Bolthole Index

Dewey County, South Dakota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Dewey County, South Dakota

46Index Score / 100
#41 of 66 in South Dakota

Dewey County, South Dakota has no county zoning ordinance or land use ordinances, so unincorporated land has no county zoning to clear1. We could not confirm a county building permit requirement, and the county's towns have their own building-permit processes1,2. Septic rules come from the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, not the towns3.

Do you need a building permit in Dewey County, South Dakota?

We could not confirm a Dewey County building permit requirement for unincorporated land.

We could not confirm a Dewey County building permit requirement for unincorporated land2. No official county building-permit page, ordinance or fee schedule turned up, so ask the Dewey County Auditor before ordering materials or breaking ground6. The towns inside Dewey County each have their own building-permit processes, so a lot inside town limits answers to the town1.

State requirements are concrete. South Dakota's default building standard for local units without an ordinance excludes residential structures, mobile and manufactured homes, and farmsteads, so it does not set a code for a typical rural house7. Plumbing installations outside cities that run their own inspections need a state plumbing inspection certificate8. Electrical work needs a final inspection before occupancy, and an owner who wires an owner-occupied home still needs the homeowner permit; the exemption is from licensure only4.

Who handles Dewey County building permits and land-use questions?

No Dewey County building, codes or planning department was identified.

No Dewey County building, codes or planning department was identified2. The practical first call is the Dewey County Auditor at PO Box 277, Timber Lake, SD 57656, phone (605) 865- 36726. The Auditor keeps county records and prepares County Commission agendas, so that office is the place to ask for any ordinance or commission action covering a parcel6.

For land inside a town, ask the town, because each town runs its own building-permit process1. For septic, the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the authority at (605) 773-46479. Give the legal description, say whether the land is in a town or unincorporated, and describe the structure you plan.

Does Dewey County, South Dakota have zoning?

No. Dewey County does not have a zoning ordinance, land use ordinances or a comprehensive plan, according to a regional hazard mitigation plan.

No. Dewey County does not have a zoning ordinance, land use ordinances or a comprehensive plan, according to a regional hazard mitigation plan1. With no county zoning, no county ordinance sets minimum dwelling size, setbacks or minimum lot size on unincorporated land1. South Dakota law lets county boards adopt zoning, so the county could change course10.

No county zoning does not mean no rules. Towns inside the county set their own, tribal requirements may apply within the Tribe's jurisdiction, and state septic, plumbing and electrical rules still apply1. The same plan says the county does not actively manage its floodplain, so check flood maps yourself1. A farmstead and its accessory buildings are also excluded from the state's default construction standard7.

How do septic permits work in Dewey County?

South Dakota DANR administers minimum standards for on-site wastewater systems, and a local government may impose stricter requirements.

South Dakota DANR administers minimum standards for on-site wastewater systems, and a local government may impose stricter requirements3. DANR says the state has installation requirements for on-site wastewater systems and answers installation-plan questions at (605) 773-46479. Plans and specifications must go to the state for approval before construction of systems receiving human waste other than conventional individual on-site wastewater systems; a conventional individual system may be designed and installed under the state chapter without that plan submission11.

State officials or their authorized representatives may inspect an on-site wastewater system's installation, equipment, and operation at any time, although the rule does not say every system receives a routine inspection11. Parcel testing deserves attention because only about 3.9% of Dewey County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field12. Make wastewater feasibility part of the purchase contingency, ask DANR what review the proposed design needs, and ask the County Auditor whether a stricter local step applies6,9.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Dewey County, South Dakota?

Dewey County has no land use ordinances, so no county zoning rule restricts a tiny home on unincorporated land.

Dewey County has no land use ordinances, so no county zoning rule restricts a tiny home on unincorporated land1. We could not confirm a county rule on long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping either way; ask the Dewey County Auditor for the parcel6. Inside a town, the town's rules apply instead, and tribal requirements may also apply1.

Waste disposal is a separate issue from the dwelling type. Where water or electrical service is unavailable, South Dakota requires a vault privy, chemical toilet, incinerator toilet or composting unit; every option except a vault privy is treated as experimental and needs state approval of plans before installation11. A tiny home with plumbing may trigger the state plumbing certificate and inspection outside cities that run their own program8. Confirm sanitation with the state before placing or occupying the unit9.

