Bolthole Index

Bon Homme County, South Dakota

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Bon Homme County, South Dakota

50Index Score / 100
#28 of 66 in South Dakota

Unincorporated Bon Homme County, South Dakota requires a county building permit from the Zoning Administrator before most buildings or structures are erected, moved, enlarged, removed, demolished, burned or put to a different use.1 County zoning applies outside Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor and Tyndall, where each town's own rules must be checked.2 Septic permits are not a county function: South Dakota DANR sets the minimum onsite wastewater standards for every address, town or not, and local rules may be stricter.3

At a glance

Building permit
Required for most regulated work in unincorporated areas14
Zoning
Applies in unincorporated areas; district rules vary256
Septic
State minimum standards; local rules may be stricter3
RV living
Private RV occupancy is unconfirmed; campgrounds are regulated by district789
Tiny homes
No tiny-home-specific rule or minimum floor area confirmed9
Manufactured homes
Permitted in AG, RR and PTR districts, subject to district standards101112
Owner electrical work
Allowed for a qualifying owner-occupied residence or farmstead with a homeowner permit13
Private well
A state water-right permit may be required before drilling14

Who to call

Building permits

Bon Homme County Building Permits

Bon Homme County building permits and zoning questions

(605) 589-4214

300 W. 18th Ave., Tyndall, SD 57066

Septic permits

South Dakota DANR On-Site Wastewater Systems

State onsite wastewater requirements and septic-system questions

(605) 773-4647

DANRmail@state.sd.us

523 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501-3182

Roads & driveways

Bon Homme County Highway Department

County-road access questions

(605) 589-4216

300 W. 18th Ave., Tyndall, SD 57066

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

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Do you need a building permit in Bon Homme County, South Dakota?

Yes. In unincorporated Bon Homme County, a permit from the Zoning Administrator is required before a regulated building or structure is erected, moved, enlarged, removed, demolished, burned or put to a different use.1 Concrete flatwork under 500 square feet is exempt when it is at or immediately above grade.1

The owner of record must sign or approve the application in writing, and the Zoning Administrator may require a site plan and details about the proposed buildings, uses, units and lot.15 The fee schedule is posted in the Zoning Administrator's office, and no application or appeal moves forward until all fees, charges and expenses are paid.16 Ask the Bon Homme County building-permit office for the current form, fee and submittal instructions.9

Who issues building permits in Bon Homme County, and how do you reach them?

The Bon Homme County office listed for building permits is at the county courthouse in Tyndall and can be reached at the phone number shown above.9 The Zoning Administrator administers and enforces the county zoning ordinance for unincorporated land.5 The Planning Commission serves as the Board of Adjustment for conditional uses, variances and zoning appeals.17

The current fee schedule is kept in the Zoning Administrator's office and may be changed only by the County Commission.16 The Zoning Administrator has enforcement inspection authority, but we could not confirm a routine construction-inspection schedule or certificate-of-occupancy rule.18 Ask the county building-permit office which drawings, inspections and completion documents apply before work begins.9 Electrical and plumbing approvals are separate state-regulated parts of a project.1920

Does Bon Homme County have zoning?

Bon Homme County zoning covers unincorporated land but excludes Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor and Tyndall, where municipal rules must be checked separately.2 The county ordinance establishes Agricultural, Rural Residential, Platted Town Site Residential and Rural Commercial districts, and the official zoning map controls a parcel's current classification.6

For a single-family, manufactured or modular home, AG generally requires 5 acres and 250 feet of frontage; RR requires 1 acre and 150 feet of width; and PTR requires 2,500 square feet, 25 feet of width and 100 feet of depth.212223 RR setbacks are 75 feet in front and 25 feet at the rear and each side; PTR setbacks are 25 feet in front and 5 feet at the rear and each side.24 In the Rural Commercial district, the minimum lot is 1 acre and 150 feet wide, with 75-foot front and 25-foot rear and side setbacks.2526 No general minimum dwelling floor area was confirmed.

How do septic permits work in Bon Homme County?

South Dakota DANR administers statewide minimum standards for onsite wastewater systems, and local governments may impose stricter requirements.3 DANR says to contact the department before installing a new onsite system except a conventional system serving an individual residence; other systems require state review, and works of sanitary significance require plans at least 30 days before construction.27 Septic rules stay with the state and any stricter local rule even inside Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor and Tyndall; the DANR On-Site Wastewater Systems contact is listed above.283

Only about 6.1% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a buyer should make septic feasibility part of the purchase investigation rather than assuming a standard drain field will work.29 State rules also allow certain unconventional sanitation systems where water or electricity is unavailable, but systems other than vault privies are experimental and require approval before installation.30

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bon Homme County?

