Title 7 — COUNTIES

Beginning at a point where the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and North Dakota intersects the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Minnesota, thence west and along said state line between the states of South Dakota and North Dakota to the range l…

Beginning at the northwest corner of township one hundred eight north of range fifty - nine, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the second standard parallel north to the northwest corner of township one hundred eight north of range sixty - two west; thenc…

Beginning at a point where the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Nebraska intersects the fifth guide meridian west of the sixth principal meridian, thence north and along said guide meridian to the center of the main channel of White River; thence westerly and …

Beginning at the northeast corner of township one hundred twenty north of range sixty, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the fifth standard parallel north to the northwest corner of township one hundred twenty north of range sixty - five west; thence sou…

Beginning at the intersection of the centers of the main channels of the Cheyenne and Missouri rivers, thence westerly and up the center of the main channel of the Cheyenne River to the sixth guide meridian east Black Hills meridian; thence south and along said guide meridian to …

Beginning on the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Minnesota where the township line between townships one hundred twelve and one hundred thirteen north intersects the same, thence west and along said township line to the northwest corner of township one hundre…

Beginning at the intersection of the third standard parallel north with the tenth guide meridian west of the fifth principal meridian, thence north and along said tenth guide meridian to the fourth standard parallel north; thence west and along said fourth standard parallel to th…

Beginning at the intersection of the third guide meridian west of the sixth principal meridian with the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Nebraska; thence north and along said third guide meridian to the township line between townships thirty - nine and forty, …

Beginning at the intersection of the third guide meridian west of the sixth principal meridian with the center of the main channel of White River, thence south and along said third guide meridian to the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Nebraska; thence east on…

Beginning at the northeast corner of township one hundred north of range fifty - two, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the base line to the northwest corner of township one hundred north of range fifty - five west; thence south and along the range line …

Beginning at a point where the township line between townships ninety - five and ninety - six north intersects the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and Iowa, thence west and along the township line between townships ninety - five and ninety - six north, to the nor…

Beginning at the northeast corner of township one hundred twenty - four north of range seventy - four, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the sixth standard parallel north, to the center of the main channel of the Missouri River; thence southerly and down…

Beginning at the northeast corner of township ninety - six north of range fifty - four west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the township line between townships ninety - six and ninety - seven to the northwest corner of township ninety - six, north of range …

Beginning at the northeast corner of township seventeen north of range twenty - one, east of the Black Hills meridian, thence west and along the township line between townships seventeen and eighteen north, to the one hundred second meridian of west longitude; thence south and al…

If not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of any organized county in this state, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, shall on or before the first day of July in any general election year, file in the office of c…

Beginning on the boundary line between the states of South Dakota and North Dakota where the eighth guide meridian west, intersects the same, thence west and along said state line to the northwest corner of township one hundred twenty - eight north of range sixty - five, west of …

If a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at an election held pursuant to § 7-1-69 are in favor of changing the name of the county, the county auditor shall within ten days after the canvass of the vote, certify under the seal of the county auditor's office to the secretary of s…

Upon the certification made by the county auditor pursuant to § 7-1-70 , the secretary of state shall publicly proclaim the result of the election held pursuant to § 7-1-69 and the new name of the county. The new name of the county shall be in full force and effect on the first d…

Beginning at the northeast corner of township one hundred five north of range sixty - seven, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the township line between townships one hundred five and one hundred six north, to the center of the main channel of the Missou…

Beginning at the northeast corner of township one hundred eight north of range sixty - eight, west of the fifth principal meridian, thence west and along the second standard parallel north, to the center of the main channel of the Missouri River; thence southerly and down the cen…

A petition signed by fifteen percent of the registered voters of each of two or more adjoining counties of this state, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, requesting the formation of a committee to study the question of changin…

The board of county commissioners in each of two or more adjoining counties may, on the boards' own initiative, create a committee to study changing the boundary lines or the consolidation of two or more counties by a resolution passed by a majority vote of each of the participat…

The composition of the study committee organized under § 7-2-1 or 7-2-1.1 must be prescribed in the petition or resolution, but the study committee must include two members of the board of county commissioners from each affected county and at least one resident from each incorpor…

The study committee must submit a final report to the board of county commissioners of each affected county within one hundred and eighty days after the study committee is created. The study committee shall consider and include in the report: (1) The fiscal impact of the proposed…

When the report and the map have been received by the board of county commissioners for each of the affected counties, each board must, at their regular July meeting following the presentation of the report, provide that the study committee's county consolidation plan be submitte…

At the next general election after the proclamation by the Governor, the voters of the consolidated county shall elect one set of county officers for the new county. Source: SL 1893, ch 45 , § 13; RPolC 1903, § 787; RC 1919, § 5766; SDC 1939, § 12.0309; SL 2024, ch 26 , § 13.

