Trespass
Ala. Code § 13A-7-2 — entering a dwelling unlawfully is a Class A misdemeanor, and purple paint can post land
| Degree | Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| DegreeFirst | Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfullyIn a dwelling | GradeClass A misdemeanor |
| DegreeSecond | Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfullyIn a building, or on land fenced or enclosed to keep intruders out | GradeClass C misdemeanor |
| DegreeThird | Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfullyIn or on any premises | GradeViolation |
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
Someone who enters a place open to the public is there with license and privilege, whatever their intent, unless they defy a lawful order not to enter or remain, given to them personally by the owner or another authorized person. A license to be in the public part of a building is not a license to be in the part that is not open.
Purple paint. Land can be posted with signs likely to come to an intruder's attention, or with vertical purple paint marks at least eight inches long and one inch wide, three to five feet from the ground, no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart elsewhere.
Sources for this section (4)
- Ala. Code § 13A-7-2 — Criminal Trespass in the First Degree
- Ala. Code § 13A-7-3 — Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree
- Ala. Code § 13A-7-4 — Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree
- Ala. Code § 13A-7-1 — Definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.