> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Fact brief: Is it legal to wear only body paint as clothing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-fact-brief-body-paint-sturgis-rally/
- Published: 2026-08-13T09:00:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-13T09:00:24.000Z
- Description: The rally started Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 16 in the Black Hills town.
- Author: Emily DeCock
- Tags: Fact briefs

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

## No.

Body paint does not count as clothing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally or anywhere else in South Dakota.

According to the City of Sturgis Code of Ordinances, people cannot appear in public with his or her genitals or the female breast showing without a full opaque covering, such as bandaids or pasties.

“Paint or any similar substance does not qualify as a full opaque covering,” the ordinance says.

A Meade County Ordinance revised in 2009 requires bars and campgrounds to obtain a special license if they allow partial or full nudity.

Two of the rally’s biggest campgrounds, Sturgis Buffalo Chip and Pappy Hoel Campground and Resort, have resources on how to follow the law while at the rally.

“Nudity — as well as any open sexual acts — are not allowed. That said, we still get pretty wild. ... We want YOU to continue to come back,” the Pappy Hoel website says.

ℹ️

This fact brief responds to claims such as [this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/sturgisrally/comments/1v0wkxe/comment/ozokb5u/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=web3x&utm%5Fname=web3xcss&utm%5Fterm=1&utm%5Fcontent=share%5Fbutton).

### Sources

Sturgis, South Dakota code of ordinances, [§ 94.135 Indecent Exposure](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sturgissd/latest/sturgis%5Fsd/0-0-0-3485?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Meade County Ordinances, [Ordinance #25: Adult-Oriented Businesses](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55f1f6a6e4b0fdc2e7a036d1/55f1f72be4b0abd723ecc8ee/55f1f72be4b0abd723ecc8fc/1331243872557/Ordinance%5F25%5FAdultOrientedBusinesses.pdf?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Sturgis Buffalo Chip website, [Meade County Ordinances](https://www.buffalochip.com/info/the-law-safety-info/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Pappy Hoel Campground and Resort website, [FAQ’s](https://store.pappyhoelcampground.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by South Dakota News Watch as part of the [Gigafact](https://gigafact.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) network. Submit a question for us to answer [on the tipline](https://gigafact.org/tipline/south-dakota-news-watch/?ref=sdnewswatch.org).

[Share your thoughts on this story](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTmGFf24Uhwiwd%5FndSxHkv6oBGSAy1LxF9BbwRbhBK5KflA/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

**South Dakota News Watch* is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at*[ *sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)*. *Contact reporter Emily DeCock :* emily.decock@sdnewswatch.org.*