Animal Ordinances in South Dakota (2026)
37 rules on the books across South Dakota, 4 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Sioux Falls
Heavy RestrictionsSioux Falls prohibits keeping livestock within city limits unless the property is zoned AG, Agricultural District…
Read full rule →Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lincoln County, South Dakota, the Board of Commissioners' zoning code allows land to be used only for…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code Section 6.08.021 lets a single-family lot in six residential zoning districts keep up to 6…
Read full rule →Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lincoln County, South Dakota, County Code § 91.01 bars any animal owner from letting an animal run at…
Read full rule →Minnehaha County
Some RestrictionsNo animal may run at large in unincorporated Minnehaha County. An animal off its owner's premises and not under…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 6.12.030 bars any dog or cat from running at large and requires the owner to keep the…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls bans letting a dog run at large off its owner's property unless it's on a leash under someone's control…
Read full rule →Breed Restrictions
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsSouth Dakota expressly PREEMPTS breed-specific dog regulation statewide. Per SDCL 40-34-16 (effective 2014): 'No local…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Heavy RestrictionsRapid City has no breed ban; § 6.08.100 judges dogs and other animals by documented behavior, not breed, through a…
Read full rule →Lincoln County
Significant RestrictionsLincoln County, South Dakota does not restrict dogs by breed; instead County Code § 91.02 lets the Sheriff declare any…
Read full rule →Minnehaha County
Significant RestrictionsMinnehaha County has no breed ban. Instead, the county's Revised Animal Control Ordinance lets an Animal Control…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Significant RestrictionsSioux Falls has no breed ban: dogs are declared "restricted" or "vicious" by the police chief based on bite or attack…
Read full rule →Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsSouth Dakota requires apiary registration with the State Apiarist at the Department of Agriculture and Natural…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Significant RestrictionsSioux Falls requires a $50 annual permit, a beekeeping class, and zoning eligibility before anyone can keep honeybee…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City allows hobby beekeeping under Chapter 6.20, but hives must sit at least 15 feet from any dwelling other than…
Read full rule →Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsSouth Dakota regulates possession of native wildlife and certain non-domestic mammals through SDCL Title 41 (Game, Fish…
Read full rule →Minnehaha County
Heavy RestrictionsMinnehaha County bans keeping exotic animals such as big cats, venomous snakes, wolves, coyotes, bears, and non-human…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Heavy RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 6.08.080 bars anyone from keeping a wild animal within city limits, and § 6.04.010(JJ)…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Heavy RestrictionsSioux Falls outlaws keeping bears, big cats, native fur bearers, endangered species, exotic animals, or venomous snakes…
Read full rule →Wildlife Feeding
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsSouth Dakota does not broadly prohibit residential wildlife feeding. Baiting big game (deer, elk, antelope) for hunting…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Heavy RestrictionsRapid City bans feeding deer, coyotes, geese and other wild animals or waterfowl anywhere within city limits, on public…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Significant RestrictionsSioux Falls bans feeding waterfowl in city parks and bike trails, and bans keeping ice open on Covell Lake or Family…
Read full rule →Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsSouth Dakota does not have a standalone animal-hoarding statute, but hoarding is prosecuted under the general…
Read full rule →Minnehaha County
Some RestrictionsIn a Residential Development Area, a household cannot keep more than a combined total of four dogs, cats, or potbellied…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls limits households to four pets over six months old per lot, not counting birds or fish, unless the property…
Read full rule →Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City requires every cat, like every dog, to carry a current, individual license under Municipal Code § 6.12.010…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsEvery cat six months or older in Sioux Falls must carry a city license within 30 days of acquisition, while Humane…
Read full rule →Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City does not require every pet to carry a microchip, but § 6.08.230(C) makes it mandatory for any dog or cat…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls doesn't require microchips for ordinary pets, but any animal the chief of police declares "restricted"…
Read full rule →Coyote Management
How your city handles urban coyotes, including hazing protocols, feeding bans, and what residents should do when sighting one near homes.
Rapid City
Heavy RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 6.16.020 bars purposely feeding or baiting any wild animal, a term § 6.16.010 defines to…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls bans placing unnatural food sources that attract deer on any property in city limits, the code's main tool…
Read full rule →Pet Store Rules
Restrictions on retail pet sales, including bans on commercially bred dogs and cats and rescue-only sourcing requirements.
Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Rapid City
Significant RestrictionsIn Rapid City's Urban Commercial (UC) zoning district, a veterinary establishment is a conditional use, not a use…
Read full rule →Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsIn Lincoln County, South Dakota's C Commercial District, § 154.117(B) allows a veterinarian clinic, animal hospital, or…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsIn Sioux Falls's C commercial district, veterinary clinics are a permitted special use only if there is no outside…
Read full rule →Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC §53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.