Building a home in Dewey County: what are the steps?

Confirm whether the parcel is inside a town; if so, ask the town about building permits and zoning.

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside a town; if so, ask the town about building permits and zoning. If it is unincorporated, there is no county zoning, but give the Dewey County Auditor the legal description and ask about building, floodplain and county-road access1,6.
  2. Ask South Dakota DANR to confirm the wastewater review path and whether Dewey County adds a stricter local requirement3,9.
  3. Determine whether the proposed water use needs a state water-right permit; when one is required, approval must come before well drilling5.
  4. Secure the applicable state plumbing certificate and inspections outside a city with its own inspection requirements8.
  5. Obtain the state electrical permit and arrange rough-in and final inspections before wiring is covered and before occupancy4.
  6. If the driveway connects to a state highway, obtain South Dakota Department of Transportation permission before construction13.
  7. If the site lies in a regulated floodplain, identify the local administrator and obtain the required development permit14.

What should you check before buying land in Dewey County?

Start with legal access, jurisdiction, and buildability.

Start with legal access, jurisdiction, and buildability. Ask the Dewey County Auditor whether the parcel is subject to town rules and whether county-road access needs approval, because Dewey County's building-permit, floodplain and driveway processes could not be confirmed, even though the county has no zoning1,2,6. A driveway onto a state highway requires state permission, and construction cannot start until the access permit is issued13.

Evaluate wastewater on the proposed homesite because only about 3.9% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field12. Confirm the well path before drilling because some water uses require an approved state water-right permit first5. Check flood maps and the local permit path because participating South Dakota communities require permits for development in regulated floodplains14. For budgeting context, the median property-tax bill is about $1,009 per year, but parcel taxes depend on assessed value and classification12.

Watch-outs

  • No county zoning ordinance does not mean no rules: towns set their own building-permit processes, and we could not confirm a county building permit requirement, so ask the Dewey County Auditor for a parcel-specific answer1,2,6.
  • Only about 3.9% of Dewey County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so verify the actual homesite before buying12.
  • An owner-electrical exemption removes the licensure requirement for qualifying work, but it does not remove the homeowner permit or inspection requirements4.
  • State officials or their authorized representatives may inspect an on-site wastewater system at any time, so keep the installation accessible and confirm the review path with DANR9,11.

Sources

14 official pages, each quoted and re-checked · written October 10, 2026

  1. 2024 WarHawk District Hazard Mitigation Plan
  2. South Dakota Administrative Rules, Article 20:44 (2026 county census)
  3. South Dakota Feedlot Permit Program - Septic Tank Systems
  4. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule)
  5. South Dakota Water Rights - Drilling a Well
  6. Dewey County Auditor (dewey.sdcounties.org)
  7. South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 11-10: Building Codes and Standards
  8. South Dakota Plumbing Commission - Inspections (South Dakota statewide rule)
  9. South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (danr.sd.gov)
  10. 2000 Session Laws Chapter 69 — Planning and zoning statutes revised (South Dakota statewide rule)
  11. Rule 74:53 Water Supply and Treatment Systems
  12. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  13. Instructions: Applying for permission for driveway or intersection on a South Dakota state highway (South Dakota statewide rule)
  14. National Flood Insurance Program (South Dakota statewide rule)

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 5 of its 6 neighbors, Dewey County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleDewey CountyZiebach CountyStanley CountySully CountyPotter CountyWalworth CountyCorson County
Building permitLimitedNot requiredRequiredRequiredLimitedRequiredNot required
County zoningNoNoYesYesNot publishedYesNo
Septic permitsDANRDANRDANRDANRDANRDANRDANR

County locator

Dewey County in South Dakota

46
County map
Dewey County highlighted among the South Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Dewey County scores

46 / 100 · #41 of 66 in South Dakota · six factors, land price, tax, rain and climate

Seclusion9180% ev.
Self-Sufficiency16100% ev.
Admin Boringness6445% ev.
Durability38100% ev.
Property Autonomy67100% ev.
Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 86%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$75kTypical home
1.3%Property tax
$1,109Land / acre
18.7"Annual rain
14.7% of yrsSevere drought
13 / yr (+9.5)Mid-century 100°F days
22.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.28" (+7.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.39×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,694Home insurance / yr
1.6% / yrInsurance growth
1.41%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
144People within 30 min
18,158People within 2 hr
713Radius comparison (15 mi)
2.3People / sq mi
6.8%Federal land
92.2%Land at 15% slope or less
3.9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
53,869 acWorkable land screen
1.9%Wooded land
10 tonsBiomass / forest ac
45.1°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Dewey County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Eagle Butte · Town of Isabel · Timber Lake

Answers from the rulebook for Dewey County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Dewey County rules

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning ordinance and countywide zoning in Dewey County.

