Minnehaha County, SD Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 2(1) of Ordinance MC33-04, the county's Declaration and Abatement of Public Nuisances ordinance (adopted 11/23/2004, amended 8/18/2007), declares 'abandoned property' a nuisance: any deteriorated, wrecked, dismantled, derelict or inoperable property left outside an enclosed permanent structure, expressly including deteriorated, wrecked, inoperative, dismantled or partially dismantled, or unlicensed motor vehicles, along with dilapidated or unregistered mobile homes, trailers, boats, machinery and similar junk. The rule applies within the unincorporated area of the county under Section 1; it does not reach property inside Sioux Falls, Brandon or Dell Rapids, which enforce their own municipal codes.

The Planning Director administers the ordinance under Section 3 and can designate staff to help enforce it. Section 4 gives the Planning Director a right of entry to inspect property when there is reasonable cause to believe a nuisance exists, first presenting credentials to an occupant or making a reasonable effort to locate an absent owner, and pursuing an inspection warrant if entry is refused. When the Planning Director finds a nuisance, Section 5 requires written notice to the person creating, permitting or maintaining it, which may be served by mail.

Section 6 makes it unlawful to fail to abate within the time the notice allows, and directs the Planning Director to notify the State's Attorney of any failure to comply. Beyond the criminal track, Section 9 lets the County pursue a civil abatement action under SDCL 21-10-5 through 21-10-9 as an alternative or addition to prosecution, meaning the County can force removal of an abandoned vehicle through the courts even without a criminal conviction.