H 723 — An act relating to posting of land

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.723 Page 1 of 35 H.723 AnIntroduced actby relatingRepresentatives toEastes postingof Guilford, Bishop of landColchester, ItHarple isof herebyGlover, enactedSatcowitz byof theRandolph, Generaland AssemblyStevens of theWaterbury StateReferred ofto Vermont:Committee on Date:

Subject:

Conservation and development;

private preserves;

fish and wildlife;

posting of land;

requirements for posting Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:

This bill proposes to amend the requirements for the posting of land against hunting and fishing to clarify that “posting annually” means posting once every 12 months.

An act relating to posting of land It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

§§ 5201. 5201.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.723 Page 2 of 5 (A) the shooting, trapping, or taking of game or wild animals is prohibited or is by permission only;

(B) fishing or the taking of fish is prohibited or is by permission only;

or (C) fishing, hunting, trapping, or taking of game is prohibited or is by permission only.

(2) “Permission only signs” authorized under this section shall contain the owner’s name and a method by which to contact the property owner or a person authorized to provide permission to hunt, fish, or trap on the property.

(b) Notices prohibiting the taking of game shall be erected upon or near the boundaries of lands to be affected with notices at each corner and not over 400 feet apart along the boundaries thereof.

Legible signs must be maintained at all times and shall be dated each year.

These signs shall be of a standard size and design as the Commissioner shall specify.

(c) The owner or person posting the lands shall record this posting annually in the town clerk’s office of the town in which the land is located.

The posting shall be valid and enforceable for 365 days after the date the posting is recorded.

The recording form shall be furnished by the Commissioner and shall be filled out in triplicate, one copy to be retained by the town clerk, one copy to the Commissioner, and one copy to be retained by the person having the right to post the lands.

The forms shall contain the information as to the BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.723 Page 3 of 5 approximate number of acres posted, location in town, date of posting, and signature of person so posting the lands.

The town clerk shall file the record, and it shall be open to public inspection.

The town clerk shall retain a fee of $5.00 for this recording.

(d) Land posted as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall be enclosed land for the purposes herein.

Sec.

2.

EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Sec.

1.

10 V.S.A.

§ 5201 is amended to read:

§ 5201.

NOTICES;

POSTING (a)(1) An owner, or a person having the exclusive right to take game upon land or the waters thereon, who desires to protect his or her the owner’s land or private pond or propagation farm over which he or she the owner has exclusive control may maintain notices stating that:

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.723 Page 4 of 5 (2) “Permission only signs” authorized under this section shall contain the owner’s name and a method by which to contact the property owner or a person authorized to provide permission to hunt, fish, or trap on the property.

Legible Notice signs VT LEG #388093 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.723 Page 2 of 3 must shall be maintained at all times and shall be dated each year.

BILL AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.723 Page 5 of 5 (d) Land posted and recorded as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall be enclosed land for the purposes herein.

Property owners with actual VT LEG #388093 v.1 AS PASSED BY HOUSE H.723 Page 3 of 3 notice that their notice signs deviate from the requirements of this section shall take reasonable steps to ensure their notice signs comply with this section.

VT LEG #388093 v.1