We could not confirm a Bon Homme County rule that directly allows or prohibits long-term residential occupancy of one RV on private land. In AG, premises with 2 or more camping units count as a campground and unlisted uses are prohibited; in RC, a campground requires conditional-use approval from the Board of Adjustment.78 Ask the building-permit office about one RV, utility hookups and temporary occupancy during construction.9

Bon Homme County permits manufactured homes as principal uses in AG, RR and PTR, subject to each district's lot, yard, permit and other requirements.101112 A tiny house has no confirmed county-specific classification or minimum floor area, but moving or erecting a structure still triggers the broad permit rule.1 For commercial or other nonresidential buildings, South Dakota's default design standard is the 2024 International Building Code where the local government has not adopted its own, but that default excludes residential structures, manufactured homes and farmsteads.31 South Dakota's 2009 residential energy code is voluntary and does not establish a comprehensive county residential building code.32

Building a home in Bon Homme County: what are the steps?

  1. Call the Bon Homme County building-permit office with the parcel location and proposed use; confirm the zoning district, lot standards, setbacks, current fee and required plans.9616
  2. Have the owner of record sign or approve the application in writing and prepare the requested site plan and project information.15
  3. Resolve wastewater early by confirming whether the system is conventional and whether DANR review is required.27
  4. Determine whether the planned well use needs a water-right permit before drilling; a new domestic well also requires water sampling.33
  5. Obtain the county permit before starting regulated building work.1
  6. Arrange state electrical and plumbing requirements; electrical rough-in must be inspected before covering and final electrical inspection is required before occupancy.1920
  7. Start within 180 days and substantially complete the work within 2 years to avoid permit expiration.15

What should you check before buying land in Bon Homme County?

Confirm whether the parcel is inside the county jurisdiction and identify its zoning district before closing, because lot sizes and setbacks differ sharply by district.26 A Rural Commercial lot requires at least 1 acre and 150 feet of width, with 75 feet in front and 25 feet at the rear and each side for buildings and structures.2526 Test septic feasibility early because only about 6.1% of county soils avoid a severe conventional-drain-field limitation.29

For water, determine whether the intended use requires a state water-right permit before drilling, and plan to sample a new domestic well.33 For county-road access, ask the highway office what approval or culvert standard applies because we could not confirm a county driveway-permit rule.34 A South Dakota state-highway driveway requires state permission before construction starts.35 Ask the building-permit office about the local floodplain process if mapping shows flood risk.9

Watch-outs

  • A Bon Homme County permit can expire if work does not begin within 180 days or is not substantially complete within two years.4
  • Owner-performed electrical work is a limited licensing exemption, not an exemption from the homeowner permit or inspection requirements.13
  • A state-highway driveway needs South Dakota Department of Transportation permission before construction starts.35
  • Bon Homme County's rule for one occupied RV, tiny-home classification and general minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask the county building-permit office before purchase.9
  • County zoning does not govern Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor or Tyndall; ask the relevant municipality about rules inside those communities.2

Sources

  1. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  2. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  3. One-Stop Permitting and Regulation Guide (2025 Edition), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, quoted and re-checked
  5. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  6. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  7. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  8. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  9. Bon Homme County Building Permits (tyndallsd.org)
  10. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  11. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  12. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  13. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. South Dakota Water Rights - Drilling a Well, quoted and re-checked
  15. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, quoted and re-checked
  16. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, quoted and re-checked
  17. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance, administrative provisions, quoted and re-checked
  18. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  19. South Dakota Electrical Commission - Homeowner Wiring (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. South Dakota Plumbing Commission - Inspections (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Bon Homme County Zoning Ordinance No. 99-1, as amended, quoted and re-checked
  22. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  23. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  24. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  25. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  26. puc.sd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  27. One-Stop Permitting and Regulation Guide (2025 Edition), quoted and re-checked
  28. South Dakota DANR On-Site Wastewater Systems (danr.sd.gov)
  29. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Administrative Rule 74:53:01 — Individual and Small On-Site Wastewater Systems (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. South Dakota Codified Law 11-10-6, quoted and re-checked
  32. South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 11-10, Building Codes and Standards, quoted and re-checked
  33. South Dakota Water Rights - Drilling a Well, quoted and re-checked
  34. Bon Homme County Highway Department (tyndallsd.org)
  35. Instructions: Applying for permission for driveway or intersection on a South Dakota state highway (South Dakota statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like 5 of its 6 neighbors, Bon Homme County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleBon Homme CountyYankton CountyHutchinson CountyDouglas CountyCharles Mix CountyTurner CountyClay County
Building permitRequiredLimitedRequiredRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesNoYesYes
Septic permitsDANRCounty Planning & ZoningDANRDANRDANRSD DANRDANR

