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

Yes. Unincorporated Hanson County requires a zoning permit before erecting, moving, adding to or changing the use of a building or other structure¹. The permit must conform to the zoning ordinance unless the applicant has a written Board of Adjustment order for administrative review, a conditional use or a variance¹.

The reviewed county ordinance establishes zoning approval but does not identify an International Building Code edition or say that Hanson County adopted it as a building-code ordinance¹. For certain nonresidential work begun after July 1, 2026, South Dakota defaults to a standard based on the 2024 International Building Code where a local government has not adopted its own standards; residences, manufactured homes and farmsteads are excluded, and we could not confirm whether that default applies in Hanson County⁵. Ask the Zoning Administrator about code and inspection requirements⁶.

The Hanson County Zoning Administrator is the first call for the county zoning permit at 605-239-4445⁶. The application requires the owner of record's signature or written approval and a site plan showing the parcel and proposed work¹.

A project that does not meet the ordinance may require Board of Adjustment review, conditional-use approval or a variance¹. The permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days or has not been substantially completed within 2 years¹. The ordinance also requires a zoning-compliance application after completion or substantial completion, and fees must be paid before the county acts¹. Fee amounts, construction inspections and any certificate-of-occupancy requirement remain unconfirmed; ask the Zoning Administrator about costs and the full sequence before ordering materials⁶.

Yes. Hanson County zoning applies throughout unincorporated territory but not inside Alexandria, Emery or Fulton¹. The official map includes Agricultural, Residential, Rural Commercial, Industrial, Floodplain, Planned Unit Development and Manufactured Home Park districts¹. Agricultural single-family lots generally require at least 10 acres, while Residential lots for single- or two-family dwellings require at least 1 acre and 100 feet of width; stated exceptions may apply¹.

Agricultural yards generally require 75 feet in front and 50 feet at the rear and sides, while Residential yards require 30 feet in front, 25 feet at the rear and 7 feet at the sides¹. Agricultural coverage is capped at 10 percent and Residential coverage at 40 percent¹. Residential buildings generally may not exceed 35 feet, while Rural Commercial and Industrial structures generally may not exceed 75 feet¹. Confirm the mapped district before laying out a homesite⁶.

South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources sets the statewide minimum requirements for on-site wastewater systems, and local governments may impose stricter rules². DANR lists (605) 773-4647 for questions⁷. Contact DANR before installing a new system unless it is a conventional system serving an individual residence; other covered systems require plans and specifications, and works of sanitary significance require submission at least 30 days before construction².

Only 9.8% of Hanson County's mapped soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field⁸. Evaluate the actual homesite before fixing the house location or closing on land. We could not confirm a Hanson County septic-inspection rule. Unconventional sanitation may be used where water or electricity is unavailable, but systems other than vault privies are experimental and require state approval before installation⁹.

We could not confirm a Hanson County rule that specifically resolves long-term RV occupancy on private unincorporated land. Campground rules do not answer that question: an approved campground must use the conditional-use process and provide sanitary and water stations, toilets and refuse containers¹. Ask the Zoning Administrator how the parcel's district treats one RV used as housing⁶.

Manufactured homes are allowed in Residential districts when they meet the ordinance's performance and district standards¹. Outside an approved manufactured-home park, occupancy of a parked manufactured home is limited to 48 hours without a special permit; construction-related occupancy on land owned by the occupants may be permitted for up to 180 days and renewed once for up to another 180 days¹. We could not confirm a rule specific to tiny homes or a minimum dwelling floor area, so ask how the proposed unit will be classified before buying it⁶.

1. Call the Hanson County Zoning Administrator at 605-239-4445 to identify the parcel's district, allowed use and any need for Board of Adjustment action^1,6.
2. Lay out the home using the district's lot-size, setback, coverage and height limits¹.
3. Prepare the site plan, obtain owner approval and apply before construction or a change of use¹.
4. Evaluate the septic site and contact DANR when the proposal requires state review^2,7.
5. Check the flood map and obtain a county development permit before work in a special flood hazard area⁴.
6. Arrange applicable state electrical and plumbing permits, certificates and inspections^10,11.
7. Determine whether a state water-right permit is required before drilling a well, and obtain state permission for access to a state highway^12,13.

Confirm the zoning district before treating acreage as buildable. Agricultural home sites generally need 10 acres, Residential home sites need at least 1 acre and 100 feet of width, and district setbacks can consume a substantial part of a parcel¹. Land under 10 acres generally cannot be subdivided, transferred or recorded as separate parcels without a plat, subject to the ordinance's exemptions¹.

Check septic feasibility, flood exposure, legal access and water before closing. Only 9.8% of mapped soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field, and development in a special flood hazard area needs a county permit^4,8. A state water-right permit may be required before well drilling, and access onto a state highway requires state permission before construction^12,13. Farmland value averages about $5,155 per acre, while the median property-tax bill is about $1,973 per year; an individual parcel may differ⁸.