State guide
South Dakota
South Dakota sets statewide minimum onsite-wastewater standards through the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, but local governments may impose stricter rules and are often the day-to-day permit counter for rural homes. DANR says you generally contact the state before installing any new onsite system except a conventional individual residence system, while counties commonly require their own septic permit or building-permit clearance.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- South Dakota regulates onsite wastewater through the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for state standards and reviews, while counties or local planning/zoning offices commonly handle stricter local permitting for rural lots.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- I did not find a statewide licensed soil-evaluator list; official county pages I found require percolation results or septic designs from a South Dakota certified wastewater installer or a registered professional engineer, depending on county rules.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- State fee
- $50 application fee for the state individual and small on-site wastewater system installer license; statewide septic permit fee varies or is handled locally on the official pages I found.
Official resources in South Dakota
State septic information page with rules, checklist, and DANR contacts.
Explains state versus local oversight for onsite systems and when DANR review is required.
Official state list page for licensed small onsite wastewater installers.
State licensing page for individual and small onsite wastewater system installers.
Current administrative rules for individual and small onsite wastewater systems.
Key facts for South Dakota
- DANR says its rules are statewide minimum standards and local governments may have more stringent requirements.
- DANR says state review is needed before installing any new onsite system except a conventional individual residence system.
- All persons installing individual and small wastewater systems must be certified by the South Dakota Plumbing Commission.
- The Plumbing Commission publishes a statewide list of small onsite wastewater installers.
- The Plumbing Commission’s onsite wastewater installer application fee is $50.
- Rule 74:53:01:03 says nonconventional installations receiving human excreta must be submitted to the secretary for review and approval before construction.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in South Dakota
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota DANR Livestock Services Program Hughes County | Pierre | (605) 773-4647 | State contact for onsite system review questions and septic tank installation information. |
| South Dakota Plumbing Commission Hughes County | Pierre | 605.773.3429 | Licenses individual and small onsite wastewater system installers and publishes the statewide installer list. |
| Minnehaha County Planning & Zoning Minnehaha County | Sioux Falls | Not published* | Rural Minnehaha septic permits are required for installation or repair, and permits can only be issued to certified septic installers. |
| Lawrence County Planning & Zoning Lawrence County | Deadwood | Not published* | County septic permit page says all systems must be designed by a Professional Engineer and installed by a State Licensed Installer. |
| Custer County Planning Department Custer County | Custer | (605) 673-8174 | Issues wastewater permits; published process requires percolation test results performed by a South Dakota state certified wastewater installer. |
| Pennington County Planning Department Pennington County | Rapid City | (605) 394-2186 | County planning office regulates onsite wastewater systems and provides OSWTS construction-permit and percolation-test forms. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- First ask your county planning or zoning office whether it issues the septic permit for your parcel, then confirm whether DANR review is also needed.
- Use the Plumbing Commission’s installer list before hiring anyone to build, repair, or upgrade a system.
- If your project is not a conventional single-residence system, contact DANR before finalizing plans.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from South Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- North Central District Health Department, Environmental Health, Nebraska · about 107 miles
- Central Valley Health District - On-Site Sewage Treatment System Program, North Dakota · about 200 miles
- Otter Tail County Land & Resource Management - Septic Permit Applications, Minnesota · about 208 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DANR On-Site Wastewater Systems
Website →Phone: (605) 773-5559 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the South Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.