Except in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District where it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to start or allow to start an open fire on public lands owned, leased, controlled, or managed by the state or any political subdivision of the state unless the fire is set in an established fireplace approved or provided by the respective governmental entity. This section does not apply to persons authorized by the state or any political subdivision of the state to start fires on such lands within the jurisdiction of the respective governmental entity or to fires on shoreline barren of vegetation which do not constitute an apparent risk of fire to surrounding vegetation not located within a state, county, or municipal park, state recreation area, or nature preserve.

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 1 misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,00
Class 2 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 22-6-2

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 5-4-15

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2

Source: SL 1997, ch 239, § 1.