Top Ten Reminders for Property Owners This Spring

Published on May 07, 2025

Spring is in full swing, and as the temperatures climb and residents begin working outside in their yards and gardens, the City of Sioux Falls has a list of top ten reminders for home and property owners:

1.     Follow the lawn watering schedule. Sioux Falls follows a staged schedule for lawn watering, and we are currently in Stage 1. This means lawn watering for all residential, commercial, industrial, and City facilities will follow this schedule:

• Watering lawns is prohibited from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
• Property owners with even-numbered addresses may water lawns on even-numbered calendar dates.
• Property owners with odd-numbered addresses may water lawns on odd-numbered calendar dates.
• Hand-watering vegetation such as shrubbery, trees, ground covers, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, and flowers is permitted any time of day if the water is applied by a hose that does not leak and is equipped with a handheld nozzle that automatically shuts off when released.

The lawn watering schedule is enforceable by City ordinance. More information is available at www.siouxfalls.gov/resident-services/utilities-billing/water/water-conservation/schedule.

2.     Do not waste water. Wasting water, like leaving a hose running unattended for long periods of time, is not allowed. Properly adjust sprinklers and make sure they are pointed at the lawn and not on any hardscapes, like streets, driveways, or sidewalks. Always promptly turn off the water when you are finished.

3.     Prevent overgrown grass and nuisance vegetation. Grass and noxious weeds may be no taller than 8 inches in height in yards and lots within city limits, per City ordinance. Noxious weeds include Canada thistle, Russian knapweed, hoary cress, purple loosestrife, perennial sow thistle, leafy spurge, and salt cedar. Dandelions are not considered noxious.

4.     Keep your sidewalks clear. Winter isn’t the only time of year for keeping your sidewalks clear—it’s important year-round, especially for our neighbors who use sidewalks for recreation and transportation. Promptly remove overgrown plants, debris, or other hazards.

5.     Prepare for new lawns. Permits are required for newly installed lawns. Contact Public Works at 605-367-8600 for permit information. As a reminder, new sod requires a significant amount of water, especially during the hot summer months. Because of the extra water usage, residents should be prepared for their monthly water bills to increase.

6.     Plant a tree—but get a permit if it’s in the right-of-way. The City of Sioux Falls offers a $50 voucher for planting trees in the right-of-way, also called a “boulevard” or “parking strip," from participating greenhouses. Get a permit and choose from a list of recommended trees by visiting: www.siouxfalls.gov/business-permits/permits-licenses-inspections/permits/tree-planting-permit#section-1.

7.     Support the City’s waste diversion efforts. Before discarding your items at the Sioux Falls Regional Landfill, check if they can be reused or recycled elsewhere.

• Hazardous waste, like leftover paint and other chemicals, and electronics, like lithium-ion batteries, do not belong at the landfill. Instead, take them to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Visit www.siouxfalls.gov/resident-services/landfill-and-recycling/hazardous-waste/hwf for details.
• Recycle paper and cardboard, metal cans, glass jars and bottles, and plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs. Check out a full recycling guide here: www.siouxfalls.gov/recycling.
• Use the City’s free compost for residents. The Sioux Falls Regional Landfill has a compost pile that is free for residents to take, as long as they bring a bucket or container and collect it themselves. Compost is available to pick up year-round at the landfill or at the seasonal branch and leaf drop-off sites, while they are open. Visit www.siouxfalls.gov/landfill for details.

8.     Follow guidelines for garbage and recycling container placement to keep our community clean and orderly. Guidelines for where to place your containers can be found here: www.siouxfalls.gov/resident-services/landfill-and-recycling/garbage-guidelines. Please also secure your containers, especially on windy days, to prevent trash and recycling materials from littering your neighborhood.

9.     Planning a home improvement project? Check to see if it requires a City permit. Most projects around your home, including window or siding replacements, new sheds or fences, and pools, require a permit. Visit www.siouxfalls.gov/permits to check.

10.  Sign up for text alerts in your neighborhood. The City of Sioux Falls offers residents the ability to sign up for text alerts for mosquito spraying, street sweeping, and other street projects like mill and overlay and slurry seal. Create a profile and customize your alerts at www.siouxfall.gov/alerts.

To report any issues in your neighborhood, visit www.siouxfalls.gov/report or download the City of Sioux Falls mobile app. The City’s OneMeter utility billing app allows customers to monitor their water usage and sign up for leak detection. Visit www.siouxfalls.gov/onemeter for details.