Minnehaha County, SD Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

SDCL Chapter 38-22 (Weed and Pest Control) is the substantive statewide statute that governs all 66 South Dakota counties, including Minnehaha. The South Dakota Weed and Pest Control Commission within the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) maintains the statewide noxious-weed list: Canada thistle, leafy spurge, perennial sow thistle, hoary cress (whitetop), Russian knapweed, purple loosestrife, salt cedar (tamarisk), absinth wormwood, plumeless thistle, musk thistle, and yellow toadflax. Each county appoints a County Weed and Pest Board (SDCL 38-22-14) and a county Weed Supervisor who inspect properties, issue control notices, and contract spraying when landowners do not comply. SDCL 38-22-19 imposes the substantive duty: every owner or occupier of land must control state-listed noxious weeds on that land. Minnehaha County's Weed Supervisor works under the County Commission Office and coordinates with Planning & Zoning. The county weed program is funded by a county weed mill levy authorized under SDCL Chapter 38-22. County boards may add locally listed noxious weeds (common locally added species in eastern South Dakota counties include Canada thistle look-alikes and several invasive grasses) — verify the current Minnehaha County local list with the Weed Supervisor. The municipal tall-grass ordinances in Sioux Falls, Brandon, Hartford, and Dell Rapids run in parallel to the county weed program; the city code is enforced inside city limits, the SDCL 38-22 program is enforced everywhere.