This commentary is by Vanessa Kranz of Randolph, a third-year law student at Vermont Law and Graduate School.
Vermont’s posting provisions are overly burdensome, confusing and divisive, fostering unnecessary conflict among neighbors in the Green Mountain State. Vermont stands alone as the only state with a centralized posting system, requiring landowners to register their postings with the town clerk, pay a $5 fee and meet strict guidelines.
These include posting signs at the four corners of the property, spaced no more than 400 feet apart, in a specific size and format (8.5 x 11 inches with lettering and background in contrasting colors), and with annual updates (dated and signed each year). These requirements are among the most demanding in the country.
In contrast, neighboring states like New Hampshire and Maine have simpler systems, such as purple paint laws, or requiring hunters to obtain landowner permission before hunting. Vermont’s system creates significant barriers, especially for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and renters, who often cannot meet the requirements without assistance or permission from landowners. Additionally, maintaining compliant signs each year can be costly and time-consuming, with signs subject to damage from weather or vandalism.
I urge Vermont legislators and residents to support reforms to the state’s posting laws, adopting a fairer and more inclusive system that respects landowners’ rights while reducing unnecessary burdens.
