← South Dakota burn ban rules›Current Fire Restrictions

South Dakota Current Fire Restrictions (2026)

Conditional: South Dakota has no statewide burn ban, and by law it cannot have one: under SDCL 34A-1-18 a general prohibition on open burning is set by each municipality, or by the county outside municipal boundaries, and the state board may not adopt a rule generally prohibiting all open burning. Public-land restrictions are a different matter and several are in force. BLM SOUTH DAKOTA EASED FROM STAGE 2 TO STAGE 1 ON OCTOBER 1, 2026: Fire Prevention Order LLMTC040-26-02, in effect from 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2026 until rescinded, covers all BLM land in Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, Stanley and Ziebach counties (Harding County is not named in this order). It prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, and smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or a cleared area at least 3 feet across. A device fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG that can be turned on and off is exempt when used in an area cleared of flammable material within 3 feet of it. A violation can bring a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 12 months in prison. BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST: the forest's release of November 3, 2026 states that National Forest System lands in South Dakota on the Black Hills National Forest "will remain in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions year-round in accordance with state law." Under those Stage 1 restrictions any fire, including one fueled by charcoal or briquettes, is prohibited except in a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service installed and maintains at its developed recreation sites, campgrounds and picnic areas; in a device fueled solely by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off, used in an area cleared of all flammable material within 3 feet; or in a fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least 5 feet long and a spark-arrestor screen with openings of 1/4 inch or less, used in an area cleared within 10 feet. Explosives are prohibited, and smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or a cleared area at least 3 feet across. The same release rescinded Stage 1 on the forest's Wyoming districts (Bearlodge and Hell Canyon) beginning November 4, 2026; the South Dakota Stage 2 order BKF-194-2026 was superseded on September 24, 2026. A Stage 2 order can be reissued at any time, so confirm with the forest before lighting anything. State burn permits for the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District are issued only November 1 through March 31 and only for slash piles on continuous snow cover. South Dakota publishes no statewide list of county burn bans; the state's own advice is to check your county state's attorney or city attorney before burning. Restrictions are set unit by unit; check your county and forest before you burn.

Official source: blm.gov →

Check the live restriction status: fs.usda.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.