South Dakota
Performance and payment bonds in South Dakota
Construction data, public works bond rules, and city guides for South Dakota contractors. A quote is not a binder.
South Dakota had 3,802 construction establishments employing 25,640 people in 2023, and builders pulled permits for 6,017 new housing units in 2024. Public owners across the state require bid, performance, and payment bonds on most construction contracts. Below are the state's construction numbers, the bond law that applies to public work, the factors sureties weigh, and guides for the largest cities.
South Dakota construction at a glance
| Measure | South Dakota | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Construction establishments (2023) | 3,802 | Census CBP |
| Construction employees (2023) | 25,640 | Census CBP |
| Annual payroll per construction employee | $68,763 | Census CBP |
| Commercial and institutional building contractors | 201 | Census CBP |
| Heavy and civil engineering contractors | 248 | Census CBP |
| Construction firms with fewer than 5 employees | 68% | Census CBP |
| New housing units authorized (2024) | 6,017 | Census BPS |
| Value of new housing units authorized (2024) | $1,412,302,000 | Census BPS |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237); U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates.
Public works bond law in South Dakota
State and local public construction in South Dakota is governed by SDCL chapter 5-21 (bonds of contractors for public improvements). Federal projects in South Dakota are bonded under the Miller Act. Thresholds, notice periods, and claim deadlines differ, so read each solicitation and the statute. More in our public works bond laws guide.
What moves a South Dakota bond quote
- Credit of the company and its owners.
- Financial statements: working capital, net worth, and profitability.
- Experience with jobs of similar type and size.
- Backlog compared with your approved capacity.
- Job terms: bond form, schedule, warranty period, and liquidated damages.
- Bank support and an available line of credit.
See bond cost factors and bonding capacity.
City guides for South Dakota
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Watertown
- Yankton
- Mitchell
- Huron
- Box Elder
- Spearfish
- Pierre
- Vermillion
- Brandon
- Harrisburg
- Tea
Bond types and guides
- Performance bonds for contractors
- Payment bonds
- Bid bonds
- Maintenance bonds
- Supply bonds
- Contractor license and permit bonds
- How to get bonded as a contractor
- Bonding capacity explained
- What determines performance bond cost
- Public works bond laws: the Miller Act and state statutes
- Surety prequalification checklist for contractors
More South Dakota communities
We accept bond requests for projects anywhere in South Dakota. Other communities, A to Z:
A — Agar · Akaska · Albee · Alcester · Alexandria · Alpena · Altamont · Andover · Arlington · Armour · Artas · Artesian · Ashton · Astoria · Aurora · Avon
B — Badger · Baltic · Bancroft · Batesland · Belle Fourche · Belvidere · Beresford · Big Stone City · Bison · Blunt · Bonesteel · Bowdle · Bradley · Brandt · Brant Lake · Brentford · Bridgewater · Bristol · Britton · Broadland · Bruce · Bryant · Buffalo · Buffalo Gap · Burke · Bushnell · Butler
C — Camp Crook · Canistota · Canova · Canton · Carthage · Castlewood · Cavour · Centerville · Central City · Chamberlain · Chancellor · Chelsea · Claire City · Claremont · Clark · Clear Lake · Colman · Colome · Colton · Columbia · Conde · Corona · Corsica · Cottonwood · Cresbard · Crooks · Custer
D — Dallas · Dante · Davis · De Smet · Deadwood · Dell Rapids · Delmont · Dimock · Doland · Dolton · Draper · Dupree
E — Eagle Butte · Eden · Edgemont · Egan · Elk Point · Elkton · Emery · Erwin · Estelline · Ethan · Eureka
F — Fairburn · Fairfax · Fairview · Faith · Farmer · Faulkton · Flandreau · Florence · Fort Pierre · Frankfort · Frederick · Freeman · Fruitdale · Fulton
G — Garden City · Garretson · Gary · Gayville · Geddes · Gettysburg · Glenham · Goodwin · Gregory · Grenville · Groton
H — Harrold · Hartford · Hayti · Hazel · Hecla · Henry · Hermosa · Herreid · Herrick · Hetland · Highmore · Hill City · Hillsview · Hitchcock · Hosmer · Hot Springs · Hoven · Howard · Hudson · Humboldt · Hurley
I — Interior · Ipswich · Irene · Iroquois · Isabel
J — Java · Jefferson
K — Kadoka · Kennebec · Keystone · Kimball · Kranzburg
L — La Bolt · Lake Andes · Lake City · Lake Norden · Lake Preston · Lane · Langford · Lead · Lebanon · Lemmon · Lennox · Leola · Lesterville · Letcher · Long Lake · Lowry
M — Madison · Marion · Martin · Marvin · McIntosh · McLaughlin · Mellette · Menno · Midland · Milbank · Miller · Mission · Mission Hill · Mobridge · Monroe · Montrose · Morristown · Mound City · Mount Vernon · Murdo
N — Naples · New Effington · New Underwood · New Witten · Newell · Nisland · North Sioux City · Northville · Nunda
O — Oacoma · Oelrichs · Oldham · Olivet · Onaka · Onida · Orient · Ortley
P — Parker · Parkston · Peever · Philip · Pickstown · Piedmont · Pierpont · Plankinton · Platte · Pollock · Presho · Pringle · Pukwana
Q — Quinn
R — Ramona · Ravinia · Raymond · Redfield · Ree Heights · Reliance · Revillo · Rockham · Roscoe · Rosholt · Roslyn
S — Salem · Scotland · Selby · Seneca · Sherman · Sinai · Sisseton · South Shore · Spencer · Springfield · St. Francis · St. Lawrence · Stickney · Stockholm · Strandburg · Stratford · Sturgis · Summerset · Summit
T — Tabor · Timber Lake · Tolstoy · Toronto · Trent · Tripp · Tulare · Turton · Twin Brooks · Tyndall
U — Utica
V — Valley Springs · Veblen · Verdon · Viborg · Vienna · Vilas · Virgil · Volga · Volin
W — Wagner · Wakonda · Wall · Wallace · Ward · Warner · Wasta · Waubay · Webster · Wentworth · Wessington · Wessington Springs · Westport · Wetonka · White · White Lake · White River · White Rock · Whitewood · Willow Lake · Wilmot · Winner · Wolsey · Wood · Woonsocket · Worthing
Y — Yale
Contractor bonds in South Dakota: FAQ
Which law requires bonds on South Dakota public works?
SDCL chapter 5-21 (bonds of contractors for public improvements). Federal projects follow the Miller Act.
How many construction companies are in South Dakota?
The Census Bureau counted 3,802 construction establishments in South Dakota in 2023, including 248 heavy and civil engineering contractors.
Who regulates surety companies in South Dakota?
Surety companies are regulated by the South Dakota Division of Insurance.
How do I get a performance bond in South Dakota?
Apply with your company and owner information, financial statements, and project details. The surety sets your limits and rate based on underwriting.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023: construction (NAICS 23), commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), and heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual state estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B25024, B25035)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 city population estimates
- South Dakota Division of Insurance
Start a South Dakota bond request
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research