the beauty of the landscape, open spaces,

The beauty of the landscape, open spaces,

and the tranquility of rural areas appeals

to many people. However, newcomers

to the country way of life must be aware

of the differences between urban and rural

living.

This publication is designed to help you

make an educated and informed decision

before purchasing a rural homesite and

help you manage the property after you

move to your new home. Remember, we

are all part of a watershed. Our actions

often affect others. The things you and

your neighbors do can either improve or

degrade the health of our natural

resources.

The information included in this

publication is intended to create an

awareness of environmental concerns

associated with living on a rural

development or a small acreage, and

guide the reader to sources of additional

information and assistance.

Rural LivingA Guide for South Dakota Rural Homeowners

Nature’s Neigborhood

CONTENTS

Nature’s Neighborhood ......................... 2Mother Nature’s Zoning Codes ............................. 2

Look at Your Land .................................. 3Soil Type ................................................................ 3Soil Fertility ........................................................... 4Water Table........................................................... 5

Make a Plan for Your Land .................... 5Develop the Plan .................................................. 5Get Assistance ...................................................... 8

Tips for Planning a Home Site ................ 8Location Considerations: ....................................... 8

Nature’s Neighborhood:Other Considerations ......................... 9Wetlands............................................................... 9Erosion Control ................................................... 10Fence Laws in South Dakota .............................. 10Leave the Animals Wild ...................................... 11Creating Wildlife Habitat .................................... 12Water Resources and Fishing .............................. 12Riparian Areas .................................................... 12Livestock and Pets .............................................. 13Owning Livestock ............................................... 13Grazing and Livestock Management .................. 13

Agriculture (Farming and Ranching) ... 14Youth in Agriculture ............................................ 15

Neighbors ............................................. 16

Public Lands .......................................... 16

Tribal Lands........................................... 17

Essential Services

Counties ................................................ 19

Townships ............................................. 19

Emergencies & Fire Protection ............. 20

Roads & Weather.................................. 20

School Districts & Voting Precincts ........ 21

Rural Mail Delivery ............................... 21

Planning & Zoning Issues ..................... 21Zoning ................................................................. 22Setbacks ............................................................. 22Easements .......................................................... 22Covenants........................................................... 23Floodplains .......................................................... 23Permits ................................................................ 23

Environmental Issues ............................ 24Pesticide Container Recycling Programs ............. 24Unusable Pesticide Collection Program ............... 24Solid Waste ......................................................... 25Recycling ............................................................. 25Household Hazardous Waste .............................. 25

Rural Water .......................................... 26Rural Water Systems ........................................... 26Wells ................................................................... 26Abandoned Wells ............................................... 26Water Rights ....................................................... 27Irrigation Wells .................................................... 27Irrigation Ditches ................................................. 27

Rural Utilities ......................................... 28Electricity........................................................... 28Natural Gas......................................................... 28South Dakota One Call ....................................... 28Telephone ........................................................... 29Burning .............................................................. 29Septic Systems .................................................... 29

Information .......................................... 30

Additional References andWeb Sites of Interest ........................ 31

About This Publication ......................... 34

Essential Services (continued)

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Nature’s NeighborhoodJust as the houses on a city block make up a neighborhood,your yard or acreage and those of your neighbors togetherare part of a natural community or ecosystem. And the healthof that ecosystem depends on the actions of you and yourneighbors.

Manicured lawns might be normal for most urban areas, butthey’re a far cry from the diverse natural communities thatexisted in rural areas prior to development. To help keep ourland and other natural resources healthy, you can start inyour own back yard.

Mother Nature’s Zoning CodesWhether planning landscaping, planting a garden or consid-ering a small-scale agricultural operation, we need to oper-ate within the guidelines Mother Nature has established forus. Knowing and understanding these “zoning codes” is veryimportant for success. South Dakota is a beautiful place tolive; however, there can be challenges. For example, grow-ing plants in our state can sometimes be difficult and frustrat-ing. Temperature fluctuations with alternating freezing and

thawing is very hard on many plants––crack-ing tender tree bark, killing twigs on shrubsand eliminating marginal plants from yards.

Detailed information on climate, topography,temperature (daytime, winter and summer),growing season, hardiness zones, elevation,and precipitation can be found online (seeback for web addresses). Your local resourcesprofessionals can also help you obtain thisinformation.

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Nature’s Neighborhood

Look at Your LandSo, you want to live in the country! The first questions to askyourself are what do you have and what do you want to do?What are your goals and plans for your rural home site oracreage?

Before purchasing a rural home site or smallacreage, prospective buyers should identify andinventory existing assets and liabilities of the prop-erty. When prospective purchasers realize theextent and potential of the parcel and the limitsand responsibility these properties carry, they arebetter prepared to set and apply reasonable goalsfor their property.

Some aspects of the property to consider are:

• location• soil type• topography• vegetation (including trees and shelterbelts)• available water (wells, rural water line)• type of roads serving the area (gravel, paved, or dirt),• fences or other boundary lines• water table

Soil TypeThe kind of soils your land has will greatly affect what youcan build and grow on it. Soil scientists, working coopera-tively with and through the USDA Natural Resources Conser-vation Service (NRCS), have identified over 650 different soilsin South Dakota. An NRCS soil survey publication containsextensive soils resource information. All counties in SouthDakota have detailed soil survey information that is availablefrom your local conservation district, the NRCS or Coopera-tive Extension Service office. Office personnel can help ex-plain the type of soil(s) that occur on the property that youplan to purchase or have purchased and the capabilities ofthat soil.

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The type of soil on the property will influence:

· Which type and the amount of grass or crops yourland can produce.

