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Montana Posting Laws: How to Post Land
Posting land in Montana means putting visible notice where people would enter. MCA 45-6-201 allows signs or orange paint marks, and it treats gated land and land along a public road a little differently. Here is how that works in plain words, and where our sign builder fits.
What the law asks for on signs
Montana does not ask for the owner's name on a sign. The statute text we read also lists no letter height and no minimum sign size. For land along a road, the wording it gives is 'PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO TRESPASSING OFF ROAD NEXT ___ MILES', with the distance filled in. Our builder follows the sign rules on file, but please read the current statute before you order.
Spacing and placement
Land with no public right-of-way needs notice at each outer gate and at each normal point of access. The law gives no spacing number for that case. Along an unfenced public road, a sign goes no closer than 30 ft of the road centerline. The other option is notices at regular intervals of not less than one-fourth mile along the roadway.
A simple habit helps. Walk the boundary the way a stranger would and note every gate, lane and trail. Put a sign wherever someone could step onto your ground without climbing anything.
Orange paint marks
Montana uses fluorescent orange, not purple. The law asks for not less than 50 square inches of fluorescent orange paint on a post, structure or natural object. On a metal post, the whole post is painted. Orange marks may not be placed on posts where a public road enters the land. Paint fades in strong sun, so look at your marks each season and keep dated photos of them.
Hunting land and permission
MCA 87-6-415 makes it unlawful to hunt on private property without first getting permission from the landowner, lessee or agent. That includes entering to retrieve game or to reach public land. It applies whether or not the land is posted, and the text says nothing about posting. A sign still shows hunters exactly where your line is.
Questions about posting land in Montana
Does Montana require my name on a no trespassing sign?
No. The statute text we read 45-6-201 shows no owner-name requirement. It also lists no letter height or minimum sign size. A name can still help people know who to ask for permission, but the statute does not call for it. Check the current text before you order.
Can I use paint instead of signs in Montana?
Yes, orange paint is allowed under MCA 45-6-201. The law asks for not less than 50 square inches of fluorescent orange paint on a post, structure or natural object, and the whole post if it is metal. Purple is not recognized, and orange marks may not go on posts where a public road enters the land.
Do hunters need permission on land that is not posted in Montana?
Yes. MCA 87-6-415 makes it unlawful to hunt on private property without first getting permission from the landowner, lessee or agent, whether or not it is posted. That covers entering to retrieve game or to reach public land.
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.