County locator

Bon Homme County in South Dakota

50
County map
Bon Homme County highlighted among the South Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Bon Homme County scores

Seclusion79100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency22100% ev.
Admin Boringness49100% ev.
Durability40100% ev.
Property Autonomy67100% ev.
Carry Cost77100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$183kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$5,007Land / acre
26.6"Annual rain
15.7% of yrsSevere drought
13.4 / yr (+10.8)Mid-century 100°F days
21.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.53" (+5.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.56×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,715Home insurance / yr
3.7% / yrInsurance growth
1.36%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
5,603People within 30 min
395,501People within 2 hr
7,722Radius comparison (15 mi)
12.5People / sq mi
5.4%Federal land
93.6%Land at 15% slope or less
6.1%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
20,952 acWorkable land screen
3.5%Wooded land
22 tonsBiomass / forest ac
48.3°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Bon Homme County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet researched: Avon · Scotland · Town of Tabor · Tyndall

Answers from the rulebook for Bon Homme County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Bon Homme County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Buildings and structures regulated by Bon Homme County Ordinance No. 99-1.

    • No building or other structure may be erected, moved, added to, removed, demolished, burned, or have its use changed without a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.
    • Concrete flatwork of less than 500 square feet is exempt if done at or immediately above grade.
    • A permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days or has not been substantially completed within two years of issuance; further work requires a new permit and payment of required fees.

    concrete flatwork exemption threshold: < 500 square feet (must be at or immediately above grade) · work commencement deadline: 180 days (from permit issuance) · substantial completion deadline: 2 years (from permit issuance)

    “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, removed, demolished, burned, or use changed without a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Buildings and structures in unincorporated Bon Homme County.
      “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, removed, demolished, burned, or use changed without a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Zoning-enforcement inspections of buildings and premises.

    • Entry requires credentials and a request when occupied; for unoccupied premises, a reasonable effort to locate the owner or controller is required; refused entry requires an inspection warrant or other legal remedy.
    “Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this ordinance, or whenever the Zoning Administrator or an authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises an ordinance violation, the Zoning Administrator or an authorized representative may enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the Zoning Administrator by this ordinance”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Bon Homme County zoning in unincorporated areas.

    • The ordinance excludes the incorporated communities of Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor, and Tyndall.
    • The ordinance was adopted 04/13/99 and amended 02/24/03 and 11/3/15.
    “The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply within the unincorporated areas of Bon Homme County, South Dakota, excluding the incorporated communities of Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor, and Tyndall, as established on the map entitled “The Official Zoning Map of Bon Homme County, South Dakota”.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Bon Homme County zoning in unincorporated areas.
      “The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply within the unincorporated areas of Bon Homme County, South Dakota, excluding the incorporated communities of Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor, and Tyndall, as established on the map entitled “The Official Zoning Map of Bon Homme County, South Dakota”.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County-administered zoning for unincorporated Bon Homme County; incorporated municipalities are outside this county ordinance.

    • The county ordinance establishes and administers zoning districts in the unincorporated area.
    • Municipal zoning rules, if any, must be checked separately for Avon, Scotland, Springfield, Tabor, and Tyndall.
    “An administrative official who shall be known as the Zoning Administrator and who shall be designated by the Bon Homme County Commission shall administer and enforce this ordinance.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts established by Bon Homme County for unincorporated areas.

    • The ordinance establishes AG Agricultural, RR Rural Residential, PTR Platted Town Site Residential, and RC Rural Commercial districts.
    • The Official Zoning Map is adopted by reference and is the final authority as to current zoning status.
    • Incorporated communities are excluded.
    “For the purpose of this Ordinance, there are hereby created four (4) types of districts by which the jurisdictional area defined in Section 103 shall be divided. AG - Agricultural RR - Rural Residential PTR - Platted Town Site Residential RC - Rural Commercial”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwelling units and manufactured or modular homes in the Agricultural District (AG).

