Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in South Dakota (2026)
A typical South Dakota range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in South Dakota
South Dakota deposits fall below the national typical range, with Sioux Falls and Rapid City the higher markets. State law caps deposits at about one month's rent unless special conditions justify more, requires return within about two weeks with a written statement of deductions available within a longer window on request, and adds a statutory penalty for bad faith, so confirm the current terms. Harsh winters and wind make furnace, pipe, and door seal issues routine winter wear.
Tips for South Dakota buyers
- Return the money within the two-week window and have the itemized accounting ready in case the tenant requests it.
- If you take more than one month for special conditions, document the reason in the lease.
- Write heat responsibility during winter vacancies into the lease so frozen pipe damage is not a guessing game.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.