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

Beresford’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New development, change of use, moving structures in or out, and demolition inside Beresford city

  • Permit issued by the city's authorized official
  • Application completed by the landowner
  • Permit is not issued for uses that do not comply with the zoning regulations

  “shall occur without a building permit issued by the authorized official, or his or her authorized designee, of the city of beresford.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Beresford city limits

  • Jurisdiction covers all territory within the city boundaries on the official zoning map
  • Annexed land keeps its Lincoln or Union County zoning until changed by ordinance

  “these regulations shall be referred to as the zoning ordinance of the city of beresford”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Beresford city

  • Official zoning map (effective 8/2023) is posted on the city planning page
  • Districts: NRC, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, CB, GB, LI, HI

  “the city is hereby divided into the following districts: nrc r-1 r-2 r-3 r-4 cb gb li hi”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 single family residential district, single family detached dwelling

  • Minimum lot width 65 feet
  • Lot-of-record narrower than 65 feet may still have a residence (exception #1)

  minimum lot area: >= 7500 sq ft

  “single family detached 7,500 sq. ft. 65 feet see #1 25 feet see #4 7 feet 20 feet 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — NRC natural resource conservation district (agricultural/flood plain/conservation), all uses

    “all uses lot area lot width front yard side yard rear yard maximum height 1 acre 150 feet 50 feet 30 feet 30 feet 35 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 single family residential district, single family detached dwelling

  • Front yard is 25 feet subject to note #4
  • Yard adjustments in chapter 13 apply

  front yard: >= 25 feet (see note #4) · side yard: >= 7 feet · rear yard: >= 20 feet

  “single family detached 7,500 sq. ft. 65 feet see #1 25 feet see #4 7 feet 20 feet 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — NRC natural resource conservation district, all uses

    “all uses lot area lot width front yard side yard rear yard maximum height 1 acre 150 feet 50 feet 30 feet 30 feet 35 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 single family residential district

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “lot coverage shall not exceed 50% in r-1 districts.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 single family residential district, single family detached dwelling

  • Tiny houses and tiny houses on wheels in R-1 are limited to 13.5 feet

  maximum height: <= 35 feet

  “single family detached 7,500 sq. ft. 65 feet see #1 25 feet see #4 7 feet 20 feet 35 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — NRC natural resource conservation district, all uses

    “all uses lot area lot width front yard side yard rear yard maximum height 1 acre 150 feet 50 feet 30 feet 30 feet 35 feet”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny houses and tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) inside Beresford city

  • Conditional use in R-1 under 19.01 and standards in 12.15
  • Zoning has an R-4 tiny housing residential district; its use lists not reviewed
  • R-1 tiny house lot minimum 5,500 sq ft, width 50 feet, height 13.5 feet

  R-1 tiny house minimum lot area: >= 5500 sq ft · R-1 tiny house maximum height: <= 13.5 feet

  “tiny houses and tiny houses on wheels (thows) 5,500 50 feet 25 feet 7 feet 20 feet 13.5 feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes inside Beresford city

  • Must meet HUD construction and safety standards
  • Main roof pitch at least 1:4
  • Complete wood or masonry foundation enclosure
  • Corrugated sheet metal exterior walls prohibited
  • Zoning has an R-3 manufactured housing residential district; per-district use lists not fully reviewed

  minimum width of main body: >= 20 feet

  “the minimum width of the main body of the manufactured home as assembled on the site shall not be less than twenty (20) feet, as measured across the narrowest portion.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning and building permit fees inside Beresford city

  • Fee schedule is not in the ordinance; it is available from the city's authorized official
  • Fees are non-refundable and must be paid before any action on an application

  “a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses for permits, change of zone, appeals, and other matters pertaining to this ordinance shall be established by resolution of the city council.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit requests inside Beresford city

  • Application is picked up at City Hall
  • Planning and Zoning Commission meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers

  “they go through all building permit requests and discuss planning and zoning regulations within the city of beresford.”

Still unanswered

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

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