Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lake Norden, South Dakota

Lake Norden’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building/use permits under the zoning ordinance inside Lake Norden city

  • Permit issued by the city's administrative official only if the proposal complies with the zoning ordinance; denial may be appealed to the board of adjustment.
  • Application must include a site plan and the fee set by city council resolution.

  “the landowner requesting the building/use permit shall complete an application for a building permit, accompanied with the appropriate fee, available from the administration official.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Zoning compliance site checks inside Lake Norden city

  • Only a zoning-compliance site examination by the administrative official; no building-code inspection program found.

  “the administrative official will again examine the site after the completion of the foundation and rafters of the structure and will grant permission to proceed if complied with application.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land within Lake Norden city limits (Hamlin County)

  • Ordinance 320 replaces Ordinance 241; later amendments (331, 335, 342, 343, 345, 351) are listed on the city site but were not reviewed.

  “the following zone and use districts are hereby established for the purposes of administration and enforcement of this ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Lake Norden city: A, C1, FP, HC, I, R1, R2

  • Official zoning map is on file at the city finance officer's office.

  “the following zone and use districts are hereby established for the purposes of administration and enforcement of this ordinance.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R1 single-family residential district, inside Lake Norden city

  • Single-family 9,000 sq ft, 75 ft width; two-family 6,000 per unit, 140 ft width.
  • Existing lots of record may be built on despite lacking required area or width (Section 2.05).

  minimum lot area, single-family: >= 9000 square feet (nonconforming lots of record) · minimum lot width, single-family: >= 75 feet

  “minimum lot area minimum lot width 9,000 square feet 75' maximum height 35' 6,000 per unit 140' 35'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A agricultural district, inside Lake Norden city (annexed land defaults to A)

    “minimum lot area minimum lot width 43,560 square feet 150' maximum height 35' 75' 45'”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R1 single-family residential district, inside Lake Norden city

  • Accessory structures may be placed within 15 feet of an alley.
  • Board of adjustment may allow reduced side yards with a recorded easement (Section 2.05.06).

  minimum front yard: >= 25 feet · minimum rear yard: >= 20 feet · minimum side yard: >= 7 feet (board of adjustment may reduce)

  “minimum front yard* minimum rear yard minimum side yard 25' 20' 7' symbol”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A agricultural district, inside Lake Norden city

    “minimum front yard minimum rear yard minimum side yard maximum lot coverage 75' 50' 30' 10%”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  A agricultural district, inside Lake Norden city

  • Table lists 10% for permitted and conditional uses; conditional uses determined by board of adjustment.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 10 percent

  “minimum front yard minimum rear yard minimum side yard maximum lot coverage 75' 50' 30' 10% to be determined by the board of adjustment 10%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R1 single-family residential district, inside Lake Norden city

    “maximum percent lot coverage 30% 30% figure 2.05.05.1”

• Building heightSpecified

  A agricultural district, inside Lake Norden city

  • Towers or steeples 75 ft; principal building associated with a tower 45 ft.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (towers/steeples 75 ft)

  “minimum lot area minimum lot width 43,560 square feet 150' maximum height 35' 75' 45'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R1 single-family residential district, inside Lake Norden city

    “*maximum height for steeples and towers shall be seventy-five (75) feet”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building/use permit application inside Lake Norden city

  • Application with site plan and fee to the administrative official; permit posted on premises during construction; denial appealable to board of adjustment.

  “building permits shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the premises and visible from a public right-of-way at all times from the beginning until completion of such construction, alteration, or repair.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lake Norden or Hamlin County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Lake Norden city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Lake Norden city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Lake Norden city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Lake Norden city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Lake Norden 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.