    • The source states that all towns have building-permit processes and that the Tribe requires a tribal business license; municipal and tribal rules may apply within their respective jurisdictions.
    • Septic, floodplain, subdivision, health, municipal, and tribal rules may still apply.
    “Dewey County does not have a Zoning Ordinance”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Minimum dwelling-size requirements imposed by county zoning in unincorporated Dewey County.

    • No county zoning or land-use ordinance supplies a minimum dwelling size; other state, municipal, tribal, building, health, and septic rules may apply.
    “Dewey County does not have land use ordinances, zoning, or a comprehensive plan; they also do not actively manage their floodplain.”
  • Minimum lot sizeNone

    County zoning minimum-lot-size requirements in unincorporated Dewey County.

    • No county zoning or land-use ordinance supplies a minimum lot size; subdivision, septic, state, municipal, and tribal requirements may apply.
    “Dewey County does not have land use ordinances, zoning, or a comprehensive plan; they also do not actively manage their floodplain.”
  • SetbacksNone

    County zoning setbacks in unincorporated Dewey County.

    • No county zoning or land-use ordinance supplies setback requirements; highway, floodplain, septic, state, municipal, and tribal requirements may apply.
    “Dewey County does not have land use ordinances, zoning, or a comprehensive plan; they also do not actively manage their floodplain.”
  • Tiny homesUnrestricted

    Tiny-home occupancy under county land-use rules in unincorporated Dewey County.

    • No county zoning ordinance restricts the use; building, health, septic, floodplain, municipal, and tribal requirements may still apply.
    • The source states that towns have their own building-permit processes and the Tribe requires a tribal business license.
    “Dewey County does not have land use ordinances”

South Dakota rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Electrical work associated with construction, including in Dewey County, South Dakota.

    • A wiring permit is required for an electrical service entrance exceeding 60 amperes.
    • A wiring permit is required for electrical wiring performed under an owner's exemption.
    • A wiring permit is required for another electrical installation when its estimated inspection fee is $30 or more under Chapter 20:44:20.
    • This is a statewide electrical-permit requirement and does not establish whether Dewey County requires a separate general building permit.

    service-entrance capacity: > 60 amperes (Electrical service entrance requires a wiring permit.) · estimated inspection fee: >= 30 USD (Other electrical installations require a wiring permit.)

    “Any electrical service entrance in excess of sixty amperes capacity”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Electrical wiring and fixture installations in an owner-occupied residence or farmstead under the South Dakota Electrical Commission.
      “You MUST have an approved homeowner permit BEFORE starting any electrical work. [...] a wiring permit is required when a $30 or more fee is generated (see below).”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner performing electrical wiring at the owner's residence, farmstead, qualifying single-family residence under construction, or qualifying private non-habitable property in Dewey County and elsewhere in South Dakota.

    • The statute waives the electrical-license requirement only for the listed owner-owned locations and uses.
    • For a single-family residence permit under the Owner's Exemption, the applicant may not have applied under the exemption during the preceding three years.
    • The applicant must occupy or intend to occupy the residence as a personal dwelling unit.
    • No part of the residence may be rented or leased.
    • Only the applicant or the applicant's spouse may perform the wiring.
    • The exemption does not waive required wiring permits, inspection, or inspection fees for covered electrical work.

    owner-exemption permit interval: >= 3 years (Applicant may only receive the permit if the applicant has not applied under the Owner's Exemption in the last three years.)

    “No license is required of a person installing electric wiring in or on:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An individual owner personally installing electrical wiring and fixtures in a residence or farmstead owned and resided in by that individual.
      “an "owner's exemption" as an exemption from licensure requirements”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    South Dakota building-code adoption framework for local governments, including residential structures and county or municipal construction standards.

