Bolthole Index

Jones County, South Dakota

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

50Index Score / 100
#25 of 66 in South Dakota

Jones County, South Dakota appears not to require a county building permit in unincorporated areas, but an official county statement confirming that practice could not be found; ask the Jones County Auditor before building1. County zoning likewise appears absent but remains worth confirming for a specific parcel2. On-site wastewater systems are regulated by South Dakota rather than a Jones County septic office3.

At a glance

Building permit
Appears not required in unincorporated areas; confirm with the County Auditor1
Zoning
Appears absent at county level; parcel-level rules remain unconfirmed2
Septic
Regulated by South Dakota DANR3
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the County Auditor before occupying an RV2
Tiny home
Not confirmed; ask about placement and occupancy before buying2
Owner-builder electrical work
Allowed for a qualifying owner-occupied home or farmstead with a homeowner permit4
Minimum home size
Could not be confirmed; ask the County Auditor2

Who to call

Also useful

Jones County Auditor's Office

Starting contact for county administration and for confirming local building, zoning, access, subdivision and floodplain requirements.

(605) 669-7100

310 Main St Murdo, SD 57559

Septic permits

South Dakota DANR On-Site Wastewater Program

South Dakota requirements for on-site wastewater systems and septic installation plans.

605-773-5559

[email protected]

523 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Jones County appears not to require a county building permit for residential construction, but the County Auditor should confirm the current practice before work begins1. We could not confirm a general county building-inspection process or certificate-of-occupancy rule, so ask the same office about both when describing the exact parcel and project5. Separate state requirements still matter even if no general county building permit applies: electrical work requires the applicable permit and inspections, and plumbing installations outside cities that run their own inspection systems require a state inspection certificate67. South Dakota's default construction-design provision also does not settle residential permitting because residential structures, manufactured homes, farmsteads and farmstead accessory buildings are excluded from that particular statewide fallback standard8.

Who handles building and permit questions in Jones County?

Jones County does not have a verified building-department contact in the available local office listing, so the practical starting point is the Jones County Auditor's Office at the courthouse in Murdo5. Ask the Auditor to confirm whether a county building permit, inspection, certificate of occupancy, subdivision approval, county-road approach approval or floodplain review applies to the parcel5. State agencies handle several permits that can arise during a build: the South Dakota Electrical Commission administers qualifying homeowner wiring permits and inspections9, while the state plumbing program requires an installation certificate and inspection outside cities with their own inspection requirements7. A driveway connecting to a state highway needs South Dakota Department of Transportation permission before access construction begins10.

Does Jones County have zoning?

Jones County appears to have no county zoning ordinance, but no current text-based official county statement was found to confirm that conclusion2. South Dakota law allows a county board to regulate land use, building height, lot coverage, yards and population density through zoning, so statewide authority alone cannot answer what applies to a Jones County parcel11. Ask the County Auditor whether the parcel is inside unincorporated Jones County and whether any current county, municipal, subdivision or deed restriction controls setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, accessory dwellings or building height5. Do not assume that an apparently absent county zoning ordinance makes every use unrestricted: the county's rules for subdivision, floodplain development and county-road access also could not be confirmed from an official local source5.

How do septic permits work in Jones County?

On-site wastewater systems in Jones County follow South Dakota rules administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources3. Systems serving places without public wastewater service and constructed after February 28, 1975 must comply with the state's on-site wastewater chapter12. DANR or an authorized representative may inspect a system's installation, equipment and operation, although the rule does not promise a routine inspection of every system13. A new on-site system cannot be used where qualifying public wastewater service is available, including when the state rule's municipal-or-district and service-request conditions are met and a sewer line is within 400 feet14. Site evaluation matters here because only about 2.5% of Jones County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field15. Contact DANR about installation-plan requirements before finalizing the house site16.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Jones County?

We could not confirm a Jones County rule allowing, limiting or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy on private land, so ask the County Auditor before using an RV as a residence5. Tiny-home placement and occupancy, manufactured-home placement, temporary camping and accessory dwellings are likewise unconfirmed for unincorporated Jones County2. An apparent lack of county zoning is not enough to prove those uses are unrestricted2. Any wastewater arrangement still has to fit South Dakota's sanitation rules: where water or electrical service is unavailable, the allowed alternatives include vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets or composting units, and non-vault unconventional systems need advance state approval as experimental systems17. A vacation home operated as short-term lodging requires a South Dakota lodging-establishment license and inspection18.

