Sioux Falls, SD Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Owner-occupancy
- One of the two units required
- Units allowed
- One detached ADU per lot
- Size cap
- 40% of main structure's sq ft
- Parking
- 2 off-street spaces required
- Placement
- Rear yard, 10 ft from main house
Summary
Sioux Falls allows one detached accessory dwelling unit per lot in its detached-dwelling zoning forms, but the primary house or the ADU must be owner-occupied.
(3) Accessory dwelling units—detached. A. Only one additional single-family dwelling unit is allowed and one of the units must be owner-occupied. B. A minimum of two off-street parking spaces are required...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under the Shape Places zoning ordinance's DD1 (Detached Dwelling. Rural) form, a detached ADU is a permitted special accessory use: only one additional single-family unit is allowed per lot, and one of the two units (the principal dwelling or the ADU) must be owner-occupied. The same owner-occupancy condition is repeated for the DD2, DD3, and DD4 detached-dwelling forms. Detached ADUs also can't exceed 40% of the principal building's floor area, must sit in the rear yard, keep a 10-foot separation from the main dwelling, and provide two off-street parking spaces.
Violations & Fines
Building or renting out a detached ADU without owner-occupancy of one of the two units is a zoning violation, enforceable by the Planning & Development Services zoning office; the property can be cited for violating the zoning ordinance and required to bring the use into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out both my house and a detached ADU in Sioux Falls to different tenants?
How big can a detached ADU be in Sioux Falls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota accessory structures overview
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