South Dakota state law: Tree replacement requirements

South Dakota Codified Laws impose NO replacement-tree obligation for trees removed from private property. There is no statewide 'inch-for-inch' or 'one-for-one' replacement standard. The SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forestry Division provides advisory replanting guidance under the SD Community Forestry Program but has NO regulatory authority to require replanting. Where municipal forestry permits are required for boulevard or parkway trees (under SDCL Chapter 9-38 — Streets, Sidewalks, Parks, Parkways), some South Dakota cities condition the removal permit on replacement planting of an approved species. Sioux Falls Forestry Division (under Sioux Falls Code Title 96 and Chapter 35) and Rapid City (under Rapid City Municipal Code Chapter 12.16 — Trees) require replacement of removed boulevard trees with a species from the approved street-tree list. These ordinances apply only to trees in the public right-of-way, not to back-yard removals. Counties almost universally do NOT require replacement plantings. For developments, some city subdivision regulations under SDCL Chapter 11-6 (planning) impose tree-planting standards as part of site-plan review, but no statewide mandate exists.

No state penalties for failure to replant after private-property tree removal — because no state replanting requirement exists. Failure to comply with a local replacement-planting condition attached to a city forestry permit is typically a Class 2 misdemeanor under SDCL 22-6-2 (up to $500 and/or 30 days), plus continuing daily violation penalties and city authority to plant a replacement tree at the property owner's expense (assessed as a special assessment under SDCL Chapter 9-43). Damage to public boulevard trees during private construction without replacement may trigger restitution measured by ISA Trunk Formula.