Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Provides Information on New Purple Paint Provision in Trespassing Law

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office wants to update citizens on a new provision that has been added to the trespassing laws of the State of South Carolina.

“I have been receiving some questions from our citizens in reference to this provision being added to the trespassing law and I wanted everyone to understand how marking boundaries with purple paint is now considered legal notice for trespassing,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.

Property owners can still place no trespassing signs clearly posted in four conspicuous places on the border of such land prohibiting entry onto that property.

The new provision in the trespass law states that the owner or tenant can mark a boundary with a clearly visible purple-paint. The marking needs to consist of one vertical line not less than eight inches in length and two inches in width with the bottom of the mark not less than three nor more than six feet from the ground.

The marks must be affixed to an immovable, permanent object that are not more than one
hundred yards apart and must be readily visible to any person approaching the property.

Citizens that see purple lines on a tree or other immovable object need to be aware that this constitutes legal notice of private property and the property owner has posted it not allowing anyone on the property. This new law can be found under S.C. Statute 16-11-600.

Trespassing is considered a Misdemeanor and is punishable in this state by a fine of not more than $100.00 or by imprisonment of not more than 30 days.