· What kind of trees will survive.· How quickly water moves through the soil.· How well a septic system will function: Will the soil

filter out human and animal wastes before they reachgroundwater?

· How much fertilizer, if any, is needed.· Foundations for buildings.· If the area is a wetland.

Knowing the type of soil(s) is very important when makingdecisions about your property. Soils can vary greatly—evenacross a small acreage.

In general, there are three major soil textures:

· Medium textured soils (loams, sandy loams) are thebest soils for all around use. Water goes in at an aver-age rate, and is held with medium strength.

· Heavy textured soils (clays, shale) have a slow infil-tration rate and shrink and swell. Water goes in slowly,but is held tightly. They can be difficult to build on.

· Sandy soils have a rapid rate of infiltration; tend tobe droughty and are poor for gardens and plants un-less large amounts of organic matter are added. Theyare, however, good soils to build on. Water goes inquickly and is held poorly.

Soil FertilitySoil is alive and, like us, works best when it’s healthy. A soiltest lets you know what nutrients your soil needs to producehealthy plants. The cost of soil testing is minor compared tothe cost of dealing with the problem after planting.

Soil tests from a laboratory, such as the one at South DakotaState University, are more reliable and detailed than hometest kits. In addition to the test results, professional lab resultsprovide recommendations for the application of nutrients.

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The soil lab will send you a summary report that will state ifyour soil needs amendments such as nitrogen or phosphorus,and recommended application dates. Apply according to therecommendations. It makes economic and environmentalsense!

Water TableSome areas of South Dakota have a very shallow water table.This may influence many development activities.

Make a Plan for Your LandOnce you have inventoried the land and identified your goals,develop a plan to accomplish your goals. Even if you want tomaintain things the way they are, you may need to do some-thing to keep undesirable plants from invading and to protectsurface and ground water.

Develop the Plan1. Make a sketch of the property, or if you have an acre-age, get a copy of an aerial photo from the USDA FarmService Agency or NRCS. The photo will be small but can beenlarged on a copy machine. Also get a copy of the soilsinformation for your property (See the preceding section onSoil Type for resources). Note unique features of your prop-erty such as views or sites of historical significance. Culturallysignificant sites may fall under historic preservation laws.Contact the State Historic Preservation Office before disturb-ing the site.

2. Your plan should include:

• Windbreaks or Shelterbelts

Unless trees are already present, you will want toestablish a shelterbelt of trees to provide protectionfrom the winds, especially in the winter. Plantings

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established to protect structures and livestock also providewildlife habitat, improve aesthetics, reduce wind erosion,protect growing crops and forage, and manage snow.

Windbreaks are investments in the future value of your prop-erty. Properly designed windbreaks reduce wind speed andcan lower heating costs by 25 percent. Shade trees canlower cooling costs up to 50 percent. A successful plantingdepends on proper planning and maintenance. The heightof the tallest row and overall density of foliage and branchesinfluence the size of the area protected. A belt of six orseven rows should stop the snow from reaching the build-ings. The ground should be prepared the year before thetrees will be planted. The windbreak should be primarily ofconifers with some shrubs on the north and south sides ofthe belt. If possible, the inside row should be no closer than100 feet to the nearest building.

Time spent on site preparation, weed control, and replant-ing will be repaid many times during the lifetime of thewindbreak. While planning a windbreak, check with thelocal planning and zoning department regarding laws af-fecting tree plantings. Another important reminder whendisturbing the earth is “Call Before You Dig.” South DakotaOne Call works with the local utility companies to markburied lines and cables before work on the site begins.

• Managing Runoff Water

Does the water drain from or pool on the property? Whileyou may want or need to alter the drainage of water fromyour land, man made alterations to the natural drainagemay create adverse effects that were not intended. Drain-age that affects a wetland could be a violation of the law

(see Wetlands section). Altering the flow of watercould also affect your downstream neighbor. SouthDakota Law gives some protections to downstreamlandowners from damages caused by upstreamdrainage activities. Check with NRCS to ensure thatyou are in compliance with Federal rules and withthe County Planning and Zoning Office to deter-mine whether a permit is required for your proposedactivity.

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• Vegetation

Is the land protected by grass or other perennial plants or isthere a need to establish ground cover?

• Noxious Weeds Control

Are there noxious weeds on the property? If so, they mustbe controlled. Good neighbors control noxious weeds. Plantsdeclared as State Noxious Weeds by the South Dakota StateWeed and Pest Control Commission include Field bindweed,Canada thistle, Leafy spurge, Perennial sow thistle, Hoarycress and Russian knapweed. Local noxious weeds includeMusk thistle, Plumeless thistle and Absinth wormwood.

Noxious weeds spread rapidly and are diffi-cult to eradicate. They often start in soil dis-turbed by construction, recreation and otherhuman activities, and are then spread by wild-life, livestock, machinery and vehicles,people, wind and water. Noxious weeds arecapable of spreading by underground plantparts as well as by seed dispersal, and re-quire special cultural or chemical practicesfor control.

The South Dakota State Weed and Pest Control Commis-sion is responsible for developing and implementing a state-wide control program, and South Dakota statutes requirelandowners to control noxious weeds on their land. Thelaws and administrative rules are enforced by the SouthDakota Department of Agriculture. While every landownershould voluntarily control the spread of noxious weeds, statelaw provides enforcement procedures to be used when land-owners fail to comply. Uncontrolled noxious weeds shouldbe reported to the county weed and pest officials. Failure tocomply initiates a formal process that could result in fines orliens against the land. Contact: County Weed Supervisor,Cooperative Extension Service or the South Dakota Depart-ment of Transportation.

