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Short-term rental rules: South Dakota (statewide)
A summary, read November 8, 2026. This is a short summary of what the official source below states. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules change — read the official source before you rely on it.
- The Department of Health's lodging establishment license covers a bed and breakfast, specialty resort, hotel, or vacation home.
- Getting the license takes three steps — an online application submitted with the fee, a plan approval, and an on-site inspection — and all three must be finished before the license is issued. The page does not state the fee amount.
- The Department's page says that from July 1, 2026, paper applications are no longer accepted; all applications go through the online system.
- The rules the page cites for vacation homes are ARSD 44:02:08 (Vacation Homes), with SDCL 34-18-22.3 listed as a fire safety standard for vacation homes.
- The Department of Revenue's tourism tax page sets a 1.5% tourism tax on the gross receipts of listed businesses, including hotels and lodging establishments. That page does not name vacation homes or short-term rentals specifically — ask the Department of Revenue how it applies to your place.
Official sources
- Lodging Licensure and Codes — South Dakota Department of Health
- Tourism Tax — South Dakota Department of Revenue
Questions: SD Department of Health, (605) 773-3361 · SD Department of Revenue, 1-800-829-9188
City rules on top of these: Deadwood.
Local help: short-term rental services in South Dakota.