Building a home in Jones County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm that the parcel is in unincorporated Jones County, then ask the County Auditor about building, zoning, subdivision, floodplain and county-road requirements5.
  2. Have the site evaluated for wastewater suitability and discuss the proposed on-site system with South Dakota DANR before fixing the house location1216.
  3. Arrange the applicable state electrical permit and inspections; a qualifying owner-occupant may personally wire a residence or farmstead but must obtain an approved homeowner permit before beginning9.
  4. Secure the plumbing installation certificate and inspection required outside cities that administer their own plumbing inspections7.
  5. Obtain state-highway access permission before building a driveway onto a South Dakota highway10.
  6. Obtain construction-stormwater coverage if the project disturbs one acre or more19.
  7. Schedule the required final electrical inspection before occupancy6.

What should you check before buying land in Jones County?

Start with wastewater feasibility: only about 2.5% of Jones County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation part of the purchase decision15. Water planning also deserves attention because annual precipitation averages about 19.9 inches and severe drought has occurred in about 11.7% of years2021. A water-right permit, when required, must be approved before well drilling begins22. Access needs separate confirmation because a state-highway approach requires state permission, while Jones County's county-road permit practice could not be confirmed105. Jones County is very lightly settled at about 0.9 person per square mile, and the nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 201 miles from the county center, so price travel for contractors, materials and services into the project2324.

Watch-outs

  • Jones County's building-permit and zoning practices are not confirmed by a current official county statement; ask the County Auditor before relying on either answer125.
  • RV, tiny-home, manufactured-home, temporary-camping and accessory-dwelling rules remain unconfirmed for unincorporated Jones County2.
  • A parcel near public sewer may have to connect rather than use an on-site wastewater system when the state rule's availability conditions are met14.

Sources

  1. Jones County Government Offices (Murdo, SD) (2026 county census)
  2. Jones County Government Offices (Murdo, SD) (2026 county census)
  3. SD DANR Septic Tank Systems (2026 county census)
  4. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (2026 county census)
  5. Jones County Auditor's Office (murdosd.com)
  6. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. South Dakota Plumbing Commission - Inspections (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 11-10: Building Codes and Standards (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Instructions: Applying for permission for driveway or intersection on a South Dakota state highway (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. 2000 Session Laws Chapter 69 — Planning and zoning statutes revised (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. South Dakota Feedlot Permit Program - Septic Tank Systems, quoted and re-checked
  13. Rule 74:53 Water Supply and Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  14. Rule 74:53 Water Supply and Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. South Dakota DANR On-Site Wastewater Program (danr.sd.gov)
  17. Rule 74:53 Water Supply and Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  18. Lodging Licensure and Codes, quoted and re-checked
  19. Stormwater Permit for Construction Activities, quoted and re-checked
  20. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  22. South Dakota Water Rights — Drilling a Well (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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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County locator

Jones County in South Dakota

50
County map
Jones County highlighted among the South Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Jones County scores

Seclusion89100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency18100% ev.
Admin Boringness86100% ev.
Durability38100% ev.
Property Autonomy67100% ev.
Carry Cost8394% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$117kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$1,596Land / acre
19.9"Annual rain
11.7% of yrsSevere drought
23.9 / yr (+15.4)Mid-century 100°F days
23.3 daysMid-century dry spell
1.25" (+5.6%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.4×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
27,502People within 2 hr
915Radius comparison (15 mi)
0.9People / sq mi
3.8%Federal land
85.8%Land at 15% slope or less
2.5%Septic soil without severe limits
15,428 acWorkable land screen
0.9%Wooded land
26.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
47.7°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Jones County

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

Jones County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    South Dakota is a local-option state for building codes and Jones County (pop. ~917) lists no building/planning department among its offices, so no county building permit is enforced in unincorporated areas.

    Jones County Government Offices (Murdo, SD) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Jones County's listed government offices include no planning or zoning department, and county zoning is optional under SDCL 11-2, indicating no county zoning ordinance in this least-populous SD county.

    Jones County Government Offices (Murdo, SD) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

South Dakota rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An individual owner personally installing electrical wiring and fixtures in a residence or farmstead owned and resided in by that individual.

    • The exemption is from electrical licensure requirements, not from permitting or inspection.
    • An approved homeowner permit must be obtained before electrical work begins.
    • The exemption does not apply to commercial or rental property.
    • Mobile-home and modular-home installations are allowed only when the unit is on an owner-occupied lot at the time of installation; otherwise a licensed South Dakota electrical contractor is required.
    • A final inspection is required before occupancy.
    “an "owner's exemption" as an exemption from licensure requirements”
  • 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
  • Who permits septicState

    Individual and small on-site wastewater systems statewide in South Dakota.

