South Dakota Rental Laws

This article summarizes some key South Dakota landlord-tenant laws applicable to residential rental units.

The Official State Statutes and other reputable municipal sources were used to research this information. All sources are cited appropriately.

With that said, landlord-tenant laws are always changing, and may even vary from county to county. You have a responsibility to perform your own research and cautiously apply the laws to your unique situation.

If you have a legal question or concern, I only recommend contacting a licensed attorney referral service that is operated by the state bar association. This article is not intended to be exhaustive or a substitute for qualified legal advice.

Official Rules and Regulations

S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 43-32-1 to 43-32-30 – Lease of Real Property
S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 15-2-1 to 15-2-36 – Limitation of Actions
S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 21-16-1 to 21-16-12 – Forcible Entry and Detainer
Attorney General’s Consumer Handbook (Landlord-Tenant Issues on pages 45-55) (pdf)
Attorney General’s Guide to Landlord Tenant Disputes (pdf)

Security Deposit:

Security Deposit Maximum: One month’s rent, but a larger amount may be agreed to in the lease “where special conditions pose a danger to maintenance of the premises.” (§§ 43-32-6.1)
Security Deposit Interest: No statute
Separate Security Deposit Bank Account: No statute
Pet Deposits: No statute
Non-Refundable Fees: No statute
Deadline for Returning Security Deposit: Two weeks. A written statement of any withholdings must be given within two weeks, but the landlord has 45 days to provide an itemized list of damages, and the tenant must request it. (§§ 43-32-24)
Permitted Uses of the Deposit:
- To cover unpaid rent or other funds due under the lease;
- To restore the premises to the conditions at the start of the tenancy, except for ordinary wear and tear. (§§ 43-32-24)
Require Written Description/Itemized List of Damages and Charges: Required if requested, and the landlord has 45 days from the date of termination to provide it. (§§ 43-32-24)
Record Keeping of Deposit Withholdings: No statute
Receipt of Deposit: No statute
Failure to Comply: A landlord who fails to comply with §§ 43-32-24forfeits the right to withhold any portion of the deposit. Bad faith retention of any portion of a deposit, including failure to provide the written statement and itemized list of damages, subjects the landlord to punitive damages up to $200. (§§ 43-32-24)

Lease, Rent & Fees:

Rent Is Due: Rent is due monthly at the end of each month. (§§ 43-32-12)
Rent Increase Notice: 30-day written notice required. (§§ 43-32-13)
Rent Grace Period: No statute
Late Fees: No statute. Any provision for charging late fees must be specified in the lease.
Prepaid Rent: No statute
Returned Check Fees: $40. Statute requires notice of returned check fee policy to be conspicuously posted or provided in a written statement. (§§ 57A-3-421)
Tenant Allowed to Withhold Rent for Failure to Provide Essential Services (Water, Heat, etc.): Statute doesn’t specifically allow withholding rent for failure to provide essential services, but does allow for withholding rent when there are conditions that make the premises unfit for habitation, with written notice and giving the landlord reasonable time to remedy. (§§ 43-32-9)
Tenant Allowed to Repair and Deduct Rent: Yes. Tenant must first give written notice specifying conditions that require repair in order to make the premises fit for habitation. If the landlord doesn’t make the repair in a reasonable amount of time, the tenant can do the repair and deduct the cost from the rent. For repairs requiring more than one month’s rent, tenant may, after giving written notice specifying the reason, withhold the rent and instead deposit it in a separate bank account, and give the landlord written proof of each deposit. If the landlord does the repair, the tenant must release the withheld rent to the landlord. If the repair hasn’t been done, and enough money has been paid into the account for the repair to be done, the tenant may pay for the repair from the account. (§§ 43-32-9)
Landlord Allowed to Recover Court and Attorney Fees: No Statute
Landlord Must Make a Reasonable Attempt to Mitigate Damages to Lessee, including an Attempt to Rerent: No statute
Abandonment/Early Termination Fee: No statute

Notices and Entry:

