Tenant Information
If you are a tenant and rent a place to live in Sioux Falls, there are important things to know and steps to take if you have an issue with your rental property.
As the City of Sioux Falls, we help strengthen our community by addressing nuisance, housing, property maintenance, code and zoning violations. We work with owners and tenants to increase their understanding of the rules that uphold our standards of a safe and beautiful community and comply with city ordinances.
When it comes to code violations on rental properties, the City works closely with tenants and property owners and managers to resolve them. As a City, we balance tenants’ right to safe and sanitary housing with owners’ property rights.
Here are some of the most common code issues the City sees when it comes to rental properties:
Property Maintenance
- Issues with the building or unit, like plumbing, mechanical, electrical and/or the fire protection system. Examples include broken doors or windows, leaking pipes, exposed wires, unrepaired heating systems, etc.
- Nuisance vegetation, which includes grass that has grown 8 inches or taller and/or “state classified noxious weeds.”
- Public sidewalk snow removal. Snow and ice must be cleared from sidewalks and curb ramps, edge-to-edge and to the concrete, within 48 hours after a snow event ends. The City does not oversee the clearing or maintenance of sidewalks and parking lots on private property.
Environmental Health
- Rubbish and waste materials
- Piles of garbage
- Nonworking vehicles and parts
- Yard waste
- Animal waste
What To Do
If you think there is a code violation at your rental property, take the following steps:
- Note the details. Take photos of the issue and note the date, time, location (specific address is best) and any other important details.
- Review your current lease agreement. Some questions and concerns could be answered quickly by checking your lease agreement.
- Contact your property owner or manager and provide details on the issue.
If the property owner/manager does not respond or address the issue, file a complaint with the City of Sioux Falls.
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If the issue is related to property maintenance, report it online at siouxfalls.gov/report. In the “Make a Request” field, choose “Report a Concern (Property Maintenance)” and fill in the details. You can also call the Property Maintenance team at 605-978-6900.
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If the issue is related to environmental health, waste or nuisances, report it online at siouxfalls.gov/report. In the “Make a Request” field, choose the option that best fits the issue you are reporting. You can also call the Environmental Health team at 605-367-8760.
After receiving your complaint, City inspectors will contact the property owner/manager and visit the property to inspect the issue. Please be prepared to allow City inspector(s) into your unit/property.
If the inspector determines there is a code violation, they will issue a “notice of violation.” If the violation is not fixed, the City will issue citations until the violation is fixed. If the violation is not fixed following three citations of increasing dollar amounts, the case will be passed to the City Attorney’s Office for resolution.
Please note: Not all complaints result in a code violation. The inspector will determine if an issue is a code violation or not.
Report a Complaint
Human Relations and Fair Housing
Information and guidance on tenant rights can be found on the City’s Human Relations page. Complaints of housing discrimination can be filed with City of Sioux Falls Human Relations, the South Dakota Division of Human Rights, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or privately in court.
Human Relations Information