South Dakota Backyard Chicken Laws: Permits, Limits, and Setbacks
Last Updated:
Overview of South Dakota Chicken Laws
South Dakota does not cap backyard flocks. Cities write the numbers. Sioux Falls allows up to 6 hens and no roosters, with coops 25 ft from a dwelling on the next lot. Aberdeen allows 8 hens on lots of 2,500 sq ft or less and 12 on larger lots. Brookings allows 6 hens if the coop is 125 ft from an adjacent house. Rapid City still limits hens to agricultural zoning or lots of at least 3 acres. Huron and Pierre do not allow poultry in ordinary residential zones.
Official Sources & Data Integrity
We reference South Dakota municipal bylaws and ordinances from verified platforms like ecode360.com, municode.com, and local government websites at the time of publication. You can review state-level rules via South Dakota Animal Industry Board Poultry Health
Note: Not specified means no specific hen limit or rule was identified in the applicable municipal sources reviewed.
⚠️ Important: South Dakota ordinances may change without notice. Always verify the current rules with your local jurisdiction and any HOA before starting a flock.
South Dakota Ordinances by City & County
Aurora County, SD
Plankinton, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Beadle County, SD
Huron, SD
Huron, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Yale, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Bennett County, SD
Martin, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 50 ft from neighboring dwellings
Bon Homme County, SD
Avon, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 5 ft from rear or side property lines
Scotland, SD
Scotland, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Springfield, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Tyndall, SD
Tyndall, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Brookings County, SD
Arlington, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens; 5–10 hens on lots of 0.5 acre or more | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 50 ft from the nearest house for flocks of 5 or more
Aurora, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens; up to 8 hens on lots over 20,000 sq ft | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $40 | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Brookings, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 125 ft from an adjacent dwelling
Elkton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $21 | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Volga, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 | Setback: 20 ft from any neighboring dwelling
Brown County, SD
Aberdeen, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 8 hens on lots of 2,500 sq ft or less; up to 12 hens on larger lots | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: Not specified
Groton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 8 hens on lots of 22,500 sq ft or less; up to 12 hens on larger lots | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 7 ft from side and rear lines; 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Brule County, SD
Chamberlain, SD
Chamberlain, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Butte County, SD
Belle Fourche, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens on small lots | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings; 5 ft from the owner's house
Charles Mix County, SD
Lake Andes, SD
Lake Andes, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Platte, SD
Platte, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Wagner, SD
Wagner, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Clark County, SD
Clark, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 8 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Clay County, SD
Vermillion, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 3 hens; up to 5 hens with a Multiple Chicken Permit | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 5 ft from rear and side lines; 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Codington County, SD
Watertown, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Custer County, SD
Custer, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Davison County, SD
Mitchell, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Day County, SD
Webster, SD
Webster, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Deuel County, SD
Clear Lake, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Dewey County, SD
Eagle Butte, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $15 | Setback: 50 ft from any inhabited dwelling other than the owner's
Douglas County, SD
Armour, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 20 poultry per acre | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Edmunds County, SD
Ipswich, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Fall River County, SD
Edgemont, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $10 annual | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Hot Springs, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $20 annual | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Faulk County, SD
Faulkton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $20 | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Grant County, SD
Milbank, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only in agricultural zones | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Gregory County, SD
Gregory, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $15 | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Haakon County, SD
Philip, SD
Philip, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Hamlin County, SD
Castlewood, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; special exception for 5 or more | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Estelline, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $15 annual | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Lake Norden, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Hand County, SD
Miller, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $5 annual | Setback: 25 ft from adjacent dwellings; 7.5 ft from property lines
Hanson County, SD
Alexandria, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 20 ft from any neighboring dwelling
Emery, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 10 poultry | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Hughes County, SD
Pierre, SD
Pierre, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Hutchinson County, SD
Freeman, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $10 annual | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Menno, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Parkston, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Hyde County, SD
Highmore, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Jerauld County, SD
Wessington Springs, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Kingsbury County, SD
De Smet, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Lake County, SD
Madison, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from any dwelling other than the owner's
Lawrence County, SD