    • A Board of Adjustment variance may reduce the required area for an additional dwelling unit occupied by another member of the family farm unit.
    • A Zoning Administrator may allow certain 501(d) non-profit religious and apostolic associations to construct nonconforming dwellings after required documentation is filed.
    • Construction must conform to all other ordinance provisions.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes) · minimum lot frontage: >= 250 feet

    “The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes shall be five (5) acres. 2. The minimum lot frontage shall be two hundred and fifty (250) feet. 3. An additional dwelling unit may be allowed if they are to be occupied by other members of the family farm unit, the Board of Adjustment may reduce the required area following the procedures of a variance.”
    6 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings, manufactured homes, and modular homes in the Agricultural District.
      “The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes shall be five (5) acres. [...] An additional dwelling unit may be allowed if they are to be occupied by other members of the family farm unit, the Board of Adjustment may reduce the required area following the procedures of a variance.”
    • Specified — Residential and manufactured homes in the Rural Residential District.
      “The minimum lot area shall be one acre for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes; [...] the minimum lot width shall be one hundred fifty (150) feet.”
    • Specified — Single-family, manufactured, and modular homes in the Platted Town Site Residential District.
      “The minimum lot area shall be two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet for single family dwelling, manufactured or modular homes; [...] The minimum lot width shall be twenty-five (25) feet; and [...] The minimum lot depth shall be one hundred (100) feet.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Residential and manufactured or modular homes in the Rural Residential District (RR).
      “The minimum lot area shall be one acre for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes; 2. The minimum lot area for a multi-family dwelling unit shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet per unit; and 3. The minimum lot width shall be one hundred fifty (150) feet.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings and manufactured or modular homes in the Platted Town Site Residential District (PTR).
      “The minimum lot area shall be two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet for single family dwelling, manufactured or modular homes; 2. The minimum lot width shall be twenty-five (25) feet; and 3. The minimum lot depth shall be one hundred (100) feet.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the Rural Commercial District (RC).
      “The minimum lot area shall be one (1) acre. 2. The minimum lot width shall be one hundred and fifty (150) feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Buildings and structures in the RR, PTR, and RC districts.

    • Setbacks differ by district and apply as measured from lot lines.
    • Additional use-specific setbacks may apply.

    RR front yard: >= 75 feet · RR rear yard: >= 25 feet · RR side yard: >= 25 feet · PTR front yard: >= 25 feet · PTR rear yard: >= 5 feet · PTR side yard: >= 5 feet · RC front yard: >= 75 feet · RC rear yard: >= 25 feet · RC side yard: >= 25 feet

    “There shall be a front yard of not less than a depth of seventy-five (75) feet; [...] There shall be a rear yard of not less than a depth of twenty-five (25) feet; and [...] Each side yard shall not be less than twenty-five (25) feet [...] There shall be a front yard of not less than a depth of twenty-five (25) feet; [...] There shall be a rear yard of not less than a depth of five (5) feet; and [...] Each side yard shall not be less than five (5) feet.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings and structures in the Rural Residential District (RR).
      “All yards must meet the following criteria as measured from the lot lines. This Section shall apply to all buildings and structures, including but not limited to decks, patios, and garages: 1. There shall be a front yard of not less than a depth of seventy-five (75) feet; 2. There shall be a rear yard of not less than a depth of twenty-five (25) feet; and 3. Each side yard shall not be less than twenty-five (25) feet”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings and structures in the Platted Town Site Residential District (PTR).
      “All yards must meet the following criteria as measured from the lot lines. This Section shall apply to all buildings and structures, including but not limited to decks, patios, and garages: 1. There shall be a front yard of not less than a depth of twenty-five (25) feet; 2. There shall be a rear yard of not less than a depth of five (5) feet; and 3. Each side yard shall not be less than five (5) feet.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings and structures in the Rural Commercial District (RC).
      “There shall be a front yard of not less than a depth of seventy-five (75) feet; 2. There shall be a rear yard of not less than a depth of twenty-five (25) feet; and 3. Each side yard shall be not less than twenty-five (25) feet.”
  • Camping on your landAllowed

    Campgrounds in the Agricultural District (AG) within the county ordinance jurisdiction.

