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Rapid City, SD Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Height limit: 8 inches for grass and weeds
Enforcer: Code Enforcement or Building Services
First notice window: 7 calendar days to cut
Repeat notice window: 3 calendar days
Exempt land: Wetlands, golf courses, pasture, parks
Penalty: General penalty § 1.12.010

Summary

Rapid City Municipal Code § 8.28.020 declares grass and weeds over 8 inches tall a nuisance on any lot, place or area in the city, including the abutting sidewalk strip. Code Enforcement or Building Services issues a written notice, and unmowed lots face city abatement billed back to the owner.

All grass and weeds having reached a height of 8 inches, and other noxious matter are declared a nuisance and no owner of any lot, place or area within the city, or the agent of the owner or the occupant of the lot, place or area, shall permit on the lot, place or area, or upon any sidewalk abutting the same, any grass and weeds having reached a height of 8 inches, or other noxious matter to grow, lie or be located thereon.

View official code

Full Breakdown

020, which applies to sidewalks abutting the lot as well as the lot itself. 030 if they meet the listed conditions: regional drainage ponds/ditches or irrigation ditches, land too wet to mow, land within 20 feet of a creek, slopes of 2:1 or steeper, natural (uncultivated) areas, public parks/greenways/HOA common areas, golf courses, highly erodible land, and pasture, but none of these exemptions apply within 10 feet of a sidewalk. 040, Code Enforcement or Building Services gives written notice by hand delivery or first-class mail requiring the owner, agent or occupant to cut, destroy or remove the growth within 7 calendar days of the notice; a second violation in the same calendar year cuts that window to 3 calendar days, appealable in writing to the Community Development Director within 3 days. 030.

Violations & Fines

Section 8.28.080 routes any violation to the citywide general penalty in § 1.12.010: a fine of $1 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Beyond that fine, the city can abate the nuisance itself and assess the cutting and administrative costs directly against the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can my grass legally get in Rapid City?

No more than 8 inches. Under § 8.28.020, grass and weeds reaching 8 inches on any lot, place or area, including the sidewalk strip abutting it, are a declared nuisance and the owner or occupant is prohibited from letting them stand.

What happens after I get a weed notice from the city?

Code Enforcement or Building Services gives you 7 calendar days from the notice to cut, destroy or remove the growth under § 8.28.040. A second violation in the same calendar year only gives you 3 calendar days, and you can appeal a subsequent notice to the Community Development Director within 3 days.

Is any land in Rapid City exempt from the 8-inch rule?

Yes. Section 8.28.030 exempts drainage ponds and ditches, land too wet to mow, land within 20 feet of a creek, steep slopes, natural areas, parks and HOA common areas, golf courses, highly erodible land and pasture, but never within 10 feet of a sidewalk.

What if I ignore the notice to mow?

The city can cut, destroy or remove the growth itself under § 8.28.050 and bill the cost, including administrative costs, as a special assessment against your property, on top of the general penalty fine in § 1.12.010.

Sources & Official References

[1]Rapid City Municipal Code § 8.28.020

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How Rapid City compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Rapid City to another location·View the South Dakota landscaping rules overview

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