Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Gem Township, South Dakota

Rules another office applies inside Gem Township

Gem Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Structures in unincorporated Brown County under Title 4, which would include Gem township unless it falls in a joint-jurisdiction area. A permit is issued by the county zoning administrator.

  • Permit is required where improvement market value exceeds $2,000, or for any structure regardless of cost if additional land or area is required for it to be sited on.
  • No permit may be issued except in conformity with Title 4.
  • Fees are set annually by the county commissioners and posted in the zoning office.
  • The ordinance does not name Gem township.

  improvement value threshold: > 2000 USD (any structure needing additional land or area to be sited on requires a permit regardless of cost)

  “building permits are required in the following instances: 1. for any improvements on or to any structure/building in which the market value (net worth) of the improvement exceeds $2,000; or 2. for any structure or building, regardless of cost, if additional land or area is required for it to be sited on.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in unincorporated Brown County, which would include Gem township if it lies outside the joint-jurisdiction areas near Groton, Hecla, Frederick and Warner. This is Brown County's zoning, not a Gem township ordinance. No Gem township zoning ordinance was found.

  • Title 4 excludes areas of joint jurisdiction: 1 mile of Groton, 1 mile of Hecla, 1/2 mile of Frederick and 1 1/2 miles of Warner city limits.
  • The ordinance does not name Gem township; that it applies there is inferred from the unincorporated-area wording.
  • Gem township's own adoption or non-adoption of zoning was not verified.

  “the provisions of title 4 shall apply within the unincorporated area of brown county, south dakota, (excluding areas of joint jurisdiction being, one (1) mile of groton, one (1) mile of hecla, one-half (1/2) mile of frederick, and one and one-half (1 1/2) miles of warner city limits;”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems statewide in South Dakota, including land in Gem township. South Dakota DANR sets installation requirements under ARSD chapter 74:53:01.

  • No Brown County or Gem township septic permit rule was found. Title 4 does not mention septic systems.
  • Brown County Title 4 section 4.1008 covers only the lake-front residential district and says the landowner must conform with state and federal sewage disposal regulations.
  • Whether a local office administers permits was not verified.

  “south dakota's regulations for on-site wastewater systems are found in the administrative rules of south dakota, chapter 74:53:01”

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.