How to Post No Trespassing Signs to Protect the Property Owner

Ensure "No Trespassing" signs are clearly displayed around the perimeter of your property.

If you're concerned about unauthorized persons trespassing on your property, posting "No Trespassing" will ensure you are protected legally. Trespassing laws differ from state to state, but trespassers must be made aware of the boundaries of your land; an easy way to do this is to post signs around the borders of your property. Following some general guidelines on "No Trespassing" sign posting will ensure that your property is protected.

Instructions

1. Identify the boundaries of your property. If you're asserting your ownership over an area of land, it is important that you are entitled to do so. Doing a little bit of research into the specific grounds of your property will give you the best idea of the ideal locations for your signs.

2. Buy multiple signs. State laws on displaying "No Trespassing" signs differ, but to protect your property, it is advisable to have signs on all sides of your property. Some states allow use of colored paint to signify property boundaries between signs. Ensure that you have a sufficient amount of signs so that all entrance points onto your land are covered. If somebody has trespassed on your land after having seen a sign telling them not to, you are in a better legal position regardless of state.

3. Post signs in clearly visible locations. Ideally, your sign will be legible to anybody entering your property from any possible entrance point, or from any nearby roads or trails. It helps if there are only limited entrance points onto your property, and fences are very useful for this. Fences also provide a good location for "No Trespassing" signs because they run around the perimeter of your property and are unlikely to be obscured. Placing signs near any plants or trees may lead to it becoming obscured through growth.

4. Observe state regulations with regards to wording and size of sign. Several states may require you to include the word "Posted" somewhere on the "No Trespassing" sign, and states such as New York have size requirements for signs. According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, signs must be at least 11 inches square and have text taking up nine of those square inches. Conversely, other states don't require you to post a sign at all to protect yourself from trespassers, and some allow hunters to chase injured wildlife into your property. Looking up state laws is vital to posting your sign.

5. Maintain your signs. If a sign falls into disrepair, it may no longer suffice to inform people that they are not allowed to enter your property. Buy a durable, metal sign to minimize maintenance work and perform checks to ensure the signs are legible every few months. The signs are useless if they can't be read.

References

• Mother Earth News: Keep Out! The Basics of Trespassing Laws
• New York Department of Environmental Conservation: Posting Information for Landowners, Boaters, Fishermen and Hunters
• US Legal: Trespass

Resources

• National Association of Rural Landowners: No Trespassing Signs
• Find Law: Select State Laws on Hunting and Trespassing