Deadwood, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only on agricultural zoning | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Lead, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Spearfish, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 100 ft from any dwelling
Whitewood, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $20 | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Lincoln County, SD
Canton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $50 | Setback: 20 ft from any dwelling other than the owner's
Harrisburg, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $20 | Setback: 3 ft from property lines; rear or side yard
Lennox, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Tea, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 3 ft from property lines; rear yard
Worthing, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Lyman County, SD
Oacoma, SD
Oacoma, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Marshall County, SD
Britton, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only on lots of 5 acres or more | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
McCook County, SD
Canistota, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Salem, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
McPherson County, SD
Eureka, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 | Setback: 20 ft from property lines
Meade County, SD
Faith, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 12 poultry | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Piedmont, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Sturgis, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $75 | Setback: 10 ft from property lines
Summerset, SD
Summerset, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Miner County, SD
Howard, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 10 poultry | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Minnehaha County, SD
Baltic, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from any neighboring dwelling
Brandon, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings; 5 ft from property lines
Colton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from property lines
Crooks, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $50 | Setback: 20 ft from any dwelling other than the owner's
Dell Rapids, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 20 ft from any neighboring dwelling
Garretson, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $20 | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Hartford, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $50 | Setback: 20 ft from neighboring dwellings
Sioux Falls, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from any dwelling on an adjacent lot
Valley Springs, SD
Valley Springs, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Moody County, SD
Colman, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 50 ft from neighboring dwellings
Flandreau, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $25 annual | Setback: 25 ft from any neighboring residence
Pennington County, SD
Box Elder, SD
Box Elder, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Hill City, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $15 | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
New Underwood, SD
New Underwood, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Rapid City, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only on agricultural zoning or lots of at least 3 acres | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Wall, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only in agricultural zones | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Perkins County, SD
Lemmon, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 50 ft from any neighboring residence
Potter County, SD
Gettysburg, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $10 annual | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Roberts County, SD
Sisseton, SD
Sisseton, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Sanborn County, SD
Woonsocket, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Spink County, SD
Redfield, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only on agricultural zoning | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Stanley County, SD
Fort Pierre, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only in animal-husbandry zoning | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $15 | Setback: Not specified
Sully County, SD
Onida, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Todd County, SD
Mission, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Tripp County, SD
Winner, SD
Winner, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Turner County, SD
Centerville, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 15 ft from property lines
Marion, SD
Marion, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Parker, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only in agricultural zones | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Viborg, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified; allowed only on 5 or more contiguous acres or agricultural tracts | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Not specified | Setback: Not specified
Union County, SD
Alcester, SD
Hen Limit: Not specified | Roosters: Not specified | Permit: Not specified | Setback: 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Beresford, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 5 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 25 ft from any neighboring residence
Elk Point, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required, $50 | Setback: 25 ft from any neighboring residence
North Sioux City, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Walworth County, SD
Mobridge, SD
Mobridge, SD has a total ban on poultry within city limits
Yankton County, SD
Yankton, SD
Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens | Roosters: Not allowed | Permit: Required | Setback: 10 ft from property lines; 25 ft from neighboring dwellings
Selling Backyard Eggs in South Dakota
Under South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 39-11 and Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources guidelines, backyard producers who sell and deliver their own eggs exclusively to individual consumers (such as neighbors or co-workers) are exempt from an Egg Dealer License. However, sales through retail outlets or farmers markets require proper licensing, refrigeration, and cartons clearly labeled with the producer's identification and required safe-handling instructions.
South Dakota Poultry Slaughter Rules
Personal Use: Fully legal and exempt. Under SDCL § 39-5-11, you may slaughter and process poultry of your own raising for your own consumption and the consumption of your family, non-paying guests, and employees. No inspection is required for personal use.
Essential Guides for Backyard Chicken Success
Prairie wind and a long freeze will rack a light coop. Brace the frame and keep the predators away. See our 4x12 coop plans
Once the hens are in, keep water from icing and the bedding dry. Follow our flock-care guide