South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 02 - Powers And Obligations Of Organized Townships
Section 8-2-8 - Regulatory powers of township containing unincorporated town.

8-2-8. Regulatory powers of township containing unincorporated town.
Each organized township in the state has power, when an unincorporated town is within its limits:
(1)To regulate the laying of sidewalks and crosswalks along, over, or across the streets and alleys thereof;
(2)To regulate the depositing of garbage, ashes, offal, or any offensive matter which might endanger the health of its inhabitants;
(3)To prohibit within the limits of such unincorporated town the use of dangerous or defective stovepipes or chimneys;
(4)To abate any nuisance found within its corporate limits;
(5)To provide for the purchase and operation of such appliances as may be needed to protect the property of its inhabitants from fire;
(6)To provide for planting and caring for shade trees along the streets and on public squares or grounds of such town;
(7)To grant franchises and rights to persons, associations, or corporations, for the sale of electric current, the erection of lampposts, electric towers, light or powerlines, or other apparatus;
(8)To authorize and regulate the erection and maintenance of street lamps, but the township shall incur no expense for such erection or maintenance;
(9)To vote any appropriation necessary for providing a jail, and prescribe such regulations as may be necessary regarding the same. Any civil township providing such jail shall cause notice of the same to be published in the newspaper having the largest circulation in such township, if there be any, or cause the township clerk to post notice therefor in three of the most public places in the township;
(10)To construct, operate, equip, maintain, extend, and improve any system or part of a system of waterworks and sewers for supplying water and sewerage services for an unincorporated town within its boundaries for industrial and domestic use therein, for such compensation and terms and conditions as it may determine;
(11)To purchase, construct, maintain, operate, and lease parks and public recreational facilities when approved by the voters as provided by subdivision 8-3-2(8).

Source: Subd. (1) to (6): SL 1901, ch 200; RPolC 1903, §1003, subdiv 6; RC 1919, §6044 (5); SL 1919, ch 347; SL 1925, ch 290; SDC 1939, §58.0201 (6). Subd. (7) and (8): SL 1925, ch 290; SDC 1939, §58.0201 (6). Subd. (9): PolC 1877, ch 23, §§39, 40; CL 1887, §§841, 842; RPolC 1903, §§1148, 1149; RC 1919, §§6138, 6139; SDC 1939, §58.0201 (6). Subd. (10): SDC 1939, §58.0201 (6) as added by SL 1963, ch 452; SL 1968, ch 265; SL 1977, ch 65.