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• Property Lines

You may possess a map of your property, but unless the landhas been surveyed and pins placed by a licensed surveyor, youshould not assume that either the map or apparent boundaryfences accurately reflect your property boundary. A survey ofthe land by a licensed surveyor is recommended before final-izing purchase of the property.

• Buried Utility/Water Line Locations

Before digging, call South Dakota One Call: (800)-781-7474.

• Water Source

Consideration must be given to water availability and wa-ter quality.

If municipal or rural water is not available, a well may needto be dug. The cost of installing a well varies with the depthto a dependable aquifer. Aquifer information is availablefrom either the United States Geological Survey (USGS) (formost counties) or local well drilling contractors.

State law requires that new wells must have a water qual-ity analysis completed by the State Health Laboratory––existing wells should have an analysis completed periodi-cally to ensure that the water is safe for its intended use.

Get AssistanceAssistance in developing and implementing your plan is avail-able from local resource entities such as the NRCS, local con-servation districts or the Cooperative Extension Service.

Tips for Planning a Home Site

Location Considerations:

• Economics related to distance are important. An acre-age that is too far from a city or schools could be veryexpensive when the cost of driving back and forth or needingan extra vehicle is considered.

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• Locate buildings, lawn and any garden on your prop-erty so as to minimize wildlife disturbance and allow forfuture tree/windbreak plantings. Your property may alreadyinclude high-quality habitat such as native grasses, shrubs,trees, wetlands or stream corridors. To preserve habitat,landowners should consider natural landscaping that mini-mizes water use and mowing. Ground cover in the form ofnative grasses provides habitat for many birds and mam-mals.

• Locate your home so as to maximize the benefits of sun-shine and shade.

• Plan for minimum impact on the land and the environ-ment before building.

• Locate roads on stable soils away from streams. Avoidsteep slopes and areas where drifting snow may accumu-late.

• Maintain or plant suitable vegetation. Planting shrubs orgrasses along streams and around corrals and pens pro-vides a buffer to trap and absorb pollution-laden runoffbefore it reaches surface or groundwater.

• Check carefully before buying to be sure the property islocated a reasonable distance from livestock operations.Keep the direction of prevailing winds in mind.

Nature’s Neighborhood: OtherConsiderations

Country living often exposes rural residents to a broad rangeof environmental considerations. Understanding some of theaspects of a rural environment can lead to appropri-ate conservation practices and effective stewardshipof your land.

WetlandsA wetland is an area with saturated soils that willhost water-loving vegetation. Because wetlands storefloodwater, trap nutrients and sediment, help re-

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charge groundwater, and provide habitat for wildlife, theyare vital to a healthy environment.

Whether an area is a wetland or not is determined by specificsoil, vegetation and hydrologic conditions. Federal law regu-lates activities that may affect wetlands. Become familiar withregulations before you consider draining, filling or otherwisealtering a wetland. In some cases, a drainage permit mayalso be required by the county.

There are voluntary programs that help landowners protectand preserve wetlands by providing financial incentives. Stateand federal agencies can provide information regarding theseprograms and the regulations that help preserve these valu-able resources.

Erosion ControlSoil provides a foundation for life, and erosion is its enemy.Erosion reduces soil productivity and is the largest source ofstream and waterway pollution. Although erosion is a naturalprocess, some activities greatly increase erosion rates by leavingthe ground unprotected. Road and building construction andsome farming practices can lead to excessive erosion if propermanagement practices and precautions are not taken. Overgrazing pastures can lead to erosion by leaving the vegeta-tion too weak to protect the soil––stream banks are particu-larly susceptible.

Installing erosion control and conservation practices helpsmaintain soil productivity and reduces fertilizer costs whilereducing silt, chemicals and excessive nutrients that enter ourwaterways and lakes. These practices also reduce costs forroad maintenance, waterway dredging, and the maintenanceof recreation areas. Franklin Roosevelt said, “The history ofevery nation is eventually written in the way in which it caresfor its soil.”

Fence Laws in South DakotaRobert Frost’s poem, “The Mending Wall” states, “Good fencesmake good neighbors.” South Dakota State Law (SDCL 43-23) recognizes the need for good fences and includes provi-

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sions for ensuring that proper partition fences are erected.Costs for erecting and maintaining partition fences are sharedequally by adjoining landowners. The law states that “eachowner of adjoining lands shall build that half of the fencewhich shall be upon his right hand when he standsupon his own land and faces the line upon whichthe proposed fence is to be built.” A legal fenceis any fence that adjoining landowners can mutu-ally agree upon. If they can’t agree, state lawdefines the description and specifications of a le-gal fence. Fence your property to keep range live-stock out and your animals in. It is unlawful forpets to harass, kill, or wound livestock or wildlife.

Leave the Animals WildCountry dwellers share space with wild animals and encoun-ters with those animals can occur frequently. Some animalsthat commonly inhabit or visit rural developments or acre-ages are deer, raccoons, skunks, opossum, rabbits, fox, coy-otes, and many types of birds and snakes. Help them toremain wild by giving them space and not touching them.Doing so will reduce the possibility of harm to the animal orto you. Some animals may frequent trash piles, garbage binsor gardens. You can minimize or eliminate this problem bycovering or fencing these areas while keeping them clean.

Although you may encounter baby wild animals, you shouldunderstand that wild babies are rarely abandoned. Many wildanimals leave their young unattended for short periods oftime. It is common for baby birds to fall out of nests beforethey are ready to fly. The parents will con-tinue to feed the young on the ground. If youneed to move a baby wild animal, the par-ents will still care for it even though it washandled. This is true of all birds and mam-mals. Parent animals can be very protectiveof their young and may attack if they feelthreatened––for the protection of both youand the animals, keep a safe distance. Enjoythem with your eyes, not your hands!

