Sioux Falls, SD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum height
- 35 feet
- Form
- DD2 Detached Dwelling. Suburban
- Districts covered
- RS, RD-1, RD-2, RA-1, MH
- Enforcing agency
- Planning & Building Services
- Variance route
- Board of Adjustment
Summary
Single-family homes built under Sioux Falls' DD2 suburban form face a 35-foot maximum building height, the standard cap applied across the RS, RD-1, RD-2, RA-1, and MH residential zoning districts.
(a) The maximum height and minimum lot requirements within the DD2 form shall be as follows: Required Front Yard: 25 feet* 1. Required Side Yard: 5 feet. Required Rear Yard: 25 feet—15 feet on corner lots. Required Lot Frontage: 50 feet—65 feet on corner lots. Maximum Height: 35 feet. Minimum Lot Size: 5,000 square feet. Required Buffer Yard: 10 feet total (Level A) when adjacent to highways.
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
Sioux Falls regulates height by zoning "form" rather than a single citywide number. Detached single-family homes built under the DD2 (Detached Dwelling. Suburban) form, which covers the RS, RD-1, RD-2, RA-1, and MH districts, are capped at 35 feet under § 160.074's bulk regulations. The city's other detached single-family forms, DD1 (urban/historic) and DD3 (traditional), carry the identical 35-foot cap. Planning and Building Services checks the height limit during zoning permit review, which must clear before a building permit is issued.
Violations & Fines
Building without a compliant zoning permit, or construction that exceeds 35 feet without an approved variance, can draw a stop-work order and denial or revocation of the building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a house taller than 35 feet in Sioux Falls?
Does the 35-foot cap apply to all single-family zoning in Sioux Falls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.