1 ARTICLE 20:53
PLUMBERS
Chapter
20:53:01 Definitions.
20:53:02 Administration.
20:53:03 Plumbers licenses.
20:53:04 Water conditioning licenses.
20:53:05 Appliance installation licenses.
20:53:06 Sewer and water installer licenses.
20:53:07 Manufactured and mobile home licenses.
20:53:08 Underground irrigation licenses.
20:53:09 Restricted licenses.
20:53:10 Plumbing permits.
20:53:11 Continuing education.
20:53:12 Application, examination, and license fees.
20:53:13 Individual and small on-site wastewater system installer licenses.
2 CHAPTER 20:53:02
ADMINISTRATION
Section
20:53:02:01 Repealed.
20:53:02:02 Duties of president.
20:53:02:03 Duties of vice-president.
20:53:02:04 Duties of secretary-treasurer.
20:53:02:05 Office of the commission.
20:53:02:06 Repealed.
20:53:02:07 Repealed.
20:53:02:08 Testing Repealed.
20:53:02:09 Notice of exam.
20:53:02:10 Grading exams Repealed.
20:53:02:11 Superseded.
20:53:02:12 Repealed.
20:53:02:13 Petition for declaratory ruling.
20:53:02:14 Commission action on petition.
20:53:02:15 Commission meetings on petition for new rules.
20:53:02:16 Repealed.
20:53:02:17 Finality of commission decision.
20:53:02:18 Failure to appear for examination.
20:53:02:19 Temporary permits, Repealed.
3 20:53:02:20 License renewal after expiration.
20:53:02:21 Reciprocity.
20:53:02:22 Inspection.
20:53:02:22.01 Concealment and final inspection.
20:53:02:23 Repealed.
20:53:02:24 Licensed experience required.
4 20:53:02:08. Testing. All tests shall be prepared and scheduled by the secretary-treasurer
Repealed.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR 155, effective July 1, 1986.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-8, 36-25-19.
5 20:53:02:09. Notice of exam. Each applicant shall be given 10 days' notice by first class mail of
the time and place of examination. Commission staff or the commission-approved examination
vendor shall give ten days’ notice by electronic correspondence of the date, time, and location of
in-person examinations. The notice shall only be given the first time an examination is taken. If an
applicant fails to appear at his the first examination or desires to retake the examination after failing
it, he the applicant shall obtain the testing date, time, and place from the secretary-treasurer of the
commission staff or approved examination vendor. An applicant may waive the 10 ten-day
examination notice of the examination.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 7 SDR 56, effective December 16, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR
155, effective July 1, 1986.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-8, 36-25-19.
6 20:53:02:10. Grading exams. The commission shall grade all examinations Repealed.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 7 SDR 56, effective December 16, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12
SDR 155, effective July 1, 1986.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-8, 36-25-19.
7 20:53:02:20. License renewal after expiration. All licenses issued under these rules expire
December 31 of each year. They may be renewed upon application not later than the
immediately following January 31.
An application to reinstate renew an expired license received after the immediately
following January 31 expiration date is subject to all initial license application requirements fees.
If an application to reinstate renew an expired license is received within one year of expiration six
months of expiration, the examination will be is waived.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 7 SDR 56, effective December 16, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR
155, effective July 1, 1986; 16 SDR 88, effective November 12, 1989. 46 SDR 29, effective
September 5, 2019; 47 SDR 71, effective December 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-19, 36-25-19.4.
8 20:53:02:22. Inspection. An inspector employed by the commission shall carry out inspections
of plumbing throughout the state. An inspection request shall be made at least 72 seventy-two
hours in advance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Testing is the responsibility of the
contractor, installer, or plumber and does not need to be witnessed by an inspector. The inspector
shall record the results of the inspection and all violations of the state plumbing code. The inspector
shall leave the inspection report at the site or mail or email it to the permittee or authorized
representative. The inspector commission shall personally deliver or mail provide a copy of the
inspector's inspection report via an electronic correspondence stating all observations and findings
and, if applicable, a citation report to the permittee responsible for correcting a violation. The
permittee responsible for the violations shall either correct the cited violation or request a hearing
on the matter before the commission within 21 twenty-one days. Within 10 ten days after hearing,
the commission shall issue its order on the cited violation in accordance with SDCL chapter 1-26.
