This page covers the City of Sioux Falls. Brandon, Harrisburg, Tea and the other towns set their own rules, and Minnehaha and Lincoln counties cover land outside city limits. Rules change, so we confirm them for your address before work starts.
Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio in Sioux Falls?
You do not need a building permit for a driveway. The city's building code lists sidewalks and driveways as exempt from a building permit. That is not the end of it. The city's permit page says driveway permits are required by the Zoning office. We did not find a city statement that names plain patios, so we check with Building Services for your lot. A deck, a roof over a patio or a slab that supports a building needs a building permit.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway?
Plan on a driveway permit from the Zoning office before you widen. Zoning controls where vehicles may park on a lot and how the driveway sits in the front yard, and a wider opening at the curb changes the public right of way. We did not confirm the width limits from an official page, so we quote none. We ask the city for your address.
Who owns the driveway apron: me or the city?
The apron, or approach, between the sidewalk and the street lies in the public right of way, so the city controls how it is built. We did not find a city page that states who pays to replace a worn apron, so we do not state it here. Before replacing one, ask the city's Engineering office what standard applies and whether a permit is needed. We make that call as part of a driveway job.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house?
You are. The City of Sioux Falls states that homeowners and property owners are responsible for sidewalk repair costs, and that state law requires owners to maintain their sidewalks so they do not become a public nuisance. That applies to the public walk along your lot, even though it sits in the right of way.
The city sent a notice and painted my sidewalk pink. Must I use the city's contractor or can I hire my own?
You can hire your own. When the city sent the letter and door hanger and marked the panel with bright pink paint, it gave you three choices: do the repair yourself, hire a contractor that is bonded and insured with the city, or let the city's contractor do the work and bill you. A sidewalk permit is required before work starts. It is free for a homeowner or property owner, and a contractor pays a fee. If the deadline in the notice passes with no permit, the city enrolls you with its contractor automatically.
How close to the property line can I pour? Do I need a survey?
Setbacks for driveways and slabs come from the zoning ordinance, and we did not confirm the distances, so ask Zoning for your lot. A survey is worth having when the new concrete runs along a lot line, when pins cannot be found, or when a neighbor disagrees about the line. Fences and old driveways are often not on the true line. We do not pour along a boundary on a guess.
Do I need HOA approval?
If your subdivision has covenants, yes, check them first. Many newer neighborhoods on the south, east and west sides of Sioux Falls have HOA rules about driveway width, extra parking pads for boats and campers, and decorative finishes. HOA approval is separate from any city permit. Get it in writing before you sign a contract.
How much of my lot can I cover with concrete?
Zoning sets limits on lot coverage and on paving in the front yard, and added impervious surface sends more water to the street and to neighbors. We did not confirm the Sioux Falls percentages on an official page, so we give none. If you are adding a large pad or widening a drive, the Zoning office can tell you the limit for your district.
When does a retaining wall need a permit or an engineer?
In Sioux Falls a retaining wall needs a building permit when it is over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the grade to the top of the wall, or when it supports extra load such as a driveway, a building or a slope above it. The city's code exempts walls that are not over 4 feet and carry no such load. Walls that need a permit generally need an engineer's design. Even a short wall here needs drainage behind it, because frost pushes on wet soil.
How do I find underground utility lines before digging?
Contact South Dakota 811 before any digging. State law, SDCL 49-7A-5, requires notice at least 48 hours before excavation starts, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The service is free. Utility lines are then marked with paint or flags. Within 18 inches of a mark, the line must be exposed by hand digging or vacuum methods. Private lines, such as sprinklers, a gas line to a grill or power to a shed, are not marked, so you need to tell us about them. When we do the work, we place the request.
How deep is the frost line in Sioux Falls?
The city's building code lists a frost line depth of 42 inches and rates the weathering as severe. Footings for a house, garage, addition or deck must go below the frost line or use a frost-protected method the code allows. Driveways, walks and patios float on a gravel base and do not have footings.
I need a wheelchair ramp and a wider walkway. What rules apply?
A ramp at a home has to be gentle enough to use and safe in winter, and a ramp attached to the house may need a building permit, so we ask Building Services. We aim for a gentle slope, level landings at the door and at turns, edge protection and a broom finish for grip in snow. Ramps at a business follow the accessibility standards in the building code and the approved plans.
My house is in a historic district. Can I replace old decorative concrete?
Ask the city's planning office before you remove anything. Sioux Falls has historic districts, including Cathedral and McKennan Park, and work that is visible from the street may be reviewed. We did not confirm which concrete work needs review, so we do not guess. Old scored or stamped walks and carriage steps can sometimes be saved by lifting or by replacing single panels to match.
Do I need a permit for a shed slab?
The slab follows the shed. The city says storage buildings larger than 200 square feet need a building permit, and smaller sheds need a zoning placement permit. Settle the shed size and location with the city first, then we pour the pad to suit.
The only real price for your property comes from a free on-site estimate and a written quote. Call (605) 633-5029 or text us a photo of the concrete.