Home / State posting laws / Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Posting Laws: How to Post Land
Posting land in Pennsylvania means telling visitors clearly that they may not come onto your property without your say-so. The state's trespass law names several ways to give that notice, and purple paint is one of them. This guide explains how the paint rules work, where they stop applying, and how signs fit in.
What the law asks for on signs
The Pennsylvania text we checked sets no sign size, no letter height and no rule that your name must appear. That leaves the wording to you. A short message such as No Trespassing, in large letters a person can read from a distance, does the job. Our builder follows these sign rules and shows a live preview before anything is printed. Read the current statute yourself before you rely on any sign.
Purple paint marks
Section 3503(b)(1)(vi) allows purple paint on trees or posts. Each mark is a vertical line not less than 8 in long and not less than 1 in wide. The bottom of the mark sits 3 to 5 ft from the ground, and the marks must be readily visible to a person approaching and no more than 100 ft apart.
The same text does not require a companion sign next to the paint. It also does NOT apply in a county of the first or second class, which means Philadelphia and Allegheny, so landowners there should look at signs instead.
Farm and open land
Agricultural trespass, covered in section 3503(b.2), applies to agricultural or other open land that is posted or fenced. The Game Commission can enforce trespass as a primary offence. An unarmed person may enter posted land only to retrieve a hunting dog, so a hunter standing at your fence line has no wider right than that.
Practical tips
Walk your boundary in late summer when the brush is thick and note where a stranger would actually step onto your ground. Put signs at lanes, gaps in the fence and the end of any trail. Repaint purple marks as bark grows over them, and keep dated photos of your posting in a folder in case a dispute comes up later.
Questions about posting land in Pennsylvania
Does Pennsylvania require my name on a no trespassing sign?
The statute text we read says there is no owner-name requirement. You can still add your name or a contact line if you want visitors to know whom to ask. Check the current statute before you order, because laws can change after our last review.
Can I use purple paint in Philadelphia or Allegheny County?
Not under this rule. Section 3503(b)(3) says the purple paint provision does not apply in a county of the first or second class, which the statute identifies as Philadelphia and Allegheny. In those counties, rely on clear signs and read the statute for details.
Can anyone enter my posted land to get a hunting dog?
The statute text we read says an unarmed person may enter posted land only to retrieve a hunting dog. That is a narrow exception. It does not cover hunting itself, and it does not cover a person carrying a firearm.
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.