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

Alcester’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings and structures regulated by the zoning ordinance inside Alcester city

  • Separate permit for each building or structure, issued by the authorized official
  • Chapter 14 also provides for zoning permits

  “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, change, enlarge, improve, move, or otherwise physically alter any building or structure regulated by this ordinance or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate building permit for each building or structure from the authorized official.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Alcester city limits, Union County, SD

  • Ordinance No. 2018-01 effective August 15, 2018; amendments through Dec 20, 2023

  “the city of alcester is zoned and building permits are required.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Alcester city zoning districts (AG, R, PD, CB, HC, I) and 2024 zoning map

  “chapter 3. ag: agricultural district 7 3.01 purpose 7 3.02 permitted uses 7 3.03 conditional uses 7”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R Residential district, single-family detached dwelling, Alcester city

  • Front yard setback governed by notes #2 and #4 of the table, not extracted

  side yard setback: >= 7 ft · rear yard setback: >= 15 ft

  “single-family detached dwelling 7,500 sq. ft. 75 ft. see #2, #4 7 ft. 15 ft. 35 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R Residential district, single-family detached dwelling, Alcester city

  maximum height: <= 35 ft

  “single-family detached dwelling 7,500 sq. ft. 75 ft. see #2, #4 7 ft. 15 ft. 35 ft.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Alcester city

  • Must meet federal manufactured home construction and safety standards
  • Permanent foundation or tie-downs; skirting approved by authorized official
  • Which districts allow them outside licensed parks not extracted

  “each manufactured home shall be properly secured to the ground with either a permanent foundation extending no less than four (4) feet below grade or with tie downs installed as recommended by the manufacturer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Alcester city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Alcester city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Alcester city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Alcester city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Alcester 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.