Outdoor Lighting in South Dakota (2026)
7 rules on the books across South Dakota, 3 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Dark Sky Rules
Ordinances designed to reduce light pollution, including requirements for shielded fixtures, limits on brightness, and curfews for decorative lighting.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Rules preventing outdoor lights from shining onto neighboring homes, shielding and full-cutoff fixture requirements, aiming standards, and footcandle caps at the property line.
Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsLincoln County's zoning code requires illuminated signs and billboards to be shielded, shaded, or directed so their…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls requires fully shielded, cutoff fixtures for security lighting and other outdoor lights exceeding 2,220…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Light RestrictionsRapid City requires outdoor lighting to be directed away from residential districts and away from public rights-of-way…
Read full rule →Billboard Lighting
Lighting standards for outdoor advertising, luminance limits, dwell time, sky-glow mitigation, and curfew hours after which billboards must dim or shut off.
Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsOff-premises signs, the billboards Lincoln County allows in its C, I-1, and I-2 commercial and industrial districts…
Read full rule →Rapid City
Some RestrictionsOff-premises signs (billboards) in Rapid City must direct light away from adjacent properties and traffic under §…
Read full rule →Sioux Falls
Some RestrictionsSioux Falls requires off-premises sign (billboard) illumination to be shielded from neighboring property and bans…
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