    • For residential structures, the statute authorizes the governing body of a municipality to adopt the 2024 International Residential Code; the quoted residential authorization does not name counties.
    • A residential-structure rule may not require installation of a sprinkler system and may not impose requirements more stringent than the 2024 International Residential Code.
    • A residential structure means a detached one-family or two-family dwelling, a townhouse not more than three stories with a separate means of egress, and related accessory structures.
    • For buildings other than residential structures, a local-unit ordinance must comply with the 2024 International Building Code, subject to statutory exclusions and permitted amendments.
    • The nonresidential rule does not apply to HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes, may not require fire sprinklers in a single-family dwelling, and does not apply to qualifying specialty resorts or vacation-home establishments constructed to Group R-3 requirements.
    • Where a local unit has not adopted a qualifying ordinance, the default 2024 International Building Code design standard applies to covered construction commenced after July 1, 2026, but the default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures.

    residential model code: 2024 International Residential Code (Municipal governing body authorization; no sprinkler requirement; no requirements more stringent than the code) · nonresidential model code: 2024 International Building Code (Statutory exclusions apply) · default nonresidential design-standard commencement: > 2026-07-01 (The default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures)

    “The governing body of a municipality may enact requirements for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of a residential structure by adopting the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code, as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated.”
    5 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Nonresidential building standards in a South Dakota local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance under SDCL 11-10-5, including potentially applicable areas of Dewey County.
      “any building commenced after July 1, 2026 [...] that has not adopted an ordinance [...] must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code”
    • Partial — Building-code standards applicable in Dewey County where a local unit has not adopted its own ordinance, for construction commenced after July 1, 2026.
      “must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code [...] do not apply to any residential structure”
    • Partial — Nonresidential construction in a South Dakota local unit of government that has not adopted its own qualifying building-code ordinance.
      “The design standard for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of any building commenced after July 1, 2026, within the boundaries of any local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing the standards pursuant to § 11-10-5, must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated.”
    • Partial — Statewide South Dakota building standards for construction and related work within a local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing standards under SDCL § 11-10-5.
      “The design standard [...] of any building commenced after July 1, 2026 [...] must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code”
    • Partial — South Dakota building-code standards for construction within local units of government, including unincorporated county areas.
      “The design standard for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of any building commenced after July 1, 2026, within the boundaries of any local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing the standards pursuant to § 11-10-5, must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated. [...] The provisions of this section do not apply to any residential structure as defined in § 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Plumbing installations in South Dakota outside cities that administer their own plumbing inspection requirements.

    • The exception is for cities with their own inspection requirements.
    • Inspection requests generally require at least 72 hours advance notice, excluding weekends and holidays.
    • Inspections occur after a plumbing installation certificate is secured.

    installation certificate fee: 20 USD · single-family inspection fee: 110 USD · small-structure inspection fee: 100 USD (Five or fewer fixtures.) · large-structure inspection fee: 275 USD (Six or more fixtures.)

    “You must have a plumbing inspection certificate for all plumbing installations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    State statutory allocation of authority for county lot-coverage controls.

    • A county board may adopt a zoning ordinance; SDCL 11-2-13 does not itself state a statewide maximum lot-coverage percentage.
    • Any actual lot-coverage limit depends on the county zoning ordinance adopted for the applicable area or district.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, or the general welfare of the county the board may adopt a zoning ordinance to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of the yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, flood plain, or other purposes.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes used as dwellings in South Dakota, regarding state construction preemption and the continued applicability of zoning.

    • The construction preemption applies only if the manufactured home complies with the applicable standards.
    • The State Fire Marshal may promulgate fire-safety rules under SDCL 13-25-1 and 13-25-2.
    • SDCL 34-34A-16 expressly does not apply to zoning or taxation; local zoning may therefore govern siting or occupancy.
    “The provisions of this section do not apply to zoning or taxation.”
  • Who permits septicState

    On-site wastewater systems in Dewey County, subject to potentially stricter local requirements.

