Wyoming House Bill 19 Would Standardize Land Boundary Colors
Written by Andrew-Rossi on January 27, 2022
For some Wyoming legislators, the distinction between private and public lands shouldn’t be a black and white issue – it should be dazzling orange and pink.
The Wyoming Legislature will begin its annual Budget Session on Monday, Feb. 14. There are dozens of House Bills and Senate Files for legislators to consider during the session.
One issue up for debate is landmarking. Specifically, how the boundaries between public and private land are established, especially regarding entries and rights-of-way.
House Bill 19 would reaffirm how Wyoming landowners can designate their private property by using fenceposts and two fluorescent colors.
The bill has two central portions. The first part tells landowners how to appropriately mark their property, while the second part tells Wyoming agencies to inform permittees of the penalties for trespassing.
For private property notice, a post, structure, or natural object must be marked with not less than fifty (50) square inches of fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink paint at each outer gate and normal point of access to the private property.
Thes same standards apply for both sides of a body of water crossing the property wherever the body of water intersects an outer boundary.
When metal fence posts are used, the entire post above ground shall be painted fluorescent orange or pink. No markings shall be placed on posts, structures, or natural objects where a public roadway enters private land.
It’s a simple but significant issue, especially for local and out-of-state hunters who could face criminal charges for trespassing.
House Bill 19 requires the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to ensure permittees know the rules and consequences. Every person issued a hunting, fishing, or trapping license thru Wyoming Game and Fish must be informed about entry on and rights-of-way through private land.
The same is true for every person who gets a permit to use state parks, recreation areas, and historic sites thru the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. “Clear” and “condensed” language explaining property designations must be included on the permit itself.
In Wyoming, a person is guilty of criminal trespass if he enters or remains on or in the land or premises of another person, knowing he is not authorized to do so, or after being notified to depart or to not trespass.
The bill was sponsored by Representative Jamie Flitner of House District 26 of Buffalo.
Several other state representatives and senators have sponsored the bill.
