Opinion ID: 901335
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Zoning Appeal Rights and Procedures Under South Dakota Law

Text: [¶10.] In 2000, the South Dakota Legislature made revisions to portions of the zoning laws codified in SDCL Chapter 11-2. As part of the revisions, the Legislature implemented major changes in the form and procedure of county zoning appeals. We recognized this new appellate scheme in relation to an appeal from a county board of adjustment in In re Yankton County Commission, 2003 SD 109, ¶¶17-18, 670 N.W.2d 34, 39-40. We said, [w]e believe that the repeal of the prior statutes and the enactment of this new comprehensive appellate scheme expressed legislative intent to completely occupy the field of taking board of adjustment appeals. Id. ¶18, 670 N.W.2d at 40. [¶11.] Under the revised statutory scheme, an appeal from an administrative officer's decision (for example, a zoning officer) advances to the county board of adjustment then directly into circuit court. [4] SDCL 11-2-55 describes the appeal process from an administrative officer to the board of adjustment. It provides: Appeals to the board of adjustment may be taken by any person aggrieved or by any officer, department, board, or bureau of the county affected by any decision of the administrative officer. The appeal shall be taken within a reasonable time, as provided by the rules of the board of adjustment, by filing with the officer from whom the appeal is taken and with the board of adjustment a notice of appeal specifying the grounds of the appeal. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall transmit to the board of adjustment all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken. Id. (emphasis added). [¶12.] The law requires that the board of adjustment conduct a hearing on the appeal. SDCL 11-2-57. The board of adjustment has the authority to reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision, or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision, or determination as ought to be made, and to that end has all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken. SDCL 11-2-58. The law further specifies that an appeal from the board of adjustment is taken directly to circuit court. SDCL 11-2-61, 11-2-62; In re Yankton County Comm'n, 2003 SD 109, ¶¶17-18, 670 N.W.2d at 39-40. [5] Lake County's ordinances mirror the statutory appeal procedures. [6] [¶13.] A key element in the 2000 law change is that an appeal to circuit court must be in the form of a petition for a writ of certiorari. SDCL 11-2-62. The petition must be verified and set[ ] . . . forth that the decision [of the board of adjustment] is illegal, in whole or in part, specifying the grounds of the illegality. SDCL 11-2-61. The statute provides: Any person or persons, jointly or severally, aggrieved by any decision of the board of adjustment, or any taxpayer, or any officer, department, board, or bureau of the county, may present to a court of record a petition duly verified, setting forth that the decision is illegal, in whole or in part, specifying the grounds of the illegality. The petition shall be presented to the court within thirty days after the filing of the decision in the office of the board of adjustment. Id.