from the ground. It goes on a tree or a post and must be readily visible to any person approaching.
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.