Posting land for trespassing
State law governs the crime of trespass and the posting of "No Trespassing" signs by property owners. Since such laws vary from state to state, this means that you have to know your state's law in order to effectively post "No Trespassing" signs or to avoid prosecution for trespassing. Some states require the landowner to use specific language or specific colors on a "No Trespassing" sign. If land is not posted properly with warning signs, in some states the landowner may not be able to have trespassers prosecuted.
Trespass Law
Trespass means to illegally enter property belonging to another person. What constitutes trespass depends on state law. In some states it is illegal to enter property belonging to another without permission. Other states allow hunters or hikers access to private land unless the land has been specifically posted to keep them out. The posting procedure for a state usually must be followed exactly, or entry onto the land will not be deemed an illegal trespass. To find out the law on trespass in your state, contact the state agency that issues hunting or fishing licenses. It usually can tell you whether or not you will need "No Trespassing" signs on your property, and, if so, how you must go about posting them.
Hunters
Many landowners want to prevent hunters from coming on their land to shoot game. The state law on the rights of hunters to enter private land varies considerably. For example, in Alabama (and 21 other states), hunters must get permission from the landowner before going onto private land. In Arizona, by contrast, hunters can go onto private land unless the land is properly posted. In the Grand Canyon State, the "No Trespassing" sign has to be at least 8 x 11 inches with boldfaced lettering that is at least one inch high. The sign has to specify what activity is forbidden (no hunting, no fishing, no trapping), it must be placed at least four feet above the ground, and it must be posted at all points of vehicular access to the property, at property or fence corners, and at intervals of no less than ¼ mile along the fence.
Sign Appearance
State laws often cover what a "No Trespassing" sign must say, what color it must be, and how big the lettering must be. In Alaska, for example, the notice has to be in English, has to include the name and address of the person posting the land, and the name and address of the person who is authorized to allow access to the land. In Arizona, a sign with at least 100 square inches of orange paint can mark intervals along a fence on posted land. In Minnesota, lettering on a "No Trespassing" sign has to be at least two inches high and the sign has to include the name and phone number of the person owning or occupying the land. In Missouri, by contrast, a landowner can post property against trespassers by putting purple paint on trees. Find out the requirements in your state.
