Lincoln County, SD Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 154.304
- Retail 5,001-20,000 sq ft
- One 14x35 ft space
- Office 50,001-200,000 sq ft
- Two 14x35 ft spaces
- Manufacturing
- One 14x35 ft per 10,000 sq ft
- Right-of-way
- Loading space may not extend into it
- Enforcing office
- Office of Planning and Zoning
Summary
Lincoln County's zoning code requires off-street loading spaces sized to a building's use and floor area under County Code § 154.304. A retail or service building between 5,001 and 20,000 square feet needs one 14-by-35-foot loading space, and every loading space must sit entirely on the lot it serves, stay clear of the public right-of-way, and allow normal traffic movement around it.
(A) There shall be provided at the time any building is erected or structurally altered, off-street loading spaces in accordance with the following requirements: ... (2) Retail or service establishment: ... 5,001 to 20,000 square feet of GFA One 14 feet by 35 feet loading space ... (B) Loading spaces are to be provided on each lot in compliance with the following requirements. (1) The loading space shall be completely contained on the lot it is intended to serve. (2) The loading space shall be arranged on the lot in such a way as to allow normal movement of traffic in and around the loading area. (3) No loading space shall be permitted to extend into any public right-of-way.
Full Breakdown
Lincoln County's zoning code sets off-street loading space standards in County Code § 154.304, enforced by the Office of Planning and Zoning whenever a building is erected or structurally altered in unincorporated Lincoln County, South Dakota. The requirement scales with use and size: office buildings of 5,000 to 25,000 square feet of gross floor area need one 12-by-20-foot loading space, and buildings from 50,001 to 200,000 square feet need two 14-by-35-foot spaces, with an added 14-by-35-foot space for every 75,000 square feet above that. Retail or service buildings follow a similar scale, from one 12-by-20-foot space under 5,000 square feet up to two 14-by-35-foot spaces between 20,001 and 100,000 square feet, and a small retail or service building between 5,001 and 20,000 square feet needs exactly one 14-by-35-foot loading space.
Wholesale, commercial, manufacturing, and industrial uses carry their own tables, with manufacturing requiring one 14-by-35-foot space per 10,000 square feet of floor area. Beyond the size tables, § 154.304(B) requires every loading space to sit completely within the lot it serves, to be arranged so vehicles can move normally in and around it, and to never extend into a public right-of-way. Loading areas also fall under § 154.303's improvement standards, which require a hard or aggregate surface at least four inches thick and drainage that keeps storm water off neighboring land. A building erected without the required loading spaces is subject to the general zoning penalty in § 154.999.
Violations & Fines
Erecting or altering a building without the loading spaces required by § 154.304, or placing a loading space so it extends into the public right-of-way, is a zoning violation under § 154.999: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The county may also pursue an injunction to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many loading spaces does a small retail store need in Lincoln County?
Can a loading space stick out into the road right-of-way?
What surface does a loading area need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lincoln County
Compare Lincoln County to another location·View the South Dakota parking rules overview
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