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Creating Wildlife HabitatWork with resource professionals in your area to develop ahabitat plan that provides food, water and cover for the spe-cies you are interested in attracting to your property.

Water Resources and FishingLandowners with water over their property or those consider-ing installing a dugout or pond should check with their localSouth Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks officer for informationand technical assistance. Subjects that need to be consideredinclude: water ownership (not all water over private land isprivate water), stocking fish (permits may be required) andthe management of private waters. Restrictions may apply tostream and lakeshore modification, placement of fill into lakesand ponds and how the water can be used––requiring appro-priate approvals. Financial assistance may be available forcertain improvements.

Riparian AreasThe space alongside streams, lakes and wetlandsis called a riparian area. Water loving plants liv-ing in riparian areas include willows, cottonwoodsand sedges. Although these areas may compriseonly a small portion of the landscape, they rep-resent critical habitat for a diverse range of livingcreatures, including beaver, muskrat, woodducks, songbirds, frogs, insects and a variety ofaquatic organisms. Keeping these areas healthy

with good vegetation will not only provide food and cover forwildlife, but also:

• Reduce flooding and erosion by slowing water move-ment

• Reduce water pollution by filtering out chemicals andsediment.

• Allow the soil to hold more water––rechargingground water and providing long-season stream flows.

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Livestock and PetsIf you are one of the many people who dream of moving tothe country and raising a few head of livestock, make surethat you have enough land to accommodate the number andtype of animals you plan to raise. Local Extension Educators,conservation districts, and NRCS staff can provide guidanceon how much land is needed to support different types oflivestock.

Zoning ordinances may require permits if you plan to exceedcertain numbers of livestock or operate various types of facili-ties such as a boarding kennel or a stable. Check with yourcounty to see if they have a leash law for pets.

Owning LivestockBefore buying livestock, apply for a registered brand. Thebrand is prima facia evidence of ownership in the state ofSouth Dakota. That simply means that if livestock carry aregistered brand, that brand legally proves livestock owner-ship. If livestock stray, or become missing, it is easier to trackbranded cattle. Owners also have some protection and as-surance that missing cattle may be returned.The brand laws apply to the entire state, how-ever, ownership inspection is only requiredwest of the Missouri River. If an animal isbranded for ownership identification withinSouth Dakota, the brand must be registeredwith the State Brand Board. To acquire an ap-plication for cattle, horses and mules, buffaloor sheep, call the South Dakota State BrandBoard at (605)-773-3324 or go towww.sdbrandboard.com.

Grazing and Livestock ManagementThe plant communities that make up pasture and rangelandare living ecosystems. Land managers need to have a basicunderstanding of plant growth, soils and nutrient cycling inorder to keep their grazing land productive and healthy. Work

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with your local natural resources professionals to develop agrazing plan that includes determining available forage, wa-ter or supplemental water requirements, soil fertility and nu-trient availability on your property.

Agriculture(Farming and Ranching)

Agriculture is South Dakota’s leading industry. When youchoose to live in the country, you choose to live among farmsand ranches. You are part of farm country.

Dust, Smoke and Noise — Tillage, harvesting, hayingand other operations may create dust, especially dur-ing dry, windy weather. Dust easily invades homesand vehicles.

Fields or road ditches are occasionally burned to pro-mote plant growth or control weeds. At certain timesof year, smoke can be common in rural areas.

Farmers sometimes work around the clock, and oftenthat work involves the use of large farm machinery.

Day and night-time hours can be disturbed by the noise andactivity generated by common farm practices, especially dur-ing the spring and fall fieldwork seasons.

Odors — Animals and their manure may cause objection-able odors. If your property is located downwind from a live-stock operation, you may be affected. When purchasing prop-erty near livestock facilities, keep the direction of the prevail-ing winds in mind.

Chemicals — Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticidesare used in crop production. These products may af-fect land adjacent to treated fields.

Slow Moving Vehicles — Farm equipment may slowtravel on rural roads. Large, slow moving machineryoften takes up the entire road. Tractors travel at speedsranging from 5 to 20 miles per hour and can be over-taken quickly. Look for the Slow Moving Vehicle(SMV) sign displayed on the rear of farm equipment.

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The SMV emblem is a red-orange fluorescent triangle sur-rounded by a highly reflective red border. The emblem warnsyou to slow down. Be especially watchful for SMVs duringbusy planting and harvest seasons and during early morningand evening hours.

Youth in Agriculture4-H — The 4-H program is a component of the South DakotaState University Cooperative Extension Service. Youths from8–18 may join one of several clubs located throughout SouthDakota. Through a hands-on approach to learning, 4-H mem-bers learn life skills such as communication, citizenship, deci-sion making, leadership, interpersonal relations, and com-munity awareness. This approach is accomplished with thecooperation of families and the commitment of adult volun-teers. The program offers 38 different projects including shoot-ing sports, woodworking, leadership, horti-culture, ceramics, cake decorating, cloth-ing, foods, and livestock, poultry, and rab-bit husbandry.

4-H is the youth education component ofCooperative Extension Service and the De-partment of Agriculture. The program’sunique linkage to the land grant universitysystem makes 4-H a premiere youth orga-nization.

Future Farmers of America — The Future Farmers ofAmerica (FFA) organization prepares students for successfulcareers and a lifetime of informed choices in global agricul-ture, food, fiber and natural resources systems. The FFA fo-cuses on agricultural topics and hands-on supervised careerexperience while providing leadership opportunities and chal-lenging students’ agricultural skills. Nationally, there are some445,000 members ranging from the ages of 12-21.

South Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom — SouthDakota Agriculture in the Classroom is a national non-profitprogram that provides information to teachers and studentsabout the role of agriculture in our society. Visit http://www.sdagclassroom.org.

