Rapid City, SD Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Section 17.50.340.J.1 makes it unlawful to install an electrified fence, or a fence designed to function as one, in any zoning district except the general agricultural district and the airport zoning district, and requires any lawfully installed electrified fence to have a controller labeled and listed by an accepted testing laboratory. Subsection J.2 bars barbed wire fencing in park forest, residential, mobile home, neighborhood commercial, center, public, or floodway districts, with an exception for barbed wire associated with public or private utility facilities under J.4, where it must sit no less than 6 feet above the ground.

Subsection J.3 allows barbed wire in the general agricultural district to contain livestock and in the airport district, and J.4 additionally permits barbed wire on central business, general commercial, light industrial, heavy industrial, and mining and extraction district fences when the barbed material is at least 6 feet above the ground. Section 17.50.340.F.2 separately allows barbed wire on rural properties used for agricultural purposes, such as containing livestock, even if not zoned agricultural, as determined by the Director, and F.5 lets the Director permit an otherwise prohibited fencing material if the allowance is not contrary to the public interest and will not injure the surrounding neighborhood.