Purpose

To give landowners and managers a new option for restricting access: using purple paint on trees as an alternative to traditional signs to prohibit outdoor recreation or trespassing on posted land. The bill also updates how posting and boundary markers are required, by changing or adding rules within Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.001, subdivision 4.

Main Provisions

• No-trespass rule on posted land

  • A landowner, occupant, lessee, or authorized manager may prohibit outdoor recreation or entry on land that is posted and must obtain permission before people may enter.
  • Entry without permission on posted land can lead to penalties defined elsewhere in Minnesota law.

• Signage option (existing method)

  • Owners/managers may prohibit outdoor recreation by posting signs at least once per year that say no trespassing or similar terms.
  • Signs must have letters at least 2 inches high and include the legible name and phone number of the owner/occupant/lessee or authorized manager.
  • Signs must be placed along the boundary: every 1000 feet or less, or every 500 feet or less in wooded areas where boundary lines aren’t clear.
  • Alternatively, signs must mark the primary corners of each parcel and the access roads and trails at the entry point of each parcel.
  • There is an exception: corners only accessible through agricultural land may not need to be posted.

• Purple paint option (new method)

  • In place of signs, the owner/manager may prohibit outdoor recreation by applying purple paint to trees along the boundary perimeter.
  • The purple paint method has specific application rules:
  • Paint must be applied at least three feet off the ground.
  • Paint must be applied to trees that are at least one inch in width.
  • The painted strip must be at least eight inches tall.
  • If using purple paint, the same boundary areas should nonetheless be marked, or the boundary corners should be identified as described for signs.

• Who can apply the prohibitions

  • Only individuals or entities with a property right, title, or interest in the land may erect signs or apply purple paint to prohibit outdoor recreation.

• Relationship to existing law

  • The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97B.001, subdivision 4, to authorize the purple-paint alternative while preserving the existing sign-based requirements.

• Penalties

  • Violations remain subject to the penalties defined in Minnesota Statutes, specifically 97A.315, subdivision 1, paragraph b.

Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a legally recognized alternative to posting signs: purple paint on trees along the boundary.
• Clarifies the circumstances under which signage must be posted (intervals, size, and inclusion of owner/manager contact information), and preserves an exception for certain agricultural land scenarios.
• Keeps the overall framework that restricts entry to posted land and ties penalties to existing trespass-related statutes.

Implementation Considerations

• Practical effects

  • Landowners now have flexibility to choose between traditional signs and purple-painted markers to communicate no-trespassing zones.
  • The purple-paint method provides a potentially less visible but legally recognizable boundary indicator if applied according to the specified rules.

• Boundary marking details

  • Whether using signs or purple paint, boundaries must be clearly identified at the specified intervals or by marking primary corners and access points.

• Accessibility and enforcement

  • The inclusion of a name and phone number on signs allows potential entrants to contact the landowner.
  • The requirement that only those with property rights implement these measures helps prevent unauthorized postings.

• Regional or land-type considerations

  • The bill preserves an exception for agricultural land in certain corner postings, acknowledging varied land use and access patterns.

Relevant Terms - no trespassing - trespassing - outdoor recreation - posted land - owner - occupant - lessee - authorized manager - purple paint - signs - boundary - primary corners - access roads - trails - property right - title - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - section 97B.001 - subdivision 4 - penalties - 97A.315 - paragraph b - letter height (at least 2 inches) - name and telephone number - intervals (1000 feet; 500 feet in wooded areas) - painted strip (at least eight inches tall) - paint application height (at least three feet off the ground) - trees (at least one inch wide)