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NeighborsJust as your land ends at your property boundary, someoneelse’s land begins there. Whether that land is public or pri-vate, intrusions and activities that affect your neighbor’s landor personal well being will not be welcome and can generatelegal difficulties. Maintain a good neighbor policy and utilizecommon sense.

Know and respect private and public property boundaries.Ask for permission before entering private land, even for acasual stroll, and before driving on private roads. Leave gatesthe way you find them–open or closed.

Public LandsPublic lands in South Dakota are owned or managed by sev-eral different agencies. Each agency has its own rules aboutaccess to and the use of its lands. All of the agencies workwith neighboring landowners to promote good land steward-ship on issues that cross ownership boundaries, such as pro-tecting riparian areas along streams and lakes, maintainingwildlife habitat and migration routes, controlling weeds, keep-ing forests healthy and reducing wildfire hazards. Learn whoyour public land neighbors are. They include:

US Department of Agriculture Forest Service-NationalForests – In South Dakota, Forest Service land is predomi-nantly located in the Black Hills. Having a small acreage forcountry living in this attractive area is undeniably desirable,but there is a hazard that should be considered––forest fire.While the likelihood of a forest fire affecting your propertymay be low, the threat is real. Clearing undergrowth, thin-ning trees and utilizing fire resistant building materials aresensible precautions.

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US Department of Agriculture Forest Service – NationalGrasslands — The Fort Pierre National Grassland, locatednear the communities of Pierre and Ft. Pierre, contains 116,000acre of grassland intermingled with privately owned land.Two other National Grasslands are located in South Dakota:Grand River (155,000 acres) is located near Lemmon andBuffalo Gap (600,000 acres) is near Kadoka and Wall.

US Department of the Interior Fish and WildlifeService – The US Fish and Wildlife Service manages variouswildlife habitat area, particularly in the eastern portion of thestate.

US Department of the Interior Bureau of LandManagement — South Dakota BLM land is range-land that is primarily located in the northwestern quar-ter of the state and used for livestock productionthrough federal grazing permits.

South Dakota State Land – State land includes landowned and managed by the South Dakota Depart-ment of Game, Fish and Parks, (GF&P), the SouthDakota Office of Schools and Public Land and theSouth Dakota Department of Transportation. Most of the GF&Pland provides public recreation, fishing and hunting access.School Land is leased for agricultural purposes, primarily graz-ing.

Tribal LandsThere are seven Indian reservations in South Dakota: Chey-enne River, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge, Rosebud,Sisseton-Wahpeton, and Standing Rock. Reservation land isprivate land controlled by the individual tribes. Some of thereservations are formally organized and some are not. Con-tact respective tribal headquarters for more information.

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Essential Services

CountiesCounties are governed by an elected Board of County Com-missioners and provide a variety of services through variousoffices and departments, including:

• County Highway Department: maintenance ofcounty highways

• Sheriff’s Department and States Attorney Office:rural law enforcement

• Department of Equalization: assessment of prop-erties for tax purposes

• Treasurer’s Office: tax collection and license platesales

• Auditor’s Office: voter registration and voting proce-dures

• Register of Deeds: registration and maintenance ofproperty descriptions, birth and death records andmarriage licenses

• Clerk of Courts: provision of space for the court sys-tem

• Welfare Department: indigent care

• Veteran’s Service Office: Veteran’s assistance

• Department of Emergency Management: coordi-nation of emergency response (Civil Defense)

• Planning Office: administration and management ofrural planning, zoning and building permits (Somecounties have assigned these duties to the CountyEqualization Department.)

TownshipsA township is approximately six miles square.Townships areresponsible for the maintenance of township roads and mayprovide rural fire protection. Township Boards consist of lo-cally elected officials called supervisors. The County Auditor’s

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office maintains an up-to-date listing of the supervisors fortownships in the county. Not all townships in South Dakotaare organized entities. The County Commission oversees theprovision of services in unorganized townships.

Emergencies & Fire ProtectionIn an emergency, ALWAYS DIAL 911.

Make sure you know your correct address so emergencyresponders can be quickly dispatched to your home. Re-sponse times vary.

Most rural fire protection is provided by volunteer fire de-partments. Many township fire departments also have mu-tual aid agreements with other departments in the eventof a larger fire.

Roads & WeatherSeldom do rural roads include the amenities found in urbansettings, such as curb and gutter, striping and lighting. And,the funds to maintain those roads will come primarily fromthe property taxes you and your neighbors pay.

Gravel roads generate dust and dings. Loose gravelon country roads frequently chips paint on vehicles,cracks windshields and can pose dangerous travelconditions. Because of the size of most county high-way systems and the demand placed on individualtownships, rural roads may not be cleared as quicklyafter a winter storm as they would be in a city. Town-ships can be responsible for more than 70 miles ofroadway, often with only one or two pieces of snow

removal equipment. County plows have a much larger num-ber of road miles to clear. There may also be times of theyear, such as spring thaw, when some roads may be impass-able. These inconveniences are part of living in the country. Itis a good idea to keep your propane tank full and have anample supply of groceries for those times when your road isimpassable.

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Essential Services

Also be aware that just because a subdivision roadwas created as a publicly-dedicated right-of-waydoes not mean that any public entity is responsiblefor maintaining the road. It may be privately main-tained by the property owners using the road. Theroad may also have been created as a private road.Again, the property owners, or a homeowners as-sociation, may be responsible for maintenance.Some areas have created Road Districts to addressmaintenance issues.

School Districts & VotingPrecincts

Commonly, there are several school districts in a county. TheEqualization Office can tell you the district in which your prop-erty is located. The Auditor’s office can provide informationon voting sites and the location of your poll.

