With warmer weather only a few months away, you might be itching at the chance to get outside and explore. February temperatures haven't been terrible but realistically, we start spending more time outside when it warms up. If you like to hike, go for walks, jog, or simply like exploring, it's important to know about Iowa's purple paint law.

A no trespassing sign is something familiar to everyone as this obviously means you can't enter this property without permission. If caught trespassing in Iowa, you could receive a simple misdemeanor as well as a fine of up to $625. It's also possible you could spend up to 30 days in jail.

If you're out hiking or walking and enter a wooded area that looks something like this, turn around because this is the exact same as a no-trespassing sign.

Purple Paint Law

In March 2018, the Iowa Senate made a change to Iowa's trespassing law. Senate File 2101 states

If a property owner living in an unincorporated area places purple paint around their property on trees or fence posts, entering the property is forbidden and constitutes trespassing.

Other than keeping trespassers off of someone's private property, one of the biggest reasons for allowing landowners to use purple paint in replace of a no trespassing sign is that over time, no trespassing signs can become altered, damaged, or illegible. They can also be removed or have to constantly be replaced due to harsh weathering.

This doesn't necessarily have to be trees either. It could be something like a fence post or a pole. Spring might not be here as quickly as we may want it to but it's right around the corner. As you gear up to get back to doing your favorite outdoor activities, remember to leave any area you encounter that is marked by purple paint. If you run into something marked in purple, it's time to go.