    • South Dakota minimum requirements and standards apply statewide.
    • Local governments may impose more stringent regulations.
    • Conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence are excepted from the DANR prior-contact/review statement on the cited page.
    • Individual and small wastewater-system installers must be certified by the South Dakota Plumbing Commission.
    “The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State — On-site wastewater systems in Dewey County subject to South Dakota regulation.
      “The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2. The regulations are in the ARSD Articles 74:53:01. These regulations are the state’s minimum requirements and standards, but local governments may have more stringent regulations.”
    • State — Individual and small on-site wastewater systems statewide in South Dakota.
      “The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    New on-site wastewater (septic) systems in South Dakota; state DANR pre-installation contact/plan submission

    • State rules are minimum requirements; local governments may have more stringent regulations, typically found by contacting county government or local planning and zoning agency.
    • DANR contact not called for before installing conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence.
    • Plans and specifications must be submitted to DANR for any installation receiving human excreta other than a conventional individual onsite system, per ARSD 74:53:01:03.
    • Authority: SDCL chapter 34a-2; regulations in ARSD article 74:53:01.
    • Guide says nothing here about whether a local permit is required; this claim reflects only the DANR guide, not the ARSD text.
    “you should contact danr prior to the installation of any new on-site system except those conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — On-site wastewater installations receiving human excreta in Dewey County, except conventional individual on-site wastewater systems.
      “Plans and specifications for all installations which receive human excreta, other than a conventional individual on-site wastewater system, must be submitted to the secretary for review and approval prior to construction. Installation and operation of these systems shall be in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. A conventional individual on-site wastewater system may be designed and installed in accordance with this chapter without submission of project plans and specifications to the secretary for review and approval.”
    • Limited — New or modified on-site wastewater systems in Dewey County.
      “Plans and specifications must be submitted to DANR”
    • Limited — Installations receiving human excreta under South Dakota Administrative Rule 74:53:01:03.
      “submitted to the secretary for review and approval prior to construction.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Installation, equipment, and operation of on-site wastewater systems statewide.

    • The secretary or the secretary's authorized representative may inspect at any time; the rule authorizes inspection but does not make every installation inspection mandatory.
    “may be made at any time by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Inspection of on-site wastewater system installation, equipment, and operation in Dewey County.
      “Inspection of the installation, equipment, and operation of an on-site wastewater system may be made at any time by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sanitation systems in Dewey County where water or electrical service is unavailable.

    • Vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets, or composting units are required when water or electrical service is unavailable.
    • Except for vault privies, unconventional systems are experimental and require secretary approval before installation.
    “Vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets, or composting units shall be used when a water or electrical system is not available. With the exception of vault privies, all unconventional systems are considered experimental systems, and plans and specifications shall be submitted to the secretary for approval as an experimental system prior to installation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Well permitLimited

    Water-well drilling and proposed water uses statewide in South Dakota.

    • A water-right permit is required only for proposed water uses that fall within the permitting requirements; the official page directs applicants to the Using Water in SD page to determine whether a permit is needed.
    • When a water-right permit is required, state law requires approval before well drilling.
    • The chief engineer may permit construction of a test well before obtaining the water-right permit; the test well may serve as the production well if the application is approved.
    • A water-right permit, when required and approved, provides five years to construct the water-use system and an additional four years to place all water to beneficial use.
    • A well driller's license is required before drilling any well or contracting to drill a well.

    construction period after water-right permit approval: 5 years · period to place water to beneficial use: 4 years

    “If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Water-right permits and well drilling applicable to Dewey County.
      “Your proposed water use may require obtaining a water right permit. In order to determine whether you need a permit, please refer to the Using Water in SD web page. If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
    • Limited — Private wells serving property in Dewey County.
      “If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
    • Limited — Drilling a water well in South Dakota; a state water right permit is needed only for certain water uses, not for every well
      “if a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings with plumbing fixtures, under SDCL 9-48-53's municipal sewer-connection rule.

    • A public sewer system is available to a premises used for human occupancy when its property line is within 200 feet of the system.
    • The statute does not apply to municipalities of the first class.
    • The statute does not require a municipality to provide municipal service outside its boundaries.

    public sewer system availability distance: <= 200 feet (Measured from the property line of a premise used for human occupancy to the system.)

    “Each building in which plumbing fixtures are installed shall connect to a public water sewer system if available.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Farmsteads and accessory structures or buildings thereto under South Dakota's default construction-design standard when the local unit of government has not adopted an ordinance prescribing standards under SDCL 11-10-5.