    • A campground is defined as premises where two or more camping units are parked or placed for camping purposes, or premises supplying the public camping space for two or more camping units for monetary gain.
    • Camping units include vehicles, tents, trailers, or portable shelters.
    • Uses not specifically permitted, accessory, conditional, or approved as similar uses are prohibited in AG.
    “The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in an Agricultural District (AG): 1. agriculture; 2. farm; 3. ranch; 4. orchard; 5. farm occupations; 6. public parks and public recreational areas; 7. farm buildings; 8. farm drainage and irrigation systems, flood control and watershed structures and erosion control devices meeting all county, state, and soil conservation district regulations; 9. manufactured homes; 10. historic sites; 11. veterinary services and kennels; 12. off-site and on-site signs; 13. cemeteries; 14. schools public and private; 15. campgrounds;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Campgrounds in the Rural Commercial District (RC).
      “After the provisions of this resolution relating to conditional uses have been fulfilled, the Board of Adjustment may permit as conditional uses in the Rural Commercial Districts (RC): 1. other trade and service uses which are similar to the permitted principal uses and which are in harmony with the intent of this district; 2. campgrounds;”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    Manufactured homes in the Agricultural District (AG).

    • The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes is five acres.
    • The minimum lot frontage is 250 feet.
    • A Board of Adjustment variance may reduce the required area for an additional dwelling unit occupied by another member of the family farm unit.
    • A Zoning Administrator exception may apply to certain 501(d) non-profit religious and apostolic associations, subject to filing Articles of Incorporation and other requested documentation before issuance of a building permit or permission to proceed.
    • All other ordinance provisions remain applicable.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (single-family dwelling unit, manufactured or modular homes) · minimum lot frontage: >= 250 feet

    “The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in an Agricultural District (AG): 1. agriculture; 2. farm; 3. ranch; 4. orchard; 5. farm occupations; 6. public parks and public recreational areas; 7. farm buildings; 8. farm drainage and irrigation systems, flood control and watershed structures and erosion control devices meeting all county, state, and soil conservation district regulations; 9. manufactured homes;”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Manufactured homes in the AG, RR, and PTR districts in the unincorporated county zoning jurisdiction.
      “The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in an Agricultural District (AG): [...] 9. manufactured homes; [...] The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in a Rural Residential District (RR): [...] 3. manufactured homes; [...] The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in a Platted Town Site Residential District (PTR): [...] 3. manufactured homes;”
    • Allowed — Manufactured homes in the Rural Residential District (RR).
      “The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in a Rural Residential District (RR): 1. single-family dwellings; 2. multi-family dwellings; 3. manufactured homes; 4. modular homes;”
    • Allowed — Manufactured homes in the Platted Town Site Residential District (PTR).
      “The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in a Platted Town Site Residential District (PTR): 1. single-family dwellings; 2. multi-family dwellings; 3. manufactured homes; 4. modular homes;”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Additional farm dwelling units in the Agricultural District.

    • The additional dwelling must be occupied by another member of the family farm unit.
    • The Board of Adjustment may reduce the required area through variance procedures.
    • The applicable building permit and other ordinance requirements remain applicable.
    “An additional dwelling unit may be allowed if they are to be occupied by other members of the family farm unit, the Board of Adjustment may reduce the required area following the procedures of a variance.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Fees for zoning permits, variances, conditional uses, amendments, appeals, and related matters.

    • The ordinance does not state fee amounts.
    • The schedule must be posted in the Zoning Administrator's office.
    • The schedule may be altered or amended only by the Bon Homme County Commission.
    • No action may be taken on an application or appeal until all fees, charges, and expenses are paid in full.
    “The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Administrator and may be altered or amended only by the Bon Homme County Commission.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Fees for zoning variances, conditional uses, amendments, appeals, and related matters.
      “The Bon Homme County Commission shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses and a collection procedure for variances, conditional uses amendments, appeals and other matters pertaining to this Ordinance. The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Administrator and may be altered or amended only by the Bon Homme County Commission. Until all application fees, charges, and expenses have been paid in full, no action shall be taken on any application or appeal.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Bon Homme County zoning/building-permit application and expiration process.

