Title 9 — MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Every municipality has the power: (1) To sue and be sued and to contract in its corporate name; (2) To acquire by lease, purchase, gift, condemnation, or other lawful means and hold in its corporate name, or use and control as provided by law, both real and personal property and …

Every municipality has power to provide for the taking of the census of the municipality. Source: SL 1890, ch 37 , art V, § 69; RPolC 1903, § 1229, subdiv 69; SL 1913, ch 119 , § 53, subdiv 69; RC 1919, § 6170 (14); SDC 1939, § 45.0202 (6); SL 1992, ch 60 , § 2; SL 2025, ch 38 , …

A municipality may appropriate money from its general fund to promote itself. If there are commercial clubs, chambers of commerce, or industrial development corporations organized and incorporated as nonprofit corporations under the laws of the State of South Dakota for the purpo…

In addition to other powers granted, every municipality of the first class shall have power to employ one or more persons to act as welfare workers in the distribution of funds derived from any source to needy poor. Source: SL 1933, ch 154 ; SDC 1939, § 45.0203 (1).

Every municipality shall have power to adopt a zoning ordinance as provided by Title 11. Source: SL 1927, ch 176 , § 1; SDC 1939, § 45.0201 (101).

Every municipality may exercise the powers as to airports and landing fields for aircraft as provided in Title 50. Source: SL 1929, ch 71 , § 1; SL 1931, ch 86 , § 1; SDC 1939, § 45.0201 (102).

A municipality may pay compensation to a regularly scheduled commercial air carrier to provide basic or enhanced air service. Source: SL 1988, ch 376 , § 3; SL 1990, ch 377 , § 2; SL 2025, ch 38 , § 64.

Every municipality shall have power to establish and maintain a municipal library, in the manner and subject to the conditions provided in chapter 14-2 . Source: SDC 1939, § 45.0201 (104); SL 1976, ch 143 , § 26.

The municipal governing body may adopt an ordinance to make the provisions of chapter 12-27 applicable to municipal elections. Source: SL 1980, ch 62 , § 1; SL 2008, ch 67 , § 21.

A municipality may adopt ordinances for the purpose of protecting public groundwater supplies from pollution. The ordinances shall be consistent with the wellhead protection program guidelines developed by the department pursuant to § 34A-3A-17 , and may include ordinances to est…

The governing body of any municipality may regulate and maintain in a reasonable manner any abandoned cemetery, which regulation and maintenance may include, but need not be limited to, the mowing and cutting of weeds and grass, the repairing of fences and corrective measures rel…

The governing body of a municipality governed by a home rule charter may not impose any permit or inspection fee, beyond the actual cost of the inspection, on any property which is owned by a unit of government unless a higher fee is established through a joint powers agreement e…

Every municipality may: (1) Control its finances and property; (2) Levy and collect taxes for general and special purposes on real property within the limits allowed by law; (3) Appropriate money for authorized purposes and provide for the payment of the debts and expenses of the…

Any municipality holding a license pursuant to Title 35 may serve or provide for the service of food, prepared food, and beverages at any establishment operating under such license. Source: SL 2005, ch 49 , § 1.

Any second- or third-class municipality may rebate the municipal property taxes paid by any industry that furthers the municipality's industrial development goals. Any such municipality shall, by ordinance, develop a program that provides for the type of industry that qualifies f…

The term of each member appointed pursuant to § 9-12-22 is three years. In the case of a vacancy, a new member may be appointed for the remainder of the term, in accordance with §

Every municipality may appropriate funds to pay the necessary expenses of its officers or employees in conducting business or attending meetings within or without the state as the governing body determines necessary to carry out authorized municipal activities. Source: SL 1957, c…

The municipal governing body may, by ordinance, authorize the appropriation of funds to provide compensation to members of municipal boards and commissions not already compensated. Source: SL 1986, ch 66 .

Every municipality shall have power to enter into agreements with the United States, with the State of South Dakota and with any authorized agency, subdivision or unit of government, federal or state, to carry out any authorized municipal function. Source: SL 1964, ch 145 .

Every municipality shall have power to lease or sell or give and convey any personal or real property of the municipality or perform any work or render any services, to the state or any public corporation thereof, to be used by such grantee for an authorized public purpose; such …

Every municipality may lease its municipally owned property. The lease must be for a term and upon the conditions provided by the governing body. Source: SL 1980, ch 61 , § 1; SL 2025, ch 38 , § 61.

If the governing body decides to lease any municipally owned property to any private person for a term exceeding one hundred twenty days and for an amount exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars annual value, the municipality must adopt a resolution of intent to enter into th…

Any municipality may obtain and pay for all forms of liability insurance, or in lieu thereof, make other arrangements, including entering into agreements with others, which agreements may create separate legal or administrative entities pursuant to chapter 1-24 , to protect and a…

Source: SL 1907, ch 187 ; RC 1919, § 6169 (80); SL 1923, ch 233 ; SDC 1939, § 45.0201 (11); SL 2025, ch 38 , § 67.