    • The default standard applies to building work commenced after July 1, 2026.
    • The local unit of government may adopt an ordinance allowing local administration and enforcement of the design standard.
    • The exclusion is from SDCL 11-10-6's default 2024 International Building Code design standard; it does not establish that all local zoning, building, occupancy, or other requirements are waived.
    • The statute defines farmstead as a farm or ranch, including any structure or building located on the land.
    • Residential structures and mobile or manufactured homes are also excluded from this specific default-standard provision.

    construction commencement date: > 2026-07-01 (The provision applies to buildings commenced after July 1, 2026.) · building standard: 2024 International Building Code (The default standard does not apply to a farmstead or accessory structure or building thereto.)

    “farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
  • Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

    State default International Building Code design standard for buildings in local units of government that have not adopted their own building code ordinance; exclusion covers farmstead accessory structures and buildings

    • Applies only to the statewide default IBC standard under SDCL 11-10-6, which governs buildings within a local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance under SDCL 11-10-5.
    • The default standard applies only to a building commenced after July 1, 2026 (construction commenced on July 1, 2026 is not covered).
    • Exclusion covers any residential structure as defined in SDCL 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.
    • 'Farmstead' means a farm or ranch, including any structure or building located on the land.
    • Each local unit of government may adopt an ordinance allowing local administration and enforcement of the design standard; local ordinances under 11-10-5 are not displaced by this exclusion.
    • No statewide accessory-structure size threshold was found.

    default design standard: 2024 International Building Code (does not apply to residential structures, mobile/manufactured homes, or farmsteads and their accessory structures or buildings) · building commenced: > 2026-07-01 (applies only to buildings commenced after July 1, 2026)

    “the provisions of this section do not apply to any residential structure as defined in § 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto. for purposes of this section, "farmstead" means a farm or ranch, including any structure or building located on the land.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Farmstead accessory structures and accessory structures of one/two-family dwellings and townhouses, excluded from the default 2024 IBC design standard in local units without an adopted building code ordinance. This is NOT a floor-area building-permit exemption.
      “the provisions of this section do not apply to any residential structure as defined in § 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of a government subdivision or platted tract or lot, within or outside municipal corporate limits, into parcels for transfer when the parcels cannot be described except by metes and bounds.

    • The parcels must be platted into lots, numbered, and the plat recorded before any instrument of transfer may be recorded.
    • If an actual survey is necessary, the land must be surveyed and the plat recorded.
    • The requirement does not apply to parcels subject to a contract with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under the Conservation Reserve Program that are being transferred to or from the South Dakota Building Authority.
    “within or without the corporate limits of any municipality [...] he shall cause the parcels of land so divided to be platted into lots”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    New or modified driveways and intersections connecting to South Dakota state highways.

    • Permission from the South Dakota Department of Transportation is required for access to a state highway.
    • The application may require an access approach design, vicinity map, estimated traffic volumes, three copies of a site plan, traffic-control plan, liability insurance, development plan, drainage plan, traffic-impact study, and revegetation plan.
    • Construction cannot begin until the access permit is issued.
    • The permittee pays construction, maintenance, and removal costs.
    • The permit expires if access is not under construction within one year, subject to one written one-year extension.
    • Access construction must be completed within 45 days after initiation within the highway right-of-way.

    application review update threshold: 30 days (If the application is not completed within 30 days, a Department employee will contact the applicant with an update.) · construction completion period: 45 days (Measured from initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.)

    “Construction of the access shall not proceed until the access permit is issued. The access shall be completed in an expeditious and safe manner and shall be finished within 45 days from the initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in floodplains within South Dakota communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, including incorporated and unincorporated areas administered separately by local governments.

    • Participating communities must adopt and enforce a flood-damage-prevention ordinance.
    • Permits are required for all types of development in the floodplain.
    • New or substantially improved homes and manufactured homes must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation.
    • Non-residential buildings must be elevated or flood-proofed.
    • Elevation Certificates are required to document compliance.
    • NFIP participation and eligibility are established separately for incorporated and unincorporated areas; the source does not establish a single uniform permit process for every South Dakota location.
    “Require permits for all types of development in the floodplain.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    State electrical inspection fees for new single-family residential electrical services, including services in Dewey County.