    • Applications must be signed or approved in writing by the owner of record.
    • Applications may require site plans and information about proposed buildings, uses, units, and lot conditions.
    • The Zoning Administrator marks plans approved or disapproved and must state reasons in writing if a permit is refused.
    • Permits expire after 180 days without commencement or two years without substantial completion.

    permit commencement deadline: 180 days (from issuance) · permit substantial-completion deadline: 2 years (from issuance)

    “All applications for building permits, conditional uses and variances must be signed or approved in writing by the owner of record.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — County zoning permits and related approvals.
      “All applications for building permits, conditional uses and variances must be signed or approved in writing by the owner of record. [...] All building permit, conditional use and variance applications shall be accompanied by a site plan [...] The Bon Homme County Planning Commission shall serve as the Board of Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment is hereby designated to hear all requests for variances, conditional uses, and zoning appeals.”

South Dakota rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    An owner-builder in Bon Homme County personally installing electrical wiring and fixtures in the owner's qualifying residence or farmstead.

    • The owner must personally install the electrical wiring and fixtures.
    • The property must be the individual's own residence or farmstead and be owned and resided in or on by the person installing the wiring, or be a single-family dwelling under construction that the owner intends to occupy as the owner's residence when complete.
    • An approved homeowner wiring permit is required before electrical work starts.
    • The homeowner permit may not be used for commercial or rental property; mobile or modular homes are excluded unless located on an owner-occupied lot at the time of installation.
    • A rough-in inspection is required before covering the wiring, and a final inspection is required before occupancy.
    • The permit is valid for three years; a new permit is required to continue an incomplete installation after that period.
    • The exemption addresses electrical licensure only and does not establish an exemption from Bon Homme County building permits, zoning, inspections, or other building-code requirements.

    homeowner permit fee: 20 USD (Inspection fee is additional.) · minimum inspection fee: >= 150 USD (The application states the minimum inspection fee.) · inspection notice: >= 72 hours (Notice is required before inspection.) · permit life: 3 years (A new permit is required if the installation is not completed.)

    “No license is required of a person installing electric wiring in or on: (1) The person's own residence;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An individual owner personally installing electrical wiring and fixtures in a residence or farmstead owned and resided in by that individual.
      “an "owner's exemption" as an exemption from licensure requirements”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    South Dakota building-code adoption framework for local governments, including residential structures and county or municipal construction standards.

    • For residential structures, the statute authorizes the governing body of a municipality to adopt the 2024 International Residential Code; the quoted residential authorization does not name counties.
    • A residential-structure rule may not require installation of a sprinkler system and may not impose requirements more stringent than the 2024 International Residential Code.
    • A residential structure means a detached one-family or two-family dwelling, a townhouse not more than three stories with a separate means of egress, and related accessory structures.
    • For buildings other than residential structures, a local-unit ordinance must comply with the 2024 International Building Code, subject to statutory exclusions and permitted amendments.
    • The nonresidential rule does not apply to HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes, may not require fire sprinklers in a single-family dwelling, and does not apply to qualifying specialty resorts or vacation-home establishments constructed to Group R-3 requirements.
    • Where a local unit has not adopted a qualifying ordinance, the default 2024 International Building Code design standard applies to covered construction commenced after July 1, 2026, but the default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures.

    residential model code: 2024 International Residential Code (Municipal governing body authorization; no sprinkler requirement; no requirements more stringent than the code) · nonresidential model code: 2024 International Building Code (Statutory exclusions apply) · default nonresidential design-standard commencement: > 2026-07-01 (The default does not apply to residential structures, mobile or manufactured homes, farmsteads, or accessory structures)

    “The governing body of a municipality may enact requirements for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of a residential structure by adopting the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code, as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — New residential buildings in South Dakota, including Bon Homme County, for the state energy-conservation standard.
      “The State of South Dakota hereby adopts the International Energy Conservation Code of 2009, published by the International Code Council, as the voluntary standard applying to the construction of new residential buildings in the state.”
    • Partial — Nonresidential construction in a South Dakota local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing building standards pursuant to SDCL 11-10-5.
      “within [...] any local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance [...] must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code”
    • Partial — Statewide South Dakota building standards for construction and related work within a local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing standards under SDCL § 11-10-5.
      “The design standard [...] of any building commenced after July 1, 2026 [...] must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code”
    • Partial — South Dakota building-code standards for construction within local units of government, including unincorporated county areas.
      “The design standard for construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal, and demolition of any building commenced after July 1, 2026, within the boundaries of any local unit of government that has not adopted an ordinance prescribing the standards pursuant to § 11-10-5, must be based on the 2024 edition of the International Building Code as published by the International Code Council, Incorporated. [...] The provisions of this section do not apply to any residential structure as defined in § 11-10-12, mobile or manufactured home, or farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater systems in Bon Homme County, subject to South Dakota minimum standards and potentially more stringent local requirements.

