Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to update Minnesota's trespass laws to clearly define how private and public landowners can mark their property to prohibit unauthorized outdoor recreational activities such as hunting or exploring.

Main Provisions

• Purple Paint Markings: The bill allows landowners to use purple paint as a legal means to mark land boundaries that prohibit trespassing. This serves as an alternative to posting physical "No Trespassing" signs.
• Marking Requirements:
  • The paint must be a vertical line at least eight inches long and one inch wide.
  • It should be placed between three and five feet off the ground.
  • On forest land, marks should not be more than 100 feet apart, and on non-forest land, marks should not be more than 1,000 feet apart.
• Forest Land Definition: The bill adds a definition of "forest land" for the purpose of applying these marking requirements. Forest land is defined as having at least 10% tree cover where trees grow to at least 13 feet at maturity.
• Sign Posting:
  • Signs must display "No Trespassing" with letters at least two inches high.
  • They must be posted at specific intervals along boundaries or at access points.
  • They need to include the owner or manager's name and contact information.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill amends the existing trespass law by introducing the use of purple paint as an alternative marker for property boundaries, providing more flexibility for landowners in indicating restricted access without having to put up physical signs everywhere.

Relevant Terms

purple paint law, trespassing, recreational access, forest land, landowner rights, property boundaries, outdoor recreation