Landscaping Rules in South Dakota (2026)
17 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
Tree Trimming
Rules about trimming trees that overhang sidewalks, streets, or neighboring properties, and when you need permission to prune city trees.
Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 12.32.130 requires trees overhanging a city sidewalk to be trimmed to at least 7 feet of…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls requires 10 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 12 feet over streets, rising to 16 feet on arterial or…
Read full rule →Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Permit requirements for removing trees on private property, protected and significant tree thresholds, replacement planting standards, and the penalties for unpermitted removal.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsSouth Dakota has NO statewide tree-removal permit, diameter threshold, or replacement-tree mandate for private…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 12.32.100 lets the city inspect and order removal of any dead, diseased, pest-infested or…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Few RestrictionsSioux Falls does not require a permit to remove a tree on private property. A permit is only required to remove a tree…
Read full rule →Weed Ordinances
Requirements to keep weeds and grass below a set height, the numeric limits (commonly 8 to 12 inches), abatement notices, and the liens cities can place after mowing it themselves.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsSDCL § 38-22-23.13 lets a county weed and pest board confirm an infestation by resolution and order the landowner to…
Read full rule →Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lincoln County, South Dakota, County Code § 90.02(T) declares two vegetation conditions a nuisance…
Read full rule →Minnehaha County
Some RestrictionsGrass in a residential subdivision in unincorporated Minnehaha County cannot exceed 12 inches, and noxious weeds are…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 8.28.020 declares grass and weeds over 8 inches tall a nuisance on any lot, place or area…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls caps non-woody vegetation, including grass and weeds, at 8 inches under the city's Property Maintenance…
Read full rule →Water Restrictions
Watering schedules, drought restrictions, and limits on outdoor irrigation including which days and times you can water your lawn.
Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City limits outdoor lawn, tree and garden watering every June, July and August to the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 a.m…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls ties lawn watering to Big Sioux River flow: a standing noon-to-5 p.m. sprinkling ban, plus odd/even-address…
Read full rule →Rainwater Harvesting
Whether you can collect rainwater, how much you can store, and any permits or tank size restrictions for residential rain barrels and cisterns.
Native Plants
Incentives or requirements for using native and drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping, and rules about replacing traditional lawns.
South Dakota: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsSouth Dakota imposes no statewide mandate or prohibition on native plant landscaping. The one substantive constraint is…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Light RestrictionsRapid City's landscape ordinance requires every undeveloped portion of a commercial, industrial, or multifamily lot to…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Light RestrictionsSioux Falls exempts wildflower gardens and city-designated native plantings from its 8-inch weed height limit, letting…
Read full rule →Composting
Rules for backyard composting bins and piles plus curbside organics, bin requirements, allowed materials, setbacks, pest control, and any mandated diversion programs.