    • South Dakota authority is under SDCL Chapter 34A-2 and ARSD Article 74:53:01.
    • Local governments may impose more stringent requirements.
    “These regulations are the state’s minimum requirements and standards, but local governments may have more stringent regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • State — Individual and small on-site wastewater systems statewide in South Dakota.
      “The authority for regulating on-site wastewater systems is found in SDCL Chapter 34A-2.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    New or modified on-site wastewater systems in Bon Homme County.

    • Contact DANR before installing any new on-site system except a conventional on-site system serving an individual residence.
    • Plans and specifications must be submitted to DANR for installations receiving human excreta other than a conventional individual onsite system.
    • For works of sanitary significance, plans and specifications must be submitted at least 30 days before planned construction.

    advance plan-submission period: >= 30 days (works of sanitary significance)

    “You should contact DANR prior to the installation of any new on-site system except those conventional on-site systems serving an individual residence. DANR will review information about the on-site system to make sure it complies with the regulations.”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Unconventional off-grid sanitation systems where a water or electrical system is unavailable statewide.

    • Vault privies, chemical toilets, incinerator toilets, or composting units must be used when a water or electrical system is unavailable.
    • Except for vault privies, all unconventional systems are experimental systems and require plans and specifications submitted to the secretary for approval before installation.
    “all unconventional systems are considered experimental systems”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water-well drilling and proposed water uses statewide in South Dakota.

    • A water-right permit is required only for proposed water uses that fall within the permitting requirements; the official page directs applicants to the Using Water in SD page to determine whether a permit is needed.
    • When a water-right permit is required, state law requires approval before well drilling.
    • The chief engineer may permit construction of a test well before obtaining the water-right permit; the test well may serve as the production well if the application is approved.
    • A water-right permit, when required and approved, provides five years to construct the water-use system and an additional four years to place all water to beneficial use.
    • A well driller's license is required before drilling any well or contracting to drill a well.

    construction period after water-right permit approval: 5 years · period to place water to beneficial use: 4 years

    “If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Private wells and water use in Bon Homme County.
      “Your proposed water use may require obtaining a water right permit. In order to determine whether you need a permit, please refer to the Using Water in SD web page. If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling.”
    • Limited — Private wells and proposed water uses in Bon Homme County.
      “Your proposed water use may require obtaining a water right permit. [...] If a water right permit is needed, state law requires the permit to be approved prior to doing any well drilling. [...] However, you may seek permission from the chief engineer of the Water Rights Program to have a test well constructed prior to obtaining a water right permit.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Farmsteads and accessory structures or buildings thereto under South Dakota's default construction-design standard when the local unit of government has not adopted an ordinance prescribing standards under SDCL 11-10-5.

    • The default standard applies to building work commenced after July 1, 2026.
    • The local unit of government may adopt an ordinance allowing local administration and enforcement of the design standard.
    • The exclusion is from SDCL 11-10-6's default 2024 International Building Code design standard; it does not establish that all local zoning, building, occupancy, or other requirements are waived.
    • The statute defines farmstead as a farm or ranch, including any structure or building located on the land.
    • Residential structures and mobile or manufactured homes are also excluded from this specific default-standard provision.

    construction commencement date: > 2026-07-01 (The provision applies to buildings commenced after July 1, 2026.) · building standard: 2024 International Building Code (The default standard does not apply to a farmstead or accessory structure or building thereto.)

    “farmstead and any accessory structure or building thereto.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of a government subdivision or platted tract or lot, within or outside municipal corporate limits, into parcels for transfer when the parcels cannot be described except by metes and bounds.

    • The parcels must be platted into lots, numbered, and the plat recorded before any instrument of transfer may be recorded.
    • If an actual survey is necessary, the land must be surveyed and the plat recorded.
    • The requirement does not apply to parcels subject to a contract with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under the Conservation Reserve Program that are being transferred to or from the South Dakota Building Authority.
    “within or without the corporate limits of any municipality [...] he shall cause the parcels of land so divided to be platted into lots”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    New or modified driveways and intersections connecting to South Dakota state highways.

