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South Dakota: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

South Dakota has 409,000 housing units. 49.7% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1980. 68.6% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

South Dakota housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

South Dakota housing units by year built 49.7% of South Dakota housing units were built before 1980 and 50.3% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 2.3%; 2010–2019: 13.1%; 2000–2009: 14.2%; 1990–1999: 11.5%; 1980–1989: 9.1%; 1970–1979: 14.5%; 1960–1969: 7.6%; 1950–1959: 8.0%; 1940–1949: 3.9%; 1939 or earlier: 15.8%. Before 1980 49.7% 1980 or later 50.3% 2020 or later 2.3% 2010–2019 13.1% 2000–2009 14.2% 1990–1999 11.5% 1980–1989 9.1% 1970–1979 14.5% 1960–1969 7.6% 1950–1959 8.0% 1940–1949 3.9% 1939 or earlier 15.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which the EPA administers directly in South Dakota.

How homes are heated

How homes in South Dakota are heated

Main heating fuel, share of about 366,000 occupied homes

  • Utility gas 47.6%
  • Electricity 32.4%
  • Propane or other tank gas 15.5%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 1.3%
  • Other fuel 1.2%
  • Wood 1.1%
  • No fuel used 0.8%
  • Coal or coke 0.1%
  • Solar energy <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how South Dakota's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
6A86.2%48
5A13.8%18

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. All of South Dakota falls in the Northern zone.

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 167 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 149 days in the mildest county to 195 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

0.5% of residential structures in South Dakota carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 2,011 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, none of South Dakota's 66 counties rates high or very high for riverine flooding, coastal flooding or hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

No county in South Dakota is inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine.

Who licenses the work in South Dakota

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources danr.sd.gov danr.sd.gov
  11. South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources danr.sd.gov danr.sd.gov
  12. epa.gov epa.gov epa.gov