South Dakota Laws
126 articles · page 2 of 3
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South Dakota Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules
South Dakota jurors get $50 a day plus mileage, or $10 if not impaneled. People 80 and older may ask to be excused, and employers may not fire you for serving.
South Dakota Knife Laws (2026): No General Carry Restriction
South Dakota has no standalone knife-carry ban; knives are reached only through a general weapon definition used in courthouse, school, and felony statutes.
South Dakota Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights
South Dakota security deposit cap is 1 month's rent (2 with a pet). Landlords have 14 or 45 days to return it. 24-hour entry notice required. Full 2026 guide.
South Dakota Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws
Learn South Dakota landlord-tenant recording laws. Tenants can record landlord conversations under one-party consent. Camera rules, entry notice, and evidence guide.
South Dakota Laws on Recording in Public
Learn South Dakota public recording laws. No restrictions on filming in public. Open Meetings Law protects recording government proceedings. First Amendment rights explained.
South Dakota Laws on Recording Police
Learn your rights to record police in South Dakota. First Amendment protections, one-party consent rules, body camera access, and what to do if your rights are violated.
South Dakota Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund
South Dakota's lemon law (SDCL 32-6D) covers new vehicles with 4+ repair attempts or 30 days out of service. Learn the rights period, refund formula, and how to file.
South Dakota License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
South Dakota has no plate reader statute. What we searched, records and tracking rules, the AG 2027 proposal, and Sioux Falls.
South Dakota Marriage & Divorce Records: How to Get a Copy (2026)
South Dakota vital records are not open for public inspection. Learn who may order a marriage or divorce certificate, the $15 fee, and who holds decrees.
South Dakota Marriage License Requirements 2026: $40 Fee, No Wait
How to get a South Dakota marriage license in 2026: the $40 statewide fee, ID rules, no waiting period, 90-day validity, 2026 rules for minors and officiants.
South Dakota Medical Recording Laws
Learn South Dakota medical recording laws. Patients can record doctor visits under one-party consent. HIPAA does not restrict patient recording. Evidence and telehealth rules.
South Dakota Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
South Dakota medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.
South Dakota Minimum Wage 2026: $11.85 Per Hour, $12.30 in 2027
South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 per hour in 2026 and adjusts each year with inflation. It rises to $12.30 on January 1, 2027. See tipped pay and how to file.
South Dakota Motorcycle Accident Laws (2026): Deadlines
South Dakota motorcycle accident law: the 3-year deadline to sue, the unique slight/gross comparative fault rule, the under-18 helmet law, and lane splitting.
South Dakota Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
How to legally change your name in South Dakota: the circuit court petition under SDCL ch. 21-37, the four-week publication rule, and marriage-license changes.
South Dakota Noise Laws (2026): Quiet Hours, Ordinances, Penalties
South Dakota leaves quiet hours to cities and counties. See when unreasonable noise is disorderly conduct, the Class 2 penalty, and muffler and horn rules.
South Dakota Non-Compete Laws (2026): Are Non-Competes Enforceable?
South Dakota voids non-competes except as SDCL 53-9-11 allows: up to two years after the agreement ends. Health-care practitioner rules and 2026 changes explained.
South Dakota Nursing Home Camera Laws: Video Monitoring Rights
South Dakota's S.D.C.L. chapter 34-12I lets nursing facility and assisted living residents install a video monitoring device, but separately makes audio monitoring a class 1 misdemeanor.
South Dakota Open Container Law (2026): SDCL 35-1-9.1 Explained
South Dakota bans drinking or possessing an open container in a vehicle for any occupant under SDCL 35-1-9.1. Read the rule, exemptions, and penalty class.
South Dakota Pepper Spray and Stun Gun Laws (2026)
South Dakota has no possession ban for either device. A 2025 campus-protection law and 2024 officer-disarming felony both come with real conditions.