Any testing of the installation required by an inspector is the responsibility of the permit holder
and does not need to be witnessed by an inspector.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 7 SDR 56, effective December 16, 1980; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR
155, effective July 1, 1986; 14 SDR 29, effective September 3, 1987; 30 SDR 40, effective October
1, 2003; 47 SDR 71, effective December 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-15.1.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-10, 36-25-15.1.
9 20:53:02:24. Licensed experience required. To qualify, work experience used as part of a license
application must be licensed experience. An applicant for licensure by examination who holds a
substantially equivalent active license in another state may receive experience credit upon
providing proof of the same to the Commission. A licensee who has supervised an applicant for
any portion of the licensed experience shall complete an experience affidavit upon request of the
applicant.
Source:
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-18, 36-25-19.
10 20:53:10:02. Plumbing installation certificate. Any person licensed plumbing contractor or
homeowner who performs plumbing work, except for plumbing repair work, shall report the work
to the commission upon a plumbing installation certificate form prior to commencing the plumbing
installation. The form must be obtained from the commission at a cost of twenty dollars and
becomes the responsibility of the certificate holder. The certificate holder shall obtain the
plumbing installation certificate from the commission at a cost of twenty dollars, and the certificate
becomes the responsibility of the certificate holder. Upon commencement of a plumbing
installation that is subject to inspection pursuant to SDCL 36-25-19.1, the person responsible for
the installation shall send the white original copy of the plumbing installation certificate form to
the office of the commission with the appropriate fee pursuant to ARSD chapter 20:53:12 attached.
An administrative late fee of one hundred dollars must be assessed to the installer for failure to file
a plumbing installation certificate with the commission prior to commencing plumbing work. If
an individual commences an installation without obtaining a plumbing installation certificate from
the commission, the commission shall assess an administrative late fee of one hundred dollars to
the certificate holder. The installer shall retain the yellow copy. The pink copy must be provided
to the owner of the premises. The green copy must be posted at the job location. A copy of the
plumbing installation certificate shall be posted at the job location.
A plumbing installation certificate is non-transferable, and the fee fees are non-refundable.
Source: 30 SDR 40, effective October 1, 2003; 37 SDR 48, effective September 21, 2010; 51
SDR 141, effective July 2, 2025.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-19.1.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-19.1, 36-25-19.2.
11 20:53:10:04. Expiration of permit. A permit plumbing installation certificate expires two
years from the date the permittee signs and dates the permit plumbing installation certificate is
issued. The permit plumbing installation certificate may be extended for one year if the permittee
holder of the installation certificate who signed the permit requests an extension prior to the
expiration of the permit plumbing installation certificate and pays one-half the amount of the
original permit plumbing installation certificate fee. A plumbing installation that is not completed
prior to the expiration of the permit may not be completed without a new plumbing permit being
submitted. If the holder of the certificate does not complete the installation prior to the expiration
date, the holder shall obtain a new plumbing installation certificate from the commission to
continue with the installation. Failure to obtain a new plumbing installation certificate may result
in the commission not giving final approval to the installation.
Source: 30 SDR 40, effective October 1, 2003; 47 SDR 71, effective December 14, 2020.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-19.1.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-19.1.
12 CHAPTER 20:53:13
INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL ON-SITE WASTEWATER INSTALLER LICENSES
Section
20:53:13:01 Licensure requirements.
20:53:13:01 Licensure requirements. An applicant must pass an examination testing their
understanding of chapter 74:53:01 to obtain an individual and small on-site wastewater system
installer license.
Source:
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-14.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-17.3, 36-25-19.
Cross-reference: Individual and small on-site wastewater systems, chapter 74:53:01.
13 20:54:02:01. Conformance with uniform code -- Exceptions. All plumbing materials and
plumbing systems or parts of plumbing systems installed must meet or exceed the minimum
provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 edition, including Appendices A, B, C, D, E, I,
K, L, M, N, O, Q, and R, with the following exceptions:
(1) Sections 103.0 to 107.2, inclusive; Table 104.5 of Chapter 1; 312.12.3; 313.7; 317.1(5);
319.0 and 319.1; 422.5; 609.11.1; 609.12 to 609.12.2, inclusive; 722.2 to 723.1, inclusive; 802.0
and 802.1; 811.5; 904.2; 1101.5 to 1101.11, inclusive; 1101.15 to 1101.15.3, inclusive; Chapter 5;
Chapters 12 to 14, inclusive; Sections E 401.0 to E 406.4, inclusive, of Appendix E; Appendices
F to H, inclusive; Appendix J; Appendix P; and Appendix S;
(2) The word "or" is added before "renovations" in the first, second, and third sentences of
section 102.4. The words "or repairs" are removed from the first, second, and third sentences of
section 102.4;
(3) The sentence "Cap close to mail main and abandon the rest." is added as the last sentence
of section 309.6;
(4) The words "Voids around piping passing through concrete floors on the ground shall be
sealed." are removed from section 312.1;
(5) The word "water," is removed from the first sentence of section 312.6 and the following
words are added to section 312.6: "No water piping shall be installed in an exterior wall or
unheated attic. An exterior wall includes any wall between a heated space and an unheated space.
