Trespass
18 Pa.C.S. 3503 — buildings, posted land, purple paint, and an order to leave
| Knowing there is no right to be there | The grade |
|---|---|
| Knowing there is no right to be thereEntering, getting in by a trick, or secretly staying in a building or occupied structure | The gradeFelony of the third degree |
| Knowing there is no right to be thereBreaking into one: by force, intimidation, opening a lock without authority, or through an opening not made for people | The gradeFelony of the second degree |
| Knowing there is no right to be thereEntering or staying where notice against trespass was given, and defying an order to leave given in person by the owner or another authorized person | The gradeMisdemeanor of the third degree |
| Knowing there is no right to be thereEntering or staying where notice against trespass was given, otherwise | The gradeA summary offense |
- Telling the person directly is notice against trespass.
- So is posting reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders.
- So is fencing or another enclosure plainly meant to keep intruders out.
- So are purple paint marks on trees or posts, except in counties of the first and second class.
A purple paint mark is a vertical line not less than eight inches long and one inch wide, its bottom three to five feet from the ground, readily visible and no more than 100 feet from the next.
It is a defense that the building was abandoned; that the premises were open to the public and the person complied with every lawful condition on being there; or that the person reasonably believed the owner would have allowed it.
Sources for this section (1)
- 18 Pa.C.S. 3503 — Criminal trespass
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.