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Maine Posting Laws: How to Post Land
Maine asks landowners to mark their land with signs or paint at intervals of no more than 100 feet and at every vehicle entry from a public road. The paint is purple, and you can use paint in place of repeated signs. Here is what the statute text we read says in plain words.
What the law asks for on signs
The rules sit in 17-A M.R.S. 402(4). Signs must indicate that access is prohibited, or prohibited without permission, or prohibited for a particular purpose. The statute text we read shows no owner-name requirement and no letter height or sign size.
Because the wording must be about keeping people out, choose plain text such as no trespassing or no access without permission. Check the current statute before relying on this summary.
Spacing and placement
Signs or paint must mark the property at intervals no greater than 100 feet and at all vehicular access entries from a public road. Gates, logging roads and driveway mouths are the obvious spots.
A landowner who uses paint may instead post one or more qualifying signs in a prominent place and need not post signs at 100 ft intervals. That makes a sign at the main entrance a good companion to paint on the boundary.
Purple paint marks
A mark is a conspicuous vertical line at least 1 in wide and at least 8 in long, with the bottom 3 to 5 ft from the ground, on trees, posts or stones. It must be readily visible to any person approaching and no more than 100 ft from the next one.
The color is set by Bureau of Forestry rule: OSHA Safety Purple, or a close match, in exterior long-term paint kept conspicuous. Silver paint was the earlier standard and has been superseded.
Practical tips
Repaint when a mark fades and replace signs that have weathered, since a worn mark may no longer be conspicuous. Hunting-specific posting under Title 12 was not checked in the statute text we read, so look there as well if you allow or restrict hunters.
Our signs are custom printed on aluminum or plastic with a live preview, and the builder follows these sign rules. Photograph your boundary with dates to show when it was marked.
Questions about posting land in Maine
How far apart must signs be in Maine?
Signs or paint must mark the property at intervals no greater than 100 feet and at all vehicular access entries from a public road, under 17-A M.R.S. 402(4). A landowner who paints may post one or more qualifying signs in a prominent place instead.
What color is the paint for posting land in Maine?
Purple. The Bureau of Forestry rule calls for OSHA Safety Purple, or a close match, in exterior long-term paint. Silver was the earlier standard and is superseded. Marks are a vertical line at least 1 in wide and 8 in long.
What should a Maine no trespassing sign say?
It must indicate that access is prohibited, prohibited without permission, or prohibited for a particular purpose. The statute text we read gives no letter height and no owner-name requirement. Keep the wording short and clear so any person approaching can read it.
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.