South Dakota Phone Call Recording Laws
Learn South Dakota phone call recording laws under SDCL 23A-35A-20. One-party consent rules, interstate call recording, and business call recording explained.
South Dakota Police Body Camera Laws: No Mandate, No Access Rule
South Dakota has no bodycam statute. Agencies decide for themselves whether to use cameras, and SDCL 1-27-1.5(5) lets them keep the footage closed.
South Dakota Police Report: How to Get a Crash Report, Incident Report, or Body Camera Footage
How to get a South Dakota crash report through safesd.gov, request a local incident report, and what SDCL 32-34-13 says about confidentiality.
South Dakota Pornography Laws (2026): No State Obscenity Statute
South Dakota has no state obscenity law; regulation is local-option. AV law: criminal and AG civil penalties. CSAM penalties carry 1-10yr mandatory minimums.
South Dakota Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)
South Dakota power of attorney laws explained: SDCL ch. 59-12 (Uniform Power of Attorney Act, eff. July 1, 2020) requires express durability language and notarization; health care POA under SDCL 59-7-2.1 requires two witnesses or a notary; living will under SDCL ch. 34-12D.
South Dakota Prenuptial Agreement Laws: UPAA Rules and Enforcement
South Dakota prenups fall under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, SDCL 25-2-16 to 25-2-25. See the writing rule and when courts refuse enforcement.
South Dakota Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
South Dakota probate runs through Circuit Court under a full UPC model. Learn intestate succession, the $100,000 small estate threshold, and estate tax rules.
South Dakota Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
South Dakota's Register of Deeds fees are set by state law, but there's no statewide index. Learn how to search South Dakota property records and find an owner.
South Dakota Public Records Law: How to Request Records (SDCL 1-27)
South Dakota public records requests explained: the 10 business day deadline and deemed denial rule under SDCL 1-27-37, and hearing examiner review.
South Dakota Punitive Damages Laws: Proof, Hearing and Limits (2026)
South Dakota allows punitive damages under SDCL 21-3-2 after a judge finds a reasonable basis by clear and convincing evidence; there is no general cap.
South Dakota Quitclaim Deed: Requirements, Recording and Fees
How a South Dakota quitclaim deed works: the SDCL 43-25-7 form and implied covenants, homestead spouse signatures, recording and the transfer fee.
South Dakota Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Racing
South Dakota reckless driving (SDCL 32-24-1) is a Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 1 year and $2,000, 8 points. Careless driving, racing and street takeovers.
South Dakota Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules
South Dakota is a one-party consent state under SDCL 23A-35A-20. Illegal recording is a Class 5 felony (5 years, $10,000). Learn the rules, penalties, and police-recording limits.
South Dakota Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protection Order
Learn how to get a Protection Order in South Dakota. Covers who qualifies, temporary vs. final order lengths, firearms rules, and violation penalties under SDCL Ch. 25-10.
South Dakota Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
Learn South Dakota Ring doorbell laws, including one-party consent rules, video surveillance limits, penalties for illegal recording, and HOA guidelines.
South Dakota Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Right to Sue (2026)
South Dakota scam victims harmed by a knowing sales deception can sue for actual damages only, no fees. Where to report, crypto ATM refunds, elder protections.
South Dakota School Recording Laws
Learn South Dakota school recording laws. Student and parent recording rights, school camera rules, IEP meeting recording, FERPA, and school board meeting recording.
South Dakota Security Camera Laws
Learn South Dakota security camera laws under SDCL 22-21-1. Residential and business camera rules, audio recording restrictions, and neighbor privacy explained.
South Dakota Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine (2026)
South Dakota is a stand-your-ground state under SDCL 22-18-4 (HB 1212, 2021). No duty to retreat anywhere lawfully present. Criminal and civil immunity under SDCL 22-18-4.1 and 22-18-4.8.
South Dakota Severance Pay Laws (2026): Is Severance Required?