Rural Mail DeliveryAs in town, the United States Postal Service will deliver yourmail to your mailbox. The catch is the location of your mail-box. The mail person will deliver your mail to the junction ofyour driveway or private subdivision road and the connectingpublic road. In some instances, this may be miles from yourhome.

Planning & Zoning IssuesThe County Planning Office is charged with administering thecounty’s zoning ordinances, subdivision ordinances (splittingproperties or platting) and issuing building permits and septicpermits. In some counties, the County Equalization Officehandles these duties.

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ZoningZoning maintains compatibility between various land uses.Zoning in the county is based on a plan developed by thecounty to direct development in a manner which coordinates

growth with the municipalities, preserves the rural qual-ity of life, protects natural resources, and minimizes pub-lic expenditures.

Based on how your property is zoned, there may be re-strictions on what uses are allowed. Be sure to checkwith the planning office before changing a use or begin-ning a new use such as a home business.

SetbacksSpecific distances may be required between buildings or sitefeatures and property lines. These are designed to reduce firehazards and provide for future growth. The county planningoffice can provide information about setbacks that may berequired. Rural subdivisions sometimes have more restrictivesetbacks in their covenants or deed restrictions than do acre-ages. Counties cannot enforce these additional restrictionsbut your neighbors can. Check with your homeowners asso-ciation or with the County Register of Deeds to determine ifadditional restrictions were filed for your property.

EasementsEasements may exist on property you are considering pur-chasing. Easements can limit how property can be used andmay require you to allow construction rights-of-way acrossyour land. Roads, railroads, habitat protection, power lines,gas lines, water lines, and sewer lines are a few of the thingsfor which easements can be established. Also be aware ofeasements on nearby parcels. Learn what the easement al-lows the easement owner to do in the way of access, mainte-nance and expansion, and check for limits the easement mayimpose on the use of your own property. Easements are amatter of legal record.

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Essential Services

CovenantsMany rural subdivisions have covenants that limit the use ofthe property. It is important to obtain a copy of the covenants(or confirm there are none) and make sure you can live withthose rules. Homeowners’ associations may be established insome rural subdivisions and can provide information on com-mon elements, private roads, open spaces, etc.

FloodplainsThere are restrictions on construction and activities within aflood plain to reduce the potential damage during flood events.A flood plain is defined as that area which has a one-percentchance of flooding in any particular year (100-yearflood plain). There may be restrictions in flood-proneareas regarding the type or amount of fill material(so that floodwaters are not directed onto other prop-erty) or on the types of septic systems (to preventpotential water contamination). Your lending insti-tution or insurance company may also require thatyou purchase federal flood insurance if you live in aflood plain.

PermitsBuilding permits are required before starting any constructionactivity, and building inspections may be required at specificpoints during the construction process. The cost of a buildingpermit is based on the value of the proposed construction.Check with the county Planning Office if building permits arerequired.

In addition to a building permit, some construction activitiesmay also need a storm water construction activities permit if:

• the building or road construction will disturb more thanone acre,

• the lot is part of a development that disturbed morethan one acre, or

• the construction activities are expected to contributepollutants to surface or ground water.

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Before starting construction activities, read Construction Ac-tivities and the Storm Water Program, published by the SouthDakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.It describes the types of new construction activities that re-quire a permit or are part of a common plan for develop-ment. A copy is available by visiting:

http://www.state.sd.us/denr/DES/Surfacewater/stormwater.htm

Environmental IssuesRural residents should be aware that surface and groundwatersare precious resources that we all depend on for our watersupplies. Many activities can have a negative impact on riv-ers, lakes, streams, and aquifers. Properly use and dispose ofany potentially hazardous materials.

Pesticide Container Recycling ProgramsEach summer, the South Dakota Department of Agricultureand the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service con-duct a recycling program for agricultural pesticide containers.The program is a public service that provides a disposal alter-native for properly cleaned and rinsed plastic and metal pes-ticide containers. There is no cost to participants.

Unusable Pesticide Collection ProgramThe South Dakota Department of Agriculture and the SouthDakota Cooperative Extension Service conduct an unusablepesticide collection program annually to assist homeowners,farmers and landowners with the proper disposal of unusablepesticides. Unusable pesticides include products that are nolonger usable, are no longer registered by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, are not identifiable or are missing impor-tant label information. Although pre-registration is required,the program is a public service and there is no cost to partici-pants. Information and registration forms are available from

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your local County Extension Office or the South Dakota De-partment of Agriculture.

Solid WasteYou are responsible for properly disposing of solid waste. Youcannot dispose of solid waste in a manner that contributes todisease vectors (rodents, insects, etc.), that pollutes the air,ground water or surface water or that causes litter. In ruralareas, you must hire a garbage hauler to take your waste toa landfill or haul the waste to the landfill yourself.

There are times when the illegal dumping of solidwaste along roads and on private property has oc-curred. If you witness illegal dumping, do not con-front the person doing the dumping. Note the ve-hicle description and/or license plate and call theSheriff’s Department.

RecyclingItems such as office paper (non-glossy), newspaper, corru-gated cardboard, aluminum cans, and steel (tin) cans can berecycled. Your community may offer curbside recycling pickupor drop-off sites for recyclable materials.

Household Hazardous WasteItems that can not enter the waste stream going to the land-fill include waste oil, vehicle batteries, tires, appliances, paints,solvents and landscaping chemicals. Some communities spon-sor collection days or have a collection site for these prod-ucts. Collected items are reused, recycled, or properly dis-posed at a hazardous waste site. Various communities haverubble sites that may accept tires or appliances until they canbe collected for recycling or proper disposal.