    • The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources secretary or authorized representative administers the state on-site wastewater requirements.
    • The state rules are minimum requirements; local governments may impose more stringent requirements, according to the DANR permitting guide.
    “The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • State — On-site wastewater systems in Jones County, including premises where public wastewater collection and treatment systems are unavailable.
      “All on-site wastewater systems designed for the reception and treatment of wastewater from premises including but not limited to homes, trailer courts, commercial establishments, businesses, parks, and institutions where public wastewater collection and treatment systems are not available, constructed after February 28, 1975, shall be constructed, added to, and altered in accordance with this chapter.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Installation, equipment, and operation of on-site wastewater systems in Jones County.

    • Inspection is authorized at any time by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative; the rule does not state that every system receives a mandatory routine inspection.
    “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

    Sanitation systems at premises in Jones County where water or electrical service is unavailable.

    • Vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets, or composting units shall be used when a water or electrical system is unavailable.
    • Except for vault privies, unconventional systems are experimental and require plans and specifications submitted to the secretary for approval before installation.
    • Unconventional systems must be sized, installed, operated, and maintained according to manufacturer specifications; waste must be disposed of in vault privies, holding tanks, or according to ARSD 74:53:01:41.
    • Cesspools and pit privies are prohibited as specified by ARSD 74:53:01:18.
    • No wastewater may be deposited on the ground surface or allowed to enter state waters, subject to the stated graywater exception.
    “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.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Premises in Jones County served or potentially served by a public wastewater system.

    • An on-site wastewater system may not be constructed, installed, or operated where a public wastewater system is available.
    • Availability exists when the structure or wastewater system is within a municipality or sanitary district, the public entity's sewer collection system is within 400 feet, and the municipality or sanitary district requests to provide service.
    • The rule addresses when connection to public sewer supersedes on-site wastewater; it does not establish that public sewer service exists at any particular Jones County parcel.

    sewer collection system distance: <= 400 feet (Availability also requires the other conditions in ARSD 74:53:01:07.)

    “No person may construct, install, or operate an on-site wastewater system where a public wastewater system is available. A public wastewater system is considered available to premises under the following circumstances:”
  • 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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • 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.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Vacation-home and similar short-term lodging operations in Jones County.

    • A South Dakota lodging establishment license is required for a vacation home.
    • The applicant must complete the online application and submit the correct fee.
    • The Regional Advisor reviews the application and schedules an inspection.
    • The Department of Health conducts an on-site inspection for compliance with South Dakota administrative rules, including ARSD 44:02:08 for vacation homes.
    • Steps 1 through 3 must be completed before issuance of a lodging license.
    “Get a lodging establishment license for a bed and breakfast, specialty resort, hotel, or vacation home with these four steps.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction projects in Jones County, including residential, commercial, industrial, clearing, grading, excavation, road, and access-road work, when the total disturbed area is one or more acres.

    • Coverage is required when construction activities disturb one or more acres.
    • The Notice of Intent must include the first year's stormwater fee.
    • Fees are based on project acreage: under 5 acres, 5 to under 40 acres, 40 to under 80 acres, and 80 acres or more.
    • There is a 2.5% credit-card charge and a 0.75% eCheck charge.

    project area: <5 acres (first-year stormwater fee is $100) · project area: 5 to <40 acres (first-year stormwater fee is $250) · project area: 40 to <80 acres (first-year stormwater fee is $500) · project area: 80+ acres (first-year stormwater fee is $750)

    “NOIs must also include the first year's stormwater fee, billed to the owner of the project, as follows: Construction Stormwater Fees <5 acres | $100 5 to < 40 acres | $250 40 to < 80 acres | $500 80+ acres | $750”
    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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building code adopted — County-level building-code adoption applicable in Jones County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements for buildings in Jones County, including unincorporated areas.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning within Jones County, including any municipal or other local zoning ordinances.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts applicable in Jones County, including unincorporated areas and incorporated municipalities.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Jones County, including unincorporated areas.
10 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Subdividing land

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 Jones County, South Dakota

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

Jones County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 915 people within 15 miles and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property. Watch-outs: thin water margin (19.9″/yr rainfall) and elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure.

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

Jones County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources (DANR). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

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

Land in Jones County runs about $1,596 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Jones County?

Jones County gets about 19.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 11.7% of years.

How remote is Jones County?

A typical private-land location has about 915 people within 15 miles and 105,406 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Jones County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Jones compares in South Dakota

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