    • Fees are based on service-equipment ampere capacity.
    • The up-to-200-ampere fee includes one rough-in inspection; the 200-to-400-ampere and over-400-ampere fees include two rough-in inspections.
    • Each installation includes one final inspection.
    • Additional inspection or reinspection needed to address corrections is assessed under 20:44:20:10.
    • This is a statewide electrical fee schedule and does not establish a Dewey County general-building-permit fee.

    new single-family residential electrical service inspection fee: <= 208 USD (Service equipment capacity up to 200 amperes; includes one rough-in inspection.) · new single-family residential electrical service inspection fee: 390 USD (Service equipment capacity more than 200 and up to 400 amperes; includes two rough-in inspections.) · new single-family residential electrical service inspection fee: > 390 plus circuits USD (Service equipment capacity more than 400 amperes; includes two rough-in inspections.)

    “Up to two hundred amperes, two hundred eight dollars”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — South Dakota state electrical wiring permits, including residential and farmstead wiring subject to state administration.
      “A wiring permit may be obtained for twenty dollars from the commission office. A wiring permit is valid for three years from the date the permit is issued.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    South Dakota state electrical wiring permits and inspections.

    • The installer must send the white permit copy to the Commission within 15 calendar days after starting the installation.
    • The permit hard copy must be posted at the job site when electrical work starts.
    • At least 72 hours' notice is required before inspection.
    • A rough-in inspection must occur before wiring is covered, and a final inspection is required before occupancy.
    • Homeowner permits are limited to qualifying owner-occupied residences or farmsteads and cannot be used for commercial or rental property.

    white permit copy submission deadline: 15 calendar days after starting installation · inspection notice: >= 72 hours

    “Within fifteen calendar days after starting an electrical installation, the installer shall send the white copy to the office of the commission.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    South Dakota county boards' authority to adopt zoning ordinances, including for unincorporated county land.

    • The authority is granted for promoting the health, safety, or general welfare of the county.
    • The statute authorizes regulation of building and land-use characteristics including height, number of stories, building and structure size, lot coverage, yards, courts, open spaces, population density, and locations and uses of buildings, structures, and land.
    • The authorized purposes expressly include trade, industry, residence, flood plain, and other purposes.
    • This claim identifies statewide enabling authority; whether a particular county has adopted an ordinance is a separate local question.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, or the general welfare of the county the board may adopt a zoning ordinance to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of the yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, flood plain, or other purposes.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    County authority to prescribe building standards and issue building permits for construction in South Dakota, including unincorporated areas.

    • Section 11-10-5 expressly addresses ordinances adopted by any local unit of government, and expressly provides for amendments to a county ordinance filed with the county auditor.
    • That provision concerns buildings other than residential structures as defined in § 11-10-12.
    • Section 11-10-12 expressly authorizes a municipality to enact residential-structure requirements using the 2024 International Residential Code, rather than expressly extending that authorization to counties.
    • A county, municipality, or township may not require permits for specified repairs or substantially similar replacements to existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure, except designated historical property repairs authorized under chapter 1-19B.
    • Construction under the default § 11-10-6 standard is subject to the residential, manufactured-home, farmstead, accessory-structure, and specialty-resort exclusions stated there.

    nonresidential code: 2024 International Building Code (County ordinances may amend, modify, or delete portions before enactment; HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes and specified Group R-3 specialty resorts or vacation home establishments are excluded; no single-family dwelling fire sprinkler may be required.) · permit exemption effective date: 2026 (Applies to listed repairs and substantially similar replacements of existing exterior parts.)

    “Additional deletions, modifications, and amendments to the county ordinance may be made by the governing body and are effective upon their adoption and filing with the county auditor. [...] Notwithstanding any authority granted to a county, municipality, or township to prescribe building codes or standards or to issue building permits, a county, municipality, or township may not require a building permit for the repair or substantially similar replacement of any of the following existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure:”

Set by your township or city, not the county

In South Dakota, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Dewey County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.

  • Zoning districts
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Short-term rentals

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in Dewey County.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning in Dewey County, including municipal, township, and unincorporated jurisdictions.

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.

Living off-grid in Dewey County, South Dakota

Is Dewey County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Dewey County scores 46/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 144 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (18.7″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

How much does land cost in Dewey County, South Dakota?

Land in Dewey County runs about $1,109 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Dewey County?

Dewey County gets about 18.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 14.7% of years.

How remote is Dewey County?

A representative private-land location has about 144 people within a 30-minute drive and 18,158 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Dewey compares in South Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 66 South Dakota counties ranked →