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Rural Water

Rural Water SystemsMany rural areas and communities in South Dakota haverecently had a rural water system brought to their area. These

systems ensure a clean, reliable source for drink-ing water. Contact the South Dakota Associationof Rural Water Systems for water system infor-mation.

WellsHomeowners with private wells are responsiblefor monitoring the quality of their drinking water.The two most common contaminants found in

ground water in South Dakota are coliform bacteria and ni-trate. Both pose serious health risks. The South Dakota HealthDepartment tests water samples from private systems on afee basis. Sample kits containing collection bottles, samplinginstructions and available lab services are available at CountyExtension Offices or the South Dakota State Health Labora-tory.

Abandoned WellsThe owner of property on which an abandoned well is lo-cated is the owner of the abandoned well. Consequently, theowner is also responsible for plugging the abandoned well asrequired by South Dakota Codified Law. There are many rea-sons to properly plug an abandoned well aside from the legalrequirements. Abandoned wells pose environmental and safetyhazards and are potential legal liabilities.

Environmental hazards include: contamination of aquifers byallowing surface runoff carrying pollutants to enter the groundwater; cross contamination of aquifers by the well passingthrough more than one aquifer; reducing artesian head pres-sure which may affect other wells in the same aquifer andsafety hazards to people and animals. The procedures usedto plug an abandoned well must meet requirements outlinedin the SD Well Construction Standards. These standards specify

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how to plug a well depending on the type of well construc-tion, the type of aquifer or aquifers that the well penetrates,and the materials to be used to plug the well.

Even though the owner of an abandoned wellis allowed to plug the well, it is strongly sug-gested that a licensed well driller perform thework. If a well is not plugged properly, groundwater contamination may still occur. It is diffi-cult and expensive to correct the improper plug-ging of an abandoned well.

Water RightsA state water rights permit may be required before drilling anew well. In most cases, a permit is not required if you aredrilling a well for just your home. Larger scale wells such asthose for municipalities or for irrigation may require a permit.Wells should only be installed by licensed well drillers.

Irrigation WellsThere is a one-acre limit on the amount of area that can bewatered before a water right is needed. There is an excep-tion to that limit if a drip irrigation system is used to watertrees. All outside-the-house use of water is predicated on theuse of:

• not more than 18 gallons/minute, or

• a total amount not to exceed 25,290 gallons/day at arate of 25 gallons/minute

Irrigation DitchesThe landowner does not have an automatic right to use wa-ter from an irrigation ditch. The ditch is usually located on aneasement. To access water in the ditch, permission is neededfrom the ditch company or possibly the irrigation district. Usu-ally the acreage/homeowner can access water by paying aminimal fee each year.

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Rural Utilities

ElectricityRural areas are served by different electrical companies orcooperatives. Contact the companies to determine which one

serves your area. (The South Dakota Public UtilitiesCommission has a listing of these companies at http://www.state.sd.us/puc/2001/Electric01/Eleclabl.htm).Know the address or legal description of your prop-erty before you call.

Electric service is available to all rural areas. Powercompanies and electric cooperatives often have poli-cies, which require homeowners to share the cost ofbuilding service to new locations.

Power outages can occur in towns and rural areasalike. Depending on the type of outage, power restorationmay take many hours. Storm damage to lines serving ruralcustomers may require several miles of power lines to berepaired, simply to reconnect one consumer. A loss of electricpower can interrupt the operation of your well, furnace, freez-

ers, and other appliances dependent on electrical power.

Natural GasNatural gas may not be available. Alternatives are electricity,liquid propane gas (LP) or heating oil. Propane gas and heat-ing oil are delivered by truck and stored in a tank on yourproperty. If relying on gas deliveries, be certain to have anadequate supply to get through winter’s periodic snowstormswhen access may be limited.

South Dakota One CallCall before you dig! Many utility cables and pipes are buriedunderground. Digging and hitting a buried utility cable or pipecan be extremely dangerous. Not only is service disrupted,but cutting lines can result in electrocution or an explosion.You may be financially responsible if you disrupt service. Callthe One Call number at 1-800-781-7474 at least 48 hoursbefore you plan to dig. Personal utilities, such as phone lines,water lines, septic lines or gas lines serving an individual homeare not listed on the one-call system. Be sure to check allpossibilities before digging.

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TelephoneState-of-the-art telecommunications services are available inmost of South Dakota’s small towns and rural areas. In addi-tion to offering basic voice communication services, SouthDakota’s rural telecommunications companies also offer high-speed and dial-up Internet services. South Dakota’s commu-nity-based telecommunications companies collectively servealmost 80 percent of the state’s geography and are head-quartered in small towns throughout the state. For informa-tion concerning the rural telephone company serving yourarea and the services that are available from that companysee www.sdtaonline.com.

The quality of cellular phone service varies depending on thelocation, but cellular companies are investing in new towersites throughout the state.

BurningSome areas allow the use of a burn barrel forburning your trash, however, you must attend tothe fire at all times to prevent it from spreading. Ifa fire spreads, you may be liable for any damage.Use common sense. There may also be restric-tions on burning certain items, such as plastic con-tainers or tires. Watch the weather conditionswhen you burn. If you are planning any open burn,contact your local fire department to inform them of yourplans. The County Emergency Management Office shouldhave a list of contacts for the various volunteer departments.

The State Fire Marshall or individual county commissions mayplace a ban on open burning during times of extreme firehazard. Some areas of the state, especially lands adjacent toor within public land areas, have year-round bans on fires. Itis your responsibility to know if a ban on open burning hasbeen instituted.