Notice to Terminate Tenancy – Fixed End Date in Lease: Notice not required, as the lease simply terminates on the date agreed to in the lease. (§§ 43-32-22(1))
Notice to Terminate Tenancy – Yearly Lease with No End Date: Any rental agreement for a period longer than a year must be agreed to in writing. (§§ 43-32-5)
Notice to Terminate Tenancy – Month-to-Month Lease: 30-day written notice required. The tenant may give notice to terminate the lease effective the first day of the next month within 15 days of receiving notice from the landlord of a modification to the lease. Tenants at will who are active military servicemembers, and their immediate family, are entitled to two months’ written notice. See §§ 43-8-8 for restrictions. (§§ 43-32-13and §§ 43-8-8)
Notice to Terminate Tenancy – Week-to-Week Lease: If no end date is specified in the agreement, one-week notice required to terminate. (§§ 43-32-15)
Termination of Tenancy with 24 Hours Notice: Landlord may start eviction immediately without notice if the tenant “commits waste” upon the premises, or does or fails to do anything that is grounds for termination under the lease. (§§ 21-16-1(7))
Notice of Date/Time of Move-Out Inspection: No statute
Notice of Termination of Week-to-Week Leases for Nonpayment: For lease periods shorter than monthly, rent is due at the end of the period. Landlord can start eviction if rent is three days past due. (§§ 43-32-12 and §§ 21-16-1(4))
Notice of Termination of All Other Leases for Nonpayment: Landlord may start eviction if rent is three days past due. (§§ 21-16-1-(4))
Termination for Lease Violation: Landlord may terminate the lease before the end of the term if the the tenant allows the premises to be used in way that violates the lease, or if the tenant doesn’t make any requested repairs for which the tenant is responsible to make. (§§ 43-32-18)
Required Notice before Entry: Reasonable notice of at least 24 hours required in writing, specifying the reason for entry, the date or dates and time of entry during business hours, and providing the tenant an opportunity to reschedule. (§§ 43-32-32)
Entry Allowed with Notice for Maintenance and Repairs (non-emergency): Reasonable notice of at least 24 hours required in writing, specifying the reason for entry, the date or dates and time of entry during business hours, and providing the tenant an opportunity to reschedule. (§§ 43-32-32)
Entry Allowed with Notice for Showings: Reasonable notice of at least 24 hours required in writing, specifying the reason for entry, the date or dates and time of entry during business hours, and providing the tenant an opportunity to reschedule. (§§ 43-32-32)
Emergency Entry Allowed without Notice: Notice not required in cases of emergency. (§§ 43-32-32)
Entry Allowed During Tenant’s Extended Absence: No statute
Notice to Tenants for Pesticide Use: No statute
Lockouts Allowed: No (§§ 43-32-6)
Utility Shut-offs Allowed: No (§§ 43-32-6)

Disclosures and Miscellaneous Notes:

Name and Addresses: No statute
Copy of the Lease: No statute
Domestic Violence Situations: No statute. An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection (AARDVARC) provides contact information for South Dakota domestic violence advocates and support resources by county.
Landlord’s Duties: (§§ 43-32-8)
- Repairs and Habitability: Keep the premises and all common areas in reasonable repair and fit for human habitation and in good and safe working order, except when the disrepair was caused by tenant action or negligence.
- Maintenance: Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, or heating systems of the premises, except when the disrepair has been caused by tenant action or negligence.
Tenant’s Duties: (§§ 43-32-10)
- Preserve and Repair: Preserve the premises and appliances in good condition, and repair all damage caused by the tenant’s negligence or actions or that cause by anyone on the property under the tenant’s control.
Retaliation: Landlord must not terminate or refuse to renew a lease to a tenant who has filed an official complaint to a government agency, or has been involved in a tenant’s organization. Other actions are prohibited. Read §§ 43-32-27 and §§ 43-32-28 for more information.
Lead Disclosure: Landlords must disclose all known lead paint hazards. Landlords must also provide tenants, as an attachment to a written lease, with an information pamphlet on lead-based paint hazards.
Disclosure of Knowledge of Prior Manufacturing of Methamphetamine: If a landlord knows that the premises have been used to manufacture methamphetamine, they must disclose that knowledge to the tenant or prospective tenant. If the premises consist of two or more housing units, the disclosure requirement applies only to the unit where it is known that methamphetamine was manufactured. (§§ 43-32-30)
Abandoned Property: Any property left on the premises by the tenant of less than $500 in value for more than 10 days may be considered abandoned and disposed of by the landlord. If the value of property left on the premises is greater than $500, then the landlord must store if for up to 30 days, after which they may dispose of the the abandoned property. (§§ 43-32-25 and §§ 43-32-26)

Court Related:

South Dakota Small Claims Court
- Limits: $12,000. However, this limit may change from time to time, so the South Dakota Unified Judicial System suggests that the person seeking to file a small claim first verify with the clerk of the court the maximum amount that can be claimed. (§ 16-12C-13)
- Eviction Cases Allowed in Small Claims: No, eviction cases are heard in a circuit court or magistrate court presided over by a magistrate judge. (§ 21-16-3)
- Guide to Small Claims Court in South Dakota (pdf)
Statute of Limitations
- Written Contracts: 6 years (§§ 15-2-13(1))
- Oral Contracts: 6 years (§§ 15-2-13(1))
South Dakota Unified Judicial System
South Dakota Attorney General
State Bar of South Dakota Bar
Legal Aid:

Business Licenses:

Business License Required: No statewide statute, but local cities and counties may have regulations and requirements. Check with your local governing authority.