    • Permission from the South Dakota Department of Transportation is required for access to a state highway.
    • The application may require an access approach design, vicinity map, estimated traffic volumes, three copies of a site plan, traffic-control plan, liability insurance, development plan, drainage plan, traffic-impact study, and revegetation plan.
    • Construction cannot begin until the access permit is issued.
    • The permittee pays construction, maintenance, and removal costs.
    • The permit expires if access is not under construction within one year, subject to one written one-year extension.
    • Access construction must be completed within 45 days after initiation within the highway right-of-way.

    application review update threshold: 30 days (If the application is not completed within 30 days, a Department employee will contact the applicant with an update.) · construction completion period: 45 days (Measured from initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.)

    “Construction of the access shall not proceed until the access permit is issued. The access shall be completed in an expeditious and safe manner and shall be finished within 45 days from the initiation of construction within the highway right-of-way.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in floodplains within South Dakota communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, including incorporated and unincorporated areas administered separately by local governments.

    • Participating communities must adopt and enforce a flood-damage-prevention ordinance.
    • Permits are required for all types of development in the floodplain.
    • New or substantially improved homes and manufactured homes must be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation.
    • Non-residential buildings must be elevated or flood-proofed.
    • Elevation Certificates are required to document compliance.
    • NFIP participation and eligibility are established separately for incorporated and unincorporated areas; the source does not establish a single uniform permit process for every South Dakota location.
    “Require permits for all types of development in the floodplain.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    South Dakota county boards' authority to adopt zoning ordinances, including for unincorporated county land.

    • The authority is granted for promoting the health, safety, or general welfare of the county.
    • The statute authorizes regulation of building and land-use characteristics including height, number of stories, building and structure size, lot coverage, yards, courts, open spaces, population density, and locations and uses of buildings, structures, and land.
    • The authorized purposes expressly include trade, industry, residence, flood plain, and other purposes.
    • This claim identifies statewide enabling authority; whether a particular county has adopted an ordinance is a separate local question.
    “For the purpose of promoting health, safety, or the general welfare of the county the board may adopt a zoning ordinance to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of the yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, flood plain, or other purposes.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    County authority to prescribe building standards and issue building permits for construction in South Dakota, including unincorporated areas.

    • Section 11-10-5 expressly addresses ordinances adopted by any local unit of government, and expressly provides for amendments to a county ordinance filed with the county auditor.
    • That provision concerns buildings other than residential structures as defined in § 11-10-12.
    • Section 11-10-12 expressly authorizes a municipality to enact residential-structure requirements using the 2024 International Residential Code, rather than expressly extending that authorization to counties.
    • A county, municipality, or township may not require permits for specified repairs or substantially similar replacements to existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure, except designated historical property repairs authorized under chapter 1-19B.
    • Construction under the default § 11-10-6 standard is subject to the residential, manufactured-home, farmstead, accessory-structure, and specialty-resort exclusions stated there.

    nonresidential code: 2024 International Building Code (County ordinances may amend, modify, or delete portions before enactment; HUD-compliant mobile or manufactured homes and specified Group R-3 specialty resorts or vacation home establishments are excluded; no single-family dwelling fire sprinkler may be required.) · permit exemption effective date: 2026 (Applies to listed repairs and substantially similar replacements of existing exterior parts.)

    “Additional deletions, modifications, and amendments to the county ordinance may be made by the governing body and are effective upon their adoption and filing with the county auditor. [...] Notwithstanding any authority granted to a county, municipality, or township to prescribe building codes or standards or to issue building permits, a county, municipality, or township may not require a building permit for the repair or substantially similar replacement of any of the following existing exterior parts of a detached single-family owner-occupied residential structure:”

Set by your township or city, not the county

In South Dakota, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Bon Homme County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.

  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Short-term rentals

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements for county-regulated buildings.
  • Septic inspection — Inspection requirements for individual or small on-site wastewater systems.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer connection requirements for county-regulated development.

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.

Living off-grid in Bon Homme County, South Dakota

Is Bon Homme County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Bon Homme County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 5,603 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (26.6″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Bon Homme County, South Dakota?

Bon Homme County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Bon Homme County, South Dakota?

Land in Bon Homme County runs about $5,007 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Bon Homme County?

Bon Homme County gets about 26.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 15.7% of years.

How remote is Bon Homme County?

A representative private-land location has about 5,603 people within a 30-minute drive and 395,501 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Bon Homme compares in South Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 66 South Dakota counties ranked →