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South Dakota Posting Laws: How to Post Land
South Dakota's rules about private land lean on permission more than on signs. The statute text we read shows no required sign size, spacing or paint colour. What it does show is a clear permission rule for hunting, plus penalties for posting land you do not control. Here is what that means in practice.
What the law asks for on signs
The law is SDCL 22-35-6 and finds no owner-name rule, no letter height, no minimum sign size and no spacing number. It also lists 41-9-2, tied in the statute text we read to the Black Hills FPD area south of I-90, so owners there should read that section. Our builder follows these sign rules, and you should confirm the current text yourself.
Hunting land and permission
Section 41-9-1 says no one may fish, hunt or trap on any private land without permission from the owner or lessee, posted or not. A hunter who shrugs and says the land was not marked has no defence in the statute text we read's reading. A sign still helps, because it answers the question before anyone has to ask.
Who may post and who may not
Posting another person's land without the owner's or lessee's written consent, or posting public land, is a Class 1 misdemeanor under 41-9-4. Removing or damaging legally posted notices is a Class 2 misdemeanor under 41-9-5. If you lease ground, get your landlord's written consent before putting up a single sign.
Practical tips
Wide pasture and long section lines make sign care a chore, so start at the gates and field entrances where trucks turn in. Wind and ice take their toll on signs, so look them over each spring. A dated photo of every posted gate is a cheap record to keep.
Questions about posting land in South Dakota
Does South Dakota require specific sign wording or size?
The statute text we read shows no minimum sign size, no letter height, no spacing number and no owner-name rule for the statute cited. Choose clear wording and read the current text of SDCL 22-35-6 at the link on this page.
Do hunters need permission even if land is not posted?
Yes, according to the statute. Section 41-9-1 says no one may fish, hunt or trap on private land without permission from the owner or lessee, posted or not. A sign is a courtesy and a reminder, not the source of the rule.
Can I post land that I lease?
Only with the owner's written consent, per the statute. Section 41-9-4 makes posting another's land without the owner's or lessee's written consent a Class 1 misdemeanor. Posting public land is covered the same way, so get consent first.
This guide explains the law in plain words; it is not legal advice. We read the statute text on 2026-10-24. Laws change: check the current text here or ask your county or state wildlife agency.