State law requires cities to allow campaign signs, which are not allowed on state highway rights-of-way.

Michael Klinski
Michael Klinski
Freelance Editor/Reporter
michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org

Corrected on Aug. 11, 2026: An earlier version of this story misstated the breadth of state law.

Yes.

South Dakota law requires cities to allow campaign signs on private property before elections and they must be taken down within seven days after an election. However, there is no state law governing signs outside of cities, though they are not allowed on state highway rights-of-way.

Specifically, the law allows signs in municipalities on "private property in a residential, business, commercial, or industrial zone adjacent to a transportation right-of-way by or with the permission of the property owner.

"For the purposes of this section, the term, campaign sign, means a free-standing object identifying and urging a person to vote for or against a particular ballot question or candidate for public office."

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Sources

South Dakota State law, Display of campaign signs

Dakota News Now, SDDOT reminds public not to put election signs on state highway rights-of-way

South Dakota Department of Transportation, General guidelines for political and other temporary signs

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South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski: michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.