Purple paint could soon mean ‘no trespassing’ in Allegheny County

Purple paint could soon be coming to Allegheny County’s farms and woodlands, letting hunters know where not to go.

The paint markings — as a replacement for paper-based “No Hunting” or “No Trespassing” signs that deteriorate in the weather — are already state law under Pennsylvania’s Act 103, passed in November.

Allegheny County Council’s president, Pat Catena, who is sponsoring legislation for the law to apply locally, introduced the proposed ordinance at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.

The state law does not apply to first- and second-class counties, of which Allegheny is the latter.

Passing the law locally seemed like a “no-brainer” Mr. Catena said after farmers in his district approached him about wanting the change.

“It basically gives landowners another option for marking their property for no trespassing. If you have the purple paint, it’s longerlasting,” he said.

To substitute for signage, the law requires that the paint be applied to trees or fence posts in vertical strips at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide, located 3 to 5 feet from

the ground.

Purple paint legislation was part of a series of compromises that resulted in bipartisan support for three days annually of Sunday hunting, which will start this year. In addition to helping landowners to ward off hunters, the paint strips could help hunters avoid accidental violation of a new “hunting trespass” law. A primary offense, trespassing while hunting is punishable by higher fines than those levied for general trespass and could result in prison for repeat offenders.

The proposal is now in the public safety committee. A committee meeting has yet to be scheduled.