Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Bowdle, South Dakota

Bowdle’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Bowdle city limits

  • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft (zoning setbacks still apply), fences not over 7 ft, retaining walls not over 4 ft, sidewalks and driveways, finish work, and other listed items
  • Permit expires if work not completed within the time stated, not to exceed one year
  • Electrical and plumbing permits are obtained separately through the State

  accessory structure exemption: <= 200 sq ft (one-story detached; setbacks still apply)

  “any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, move, or change the occupancy of a building or structure shall first make application to the city of bowdle and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Bowdle city limits

  • IRC chapters 1-10, 12-24 and 44 only
  • Local amendments for climatic and geographic design criteria (ground snow load 40, wind 115 mph, frost depth 42 in.)
  • Electrical and plumbing codes are regulated by the State of South Dakota per the permit application

  ground snow load: 40 psf · wind speed: 115 mph

  “the common council hereby adopts the 2021 international residential code for one- and two-family dwellings, chapters 1-10 and 12-24 and 44 and the 2021 international building code as published by the international code council.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Bowdle city limits

  • Applicant is responsible for calling for inspections
  • Electrical and plumbing inspected by state inspectors

  “i am responsible for calling for all required inspections and that work shall be accessible for inspection.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Bowdle city limits

  • Zoning is administered by the planning and zoning commission (mayor and city council) which also acts as board of adjustment
  • Variances, special exceptions and conditional use permits available through the board of adjustment

  “the zoning board reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, regarding the current and future development of the city of bowdle.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Bowdle city

  • Districts include class A residence, class B multiple dwelling, commercial, industrial and a no-use (NU) status for newly annexed land
  • Map is a PDF on the city zoning page

  “the city of bowdle is hereby divided into use districts, of which there shall be five (5) classifications known as follows: a) b) c) d) e) residence district multiple dwelling district commercial district industrial district no use district”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Class A residence district (residence districts generally) inside Bowdle city

  • Multiple-dwelling districts: front setback 15 ft
  • Corner lots: rear yard 20 ft; rear yard adjusted by lot depth over/under 100 ft, never less than 10 ft
  • Established building-line averaging and corner-lot reductions apply
  • No side yards required in commercial or industrial districts

  front setback: >= 25 ft (15 ft in multiple-dwelling districts) · rear yard interior lot: >= 25 ft (20 ft corner lot) · side yard: >= 5 ft

  “no building shall be so erected or altered in any residence district as to place its front wall or setback less than twenty-five (25) feet from the street line, and no building shall be erected or altered, in any multipledwelling residence district as to place its front wall or setback less than fifteen (15) feet from the street line”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Type II manufactured homes on individual lots inside Bowdle city (section 11-1903)

  • Must comply with city ordinances and building codes applicable to private dwellings
  • Minimum two off-street parking spaces
  • Type II homes: two or more sections, at least 20 ft wide, running gear and hitch removed, anchored to foundation and permanent footing
  • Yard setbacks per 11-401, 11-501, 11-601
  • Manufactured home parks separately licensed (11-1902)

  minimum width Type II: >= 20 ft

  “all yards must meet the setback requirements for residential districts as outlined in ordinances 11-401, 11-501 and 11-601.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Cesspools and privies inside Bowdle city limits

  • Cesspools only where city sewage system is not available, by permit from zoning board of adjustment or city council
  • Outdoor water closets and privy vaults prohibited

  “the construction of cesspools are prohibited within the city of bowdle, except where the city sewage system is not available; then a permit may be issued for the construction of cesspools upon proper application to the zoning board of adjustment or the city council.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats and subdivisions inside Bowdle city

  • Reviewed by the zoning board (planning and zoning commission)

  “the zoning board reviews proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans and plat applications, regarding the current and future development of the city of bowdle.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Bowdle city

  • Application form with site survey/plan, foundation and framing detail, drainage review, floor plan and elevations
  • Excavation permit and variance applications where applicable
  • Permits expire within a time frame not exceeding one year

  “said time frame shall not exceed one (1) year (4-3-4).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Bowdle or Edmunds County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Bowdle city
• Certificate of occupancy — Bowdle city
• Minimum dwelling size — Bowdle city
• Minimum lot size — Bowdle city residence district
• Lot coverage — Bowdle city

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.