Rapid City, SD Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lock throw
- 1 inch (25 mm) deadbolt
- Egress rule
- Opens without key, special knowledge, or effort
- Sliding bolts
- Not an acceptable deadbolt substitute
- Windows
- Must have a window sash locking device
- Basement hatchways
- Must be secured against unauthorized entry
Summary
Under amended Property Maintenance Code Section 304.18.1, every entry door to a rented dwelling, rooming, or housekeeping unit in Rapid City must carry a deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw that opens without a key from inside; sliding bolts do not count, and operable windows and basement hatchways need their own securing hardware.
304.18 Building security. Doors, windows or hatchways for dwelling units, room units or housekeeping units shall be provided with devices designed to provide security for the occupants and property within as in compliance with Section 702.3. 304.18.1 Doors. Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock throw of 1 inch (25mm). Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to the manufacturer's specifications and maintained in good working order. For the purpose of this section, a sliding bolt shall not be considered an acceptable deadbolt lock. 304.18.2 Windows. Operable windows shall be equipped with a window sash locking device.
Full Breakdown
3. 1: any door providing access to a rented, leased, or let unit needs a deadbolt with a minimum 1-inch (25 mm) throw, and that deadbolt must be readily openable from the egress side without a key, special knowledge, or effort, so tenants are never locked in during an emergency. The code specifically disqualifies a sliding bolt as an acceptable substitute for the deadbolt, and it requires the lock to be installed to the manufacturer's specifications and kept in good working order, not merely present at move-in. 3 covers basement hatchways serving a rented unit, which must be equipped with devices that keep out unauthorized entry. 5 apply.
Violations & Fines
A rental unit found without a compliant deadbolt, window lock, or secured basement hatchway is cited under the Chapter 15.14 notice process; the owner receives written notice describing the defect and a correction deadline, and penalties for noncompliance follow the schedule in Rapid City Municipal Code Section 15.04.300, with a right of appeal disclosed in the notice itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lock does my Rapid City rental door need?
Does a sliding bolt satisfy the deadbolt requirement?
Are windows covered by the same security rule?
What if my rented unit has a basement hatchway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rapid City
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