The new county is entitled to the same number of members in the Legislature that the counties had in the aggregate before consolidation, and such number must be elected at each general election until a new apportionment. Source: SL 1893, ch 45 , § 13; RPolC 1903, § 787; RC 1919, …

After consolidation, the property of each of the consolidated counties is the property of the new county. Source: SL 1893, ch 45 , §§ 11, 12; RPolC 1903, §§ 785, 786; RC 1919, §§ 5764, 5765; SDC 1939, § 12.0308; SL 1943, ch 24 , § 2; SL 2024, ch 26 , § 15.

Any debt contracted by the former counties that comprise the new county may only be paid from taxes levied on property that was part of the territory of the former county as it was when it contracted the debt. The board of county commissioners of the new county may, by ordinance …

If the area of any county in this state has been altered by the changing of the boundaries and the county's commissioners do not run at large, the board of county commissioners, at the first regular meeting thereafter, shall establish commissioner districts in the county. The boa…

Whenever the boundaries of a county have been changed, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners at once to secure a full, true, and complete transcript of such records of the original county as may relate to or in any manner affect the property rights or interest…

Where the boundaries of two or more counties have been changed, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and the county or counties from which area has been detached has indebtedness charged against such detached area, all levies of taxes, and special assessments, theretofore …

In any case where a municipality in this state is so situated that its boundaries extend into, and its area is a part of two or more adjoining counties of the state, the governing body of such municipality shall, upon petition signed by fifteen percent of the voters of such munic…

If a majority of the voters of such municipality are in favor of the change, the auditor or clerk of such municipality, shall certify the result of such election to the county auditor of each county affected, and thereupon the county commissioners of each of such counties shall, …

The question to be submitted at the general election in each county affected, shall be substantially in the following form: Shall the boundaries of ________ county be changed to exclude "or include, as the case may be," that part of ________ county lying within the corporate limi…

Repealed by SL 1985, ch 15 , § 3.

The auditor of each of the affected counties shall give thirty days' notice of the election by publishing the notice once each week for at least two consecutive weeks prior to the election in the official newspapers of the county. The notice must provide the election date, the ho…

If at any election held under the provisions of this chapter, a majority of all the votes cast at the election in each of the affected counties are in favor of consolidation of two or more counties or the changing of the boundary lines of named counties, they must be declared con…

Within thirty days after the canvassing of the returns of the election, the county auditor of each of the affected counties shall transmit a certified report of the canvass to the Governor who shall, within twenty days after receiving the report of the canvass, proclaim the resul…

The consolidation or change of boundaries takes effect on the first day of January following the general election of the county officers for the consolidated county pursuant to § 7-2-10 , or as otherwise set forth in the study committee's county consolidation plan. Source: SL 189…

7-2-7 Name of consolidated county. 7-2-8 Commissioner election in consolidated county--First election after consolidation. 7-2-9 Continuation of officer terms after consolidation. 7-2-10 First election of county officers after consolidation. 7-2-11 Legislative representation of c…

The name of a new county formed pursuant to this chapter must be the name set forth in the study committee's county consolidation plan. Source: SL 1893, ch 45 , § 7; RPolC 1903, § 781; RC 1919, § 5760; SDC 1939, § 12.0304; SL 2024, ch 26 , § 10.

The board of county commissioners of each of the counties comprising the newly consolidated county shall, after the proclamation of consolidation by the Governor, meet in joint session at the county seat of the county that had the largest population before consolidation on the fi…

The county officers in each of the counties that have been consolidated shall continue to act in their respective counties until the officers of the new county are elected and qualified. Source: SL 1893, ch 45 , § 16; RPolC 1903, § 790; RC 1919, § 5769; SDC 1939, § 12.0311; SL 20…

If fifteen percent of the registered voters, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, residing in any portion consisting of not less than twenty - four congressional townships or any portion consisting of not less than one hundred m…

In case no action is brought within the time prescribed in § 7-3-9 , the apportionment made by the auditor - general shall be final and binding upon all counties and persons affected. Source: SL 1917, ch 175 , § 3; RC 1919, § 5778; SDC 1939, § 12.0405.

It shall be the duty of the boards of county commissioners of such counties at their next regular meeting after the expiration of thirty days from the filing of the report of the auditor - general, to issue warrants upon the several funds to the creditor county to pay any amounts…

For the work herein provided, the auditor - general shall be paid at the rate and in the manner fixed by law for such auditor - general, and the expense of making such apportionment shall be charged to each of the counties and the amount thereof apportioned to each county ratably…

Whenever an organized county has been or shall be divided and a division of the books, records, and files has not been made, it shall be the duty of the county commissioners of the new county or counties to procure from the original county, and it shall be the duty of the proper …

In all cases where any files delivered under the provisions of this chapter are indexed in the office of the original county, it shall be the duty of the custodian of such files, before delivering the same, to note in the margin or other proper place in such index that such files…