South Dakota does not require severance and has no state WARN act, but severance reduces unemployment benefits. Learn the wage, layoff and release rules in SD.
South Dakota Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Understand South Dakota's sexting laws: criminal penalties for adults and minors, revenge porn laws, and defenses available under South Dakota law.
South Dakota Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability
South Dakota slip and fall laws explained: slight/gross negligence rule, open-and-obvious duty bar, ice/snow duty, 3-year SOL, 180-day government notice deadline.
South Dakota Small Claims Court: $12,000 Limit, Fees, How to File
South Dakota small claims cases are capped at $12,000 under SDCL 16-12B-13. See 2026 filing fees, how notice is served, why there is no appeal, and how to collect.
South Dakota Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit and 30-Day Wait
South Dakota lets heirs collect up to $100,000 by affidavit 30 days after death (SDCL 29A-3-1201). Real estate has a $50,000, 60-day affidavit.
South Dakota Smart Glasses Recording Laws: One-Party Guide
South Dakota is a one-party consent state under SDCL § 23A-35A-20. Record conversations you join without notice. Voyeurism and surveillance statutes still apply.
South Dakota Social Security Disability: Rates & Waits
Social Security disability in South Dakota: a small state SSI supplement, automatic Medicaid on SSI approval, approval odds, and ALJ hearing wait times.
South Dakota Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
South Dakota requires 20 years for adverse possession under SDCL § 15-3-1, or 10 years with color of title and payment of property taxes. Learn the FED process to remove a squatter.
South Dakota Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
Learn South Dakota statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases. Filing deadlines for personal injury, contracts, fraud, malpractice, and felonies.
South Dakota Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Learn South Dakota surveillance camera laws covering home security, workplace monitoring, hidden cameras, nanny cams, audio recording consent, and penalties.
South Dakota Theft Laws: Grand vs Petty Theft and Shoplifting (2026)
In South Dakota, theft over $1,000 is grand theft, a Class 6 felony (SDCL 22-30A-17). See petty theft classes, shoplifting penalties and civil demand rules.
South Dakota Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines
South Dakota Uniform Trade Secrets Act (S.D. Codified Laws §§ 37-29-1 to 37-29-11): definitions, remedies, 3-year deadline, and federal DTSA overlap explained.
South Dakota Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
South Dakota holds over $600 million in unclaimed money. Learn how to search cash.sd.gov for free and file a claim through the State Treasurer's Office.
South Dakota Unemployment 2026: $575 Max, Eligibility, How to File
South Dakota unemployment pays $28 to $575 a week from July 5, 2026, for up to 26 weeks. See who is eligible, how to file, work search rules and appeal deadlines.
South Dakota Video Recording Laws
Learn South Dakota video recording laws under SDCL 22-21-1 and 22-21-4. Public filming is legal. Hidden cameras in private places carry criminal penalties.
South Dakota Voyeurism Laws
Learn South Dakota voyeurism laws under SDCL 22-21-4 and hidden camera rules under SDCL 22-21-1. Penalties, drone surveillance rules, and deepfake protections.
South Dakota Warrant Search: How to Check If You Have a Warrant (2026)
South Dakota's PARS charges a flat $20 fee per search, win or lose. Learn how to check if you have a warrant in South Dakota, and where the free options are.
South Dakota Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report
South Dakota whistleblower laws protect state employees who report violations and workers facing retaliation. Learn filing deadlines, remedies, and rights.
South Dakota Will and Trust Laws: Handwritten Wills, Video Witnesses
South Dakota accepts handwritten wills, and since 2022 the two witnesses (not a proxy signer) may attend by video. Trusts are irrevocable unless revocation is reserved.
South Dakota Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
South Dakota window tint laws: front side windows must allow 35% VLT; back side and rear windows 20%. Learn penalties, sticker rules, and the broad 9% tolerance.
South Dakota Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
South Dakota windshield mounting laws: restrictions, penalties, and exemptions. Complete guide.