Sioux Falls, SD Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- before any occupancy or ad
- Fee
- $50 (waived for new construction)
- Landlord training
- 2-hour approved course
- Revocation trigger
- 4th code violation in 3 years
- Enforcing office
- Planning & Development Services
Summary
Sioux Falls requires every rental unit to hold a city-issued residential rental permit before it can be occupied or advertised, backed by a landlord training class and a $50 fee.
No residential rental property owner shall allow to be occupied, advertise for occupancy, solicit occupants of, or let to another person for occupancy any residential rental unit within the city that has not been permitted as residential rental unit by the city. All owners of a residential rental unit shall have filed a permit application for the physical address of each building with the city. Failure to make truthful disclosures of the information required under division (b)(5) below, or if the information disclosed reveals three or more health, nuisance, or other code violations resulting in citations and fines payable to the city within the previous three calendar years, shall be cause for the city to elect to deny the permit. An application for a residential rental permit shall be available to access in person and on the city's webpage. A technological problem or failure that temporarily prevents the use of an online application shall not violate this section. A residential rental property owner and/or the designated contact person shall notify the city in writing within 30 calendar days after any change to the information provided on the application.
(b) The application and supporting forms shall require the following information:
(1) Name, mailing address, and phone number of the property owner;
(2) If the property owner does not reside within fifty (50) miles from Sioux Falls city limits, the name, phone number, email, and mailing address of
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
The city won't let an owner occupy, advertise, solicit tenants for, or lease any residential rental unit that lacks a city permit. Owners must file a permit application per building address with the city, disclose any code violations from the past three years, and pay a $50 fee (waived for new construction ahead of tenant occupancy). Applicants must also complete a two-hour landlord course approved by the director of planning and development services, unless the property is managed by a state-licensed broker or property manager. Permits can be revoked for repeated health, nuisance, or code violations, and revoked units need a satisfactory city inspection before a new permit issues.
Violations & Fines
Renting an unpermitted unit is subject to the § 10.999 general penalty; permits face revocation after a 4th health/nuisance/code violation within 3 years (following notice on the 3rd).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every rental in Sioux Falls need a permit?
Can the city revoke a rental permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
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