Trespassing
IC 35-43-2-2 — entering after being denied entry, or staying after being asked to leave, is a Class A misdemeanor
- Without a contractual interest in the property, knowingly or intentionally entering someone else's real property after being denied entry by the owner, an agent, or an officer acting for them.
- Without a contractual interest, refusing to leave after being asked to leave by any of them.
- Entering another person's dwelling without consent, or entering a locked area of property without permission.
- Knowingly or intentionally interfering with the possession or use of another's property without consent.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
Any of those is criminal trespass, a Class A misdemeanor, and a Level 6 felony on school property, on a school bus, at a public utility or research facility, or with a prior unrelated conviction concerning the same property.
| A person is denied entry by | How |
|---|---|
| A person is denied entry byPersonal communication | HowOral or written |
| A person is denied entry byA notice | HowPosted at the main entrance where the public is likely to see it |
| A person is denied entry byPurple marks on trees | HowA vertical line at least eight inches long, its bottom three to five feet from the ground, no more than 100 feet between marked trees |
| A person is denied entry byPurple marks on posts | HowCovering at least the top two inches, no more than 36 feet between marked posts |
Sources for this section (1)
- IC 35-43-2-2 — Criminal trespass; denial of entry; denial by posting with purple marks; permission to enter; exceptions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.