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Septic SystemsVery few sanitary districts provide sanitary sewer service to

rural areas. It is more likely that you will depend on a septicsystem for wastewater treatment. The purpose of the sys-tem is to treat the waste, not merely dispose of it. To prop-erly treat the waste, the septic system must be properlydesigned, sited, constructed and maintained. You are re-sponsible for the proper maintenance of the system. Thesystem should be designed and installed by a state-certi-fied installer. It is a violation of state law to use any system,which allows wastewater to reach the ground surface orpollutes surface or ground water.

There are two basic components of the system, the septictank and the drain field (leach field). The purpose of thetank is to separate the solids from the liquids in the wastestream. The drain field spreads the effluent out in a seriesof underground pipes so that natural soil bacteria may treat

the waste. The tank contents must be periodically pumpedand taken to a wastewater treatment plant for proper treat-ment.

The installation of septic systems may require permits fromthe county and inspection of the system prior to completion.Certified septic installers may be found in the yellow pagesunder Septic Tanks and Systems. The South Dakota Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resources has a list of cer-tified installers online at: http://state.sd.us/denr/des/surfacewater/septic.

InformationWhere do you turn for more information about the consider-ations noted in this booklet? The following list has some sug-gestions. Of course, resources vary by locale, so you mayneed to do a little research on your own. Not all serviceslisted are available in all counties. When in doubt, start withyour local Cooperative Extension Service for general informa-tion about rural areas.

For emergencies, always call 911.

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Additional References andWeb Sites of Interest

South Dakota State University/Cooperative ExtensionService (Every county has staff serving the area):South Dakota Cooperative Extension ServiceAg Hall 154, P.O. Box 2207DBrookings, South Dakota 57007(605) 688-4792

http://sdces-sdstate.edu

HOME*A*SYSThttp://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst/

FARM*A*SYSThttp://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst/

South Dakota State University Soil Testing LaboratoryBox 2207ABrookings, SD 57007-1096(605) 688-4766

http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/woodardh/soiltest/

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service(Every county has staff serving the area):NRCS State Office200 Fourth Street SW, Federal BuildingHuron, SD 57350

http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: http://plants.usda.gov

USDA NRCS SOILS Information: http://soils.usda.gov

Backyard Conservation: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

USDA NRCS Water and Climate Services Center - Sourcefor quality spatial snow, water, climate, and hydrologicnetwork of information and technology:http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov

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USDA Farm Service Agency200 Fourth Street SW, Federal Building, Room 308Huron, SD 57350(605) 352-1163http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sd/

ClimateSource, Gridded Spatial Climate Data for theConterminous United States (precipitation, temperature,growing season days, and snowfall).

http://www.climatesource.com/downloads.html

United States Army Corps of Engineers

http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/

United States Fish and Wildlife Service RegionalOffices

http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/

United States Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/

Wetlands Hotline (800) 832-7828

State of South Dakota

http://www.state.sd.us/

South Dakota Department of Agriculturehttp://www.state.sd.us/doa/doa.html

South Dakota Department of Environment and NaturalResources1-800-GET-DENR (800-438-3367)

http://www.denr.state.sd.us

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks(605) 773-3391

http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/

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GF&P Division of Wildlife OfficesInformation: (605) 773-3485Licensing: (605) 773-3393

http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/DivisionWildlife/WildlifeHomePage.htm

South Dakota Department of Transportation(605) 773-3265

http://www.sddot.com/

South Dakota Association of Countieshttp://sdcounties.org/home.cfm

South Dakota Association of Rural Water SystemsSioux Falls office: 605-336-7219Spearfish office: 605-642-4031

http://www.sdarws.com/

South Dakota Association of Conservation DistrictsP.O. Box 275Pierre, SD 57501-0275(800) 729-4099

http://www.sdconservation.org

South Dakota Association of RC&D Councils

http://www.sdrcd.org/councils.html

South Dakota Rural Electric Association(605) 224-8823

http://www.sdrea.com

South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office(605) 773-3458

http://www.sdhistory.org/HP/histpres.htm

South Dakota One Call(800) 781-7474

http://www.sdonecall.com/index.asp

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About This PublicationThis publication was developed in cooperation with:

South Dakota Association of Conservation DistrictsSouth Dakota Association of RC&D CouncilsSouth Dakota State University/Cooperative ExtensionServiceUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Rural Living Publication Team:

This group was responsible for assembling the informationinto a public document, with a great deal of input and fact-checking from subject-matter experts across South Dakota.

Team Members are:

Minnehaha Water Coalition: Jim Auen, Minnehaha Commu-nity Water Corporation; Paul D. Bangasser, Minnehaha CountyWeed Supervisor; Phil Kappen, Minnehaha County Planning& Zoning; Curtis O. Eggers and Verne Endahl, Ag Producers& Water Shed Board Members; Tim Stefanich, Water Purifi-cation Plant; Tom Lang and Jim Zeck, Waste Water Treat-ment Plant; Morris Forsting and Doug Johnson, Public Works/Environmental Division; Harley Shafer, Minnehaha Conser-vation District; Brian Top, NRCS; Steven Munk and CraigRosenberg, Minnehaha County Extension Office; Duane Stall,Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation

Colette Kessler, Natural Resources Conservation Service;Dennis Clarke, South Dakota Department of Environmentand Natural Resources; Joby Timm, North Central Resource,Conservation & Development.

With Special Assistance From:

Herb Davis, South Dakota Earth Team VolunteerTroy Thompson, Graphic DesignerSkill-Clique Associates

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This information is available electronically on the web at:

http://www.sdconservation.org

http://www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov/publications.html

This document may not be copied, printed or reproduced byany means without explicit permission.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits dis-crimination in all its programs and activities on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, po-litical beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons withdisabilities who require alternative means for communica-tion of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director,Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14thand Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equalopportunity provider and employer.

Spring-2004

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