Water service piping must be installed with a minimum earth cover of 72 inches. Building sewers
must be installed with a minimum earth cover of 42 inches. Building sewers on septic systems
may be installed at any depth that will accommodate the burial depth of the septic tank. If the
14 building sewer is installed at a depth less than 30 inches, the pipe shall be protected from freezing
with a minimum of 3 inches of foam insulation above and two feet of overhang on each side of the
pipe.";
(6) The words "and Chapter 14, "Firestop Protection"" are removed from section 312.7;
(7) The words "Fuel gas piping shall be protected in accordance with Section 1210.4.3" are
removed from section 312.9;
(8) The words "or wrapped" are added after the word "bored" in section 312.10;
(9) The words "metal" and "securely fastened to the adjoining structure" are removed from
section 312.12.2;
(10) The words "and in gas piping as permitted by Section 1212.6" are removed from section
315.1;
(11) The sentence "Closet bends or stubs shall be cut off so as to present a smooth surface even
with the top of the closet ring before rough inspection is called" is changed to "The top of the closet
flange shall be installed above the finished floor not to exceed three-eighths of an inch thick" in
section 402.6.1;
(12) The words "except for guest rooms in hotels, motels, dormitories, boarding houses, and
similar occupancies, which may be round." is added at the end of the second sentence in section
411.1;
(13) The words "except closed front seats are permitted in hotels, motels, guest rooms,
dormitories, boarding houses, and similar occupancies" are added to the end of the second sentence
in section 411.3;
15 (14) The words "(5) In all mechanical rooms, and floors have a one-fourth inch slope in a one-
foot radius around the drain." are added to section 418.3;
(15) The words "(6) In the lowest level." are added to section 418.3;
(16) The word "shall" is changed to "may" in section 407.4 and footnote 6 of Table 422.1;
(17) The words "Unless separate facilities are required by state law," are added to the beginning
and "Separate" is changed to "separate" of section 422.2(4);
(18) The sentence "A dual check backflow preventer that conforms to ASSE 1024 must be
installed on the building side immediately downstream of the water meter where the water service
enters the building." are added to section 602.3;
(19) The sentences "Copies of testable backflow assembly test reports for the initial installation
shall be sent to the water supplier. Copies of annual testable backflow preventer test reports must
be sent to the water supplier. A testable assembly has properly located, resiliently seated test cocks
and tightly closing, resiliently seated shut off valves at each end of the assembly." are added to
section 603.4.2;
(20) The sentence "Water-to-water heat exchangers that return the water back to the public
system of waterworks may not be allowed on a public water system unless approved by the
Authority Having Jurisdiction." is added to the end of section 603.5.4;
(21) "Section 505.4.1" is changed to "Sections C 302.0 to C 302.3, inclusive, of Appendix C"
in section 603.5.4;
16 (22) The words "unless they are installed above the known groundwater table, at least ten feet
away from any sewer line or any other source of contamination, and only on seasonal-use
facilities" are added to the end of section 603.5.17;
(23) The words "or underground outside of structures" are removed from section 604.3;
(24) The sentence "This does not apply to electric water heaters." is added to the end of section
604.13;
(25) The words "primer purple in color" are changed to "approved primer" in section 605.12.2;
(26) The word "discharge" is changed to "inlet" in the first sentence of section 606.2;
(27) The sentences "Individual shutoff valves shall be installed on each plumbing fixture and
each exterior hose bib, except in single family dwellings. Individual valves are not required on tub
valves, shower valves, and exterior hose bibs." are added to the end of section 606.5;
(28) The word "provided" is changed to "approved" in section 608.5;
(29) The words "or outside of the building with the end of the pipe not exceeding 2 feet (610
mm) and not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the ground and pointing downwards" are removed
from section 608.5(3);
(30) The word "prohibited" is changed to "permitted" in section 608.5(7);
(31) The sentences "Building supply yard piping shall be not less than 12 inches (305 mm)
below the average local frost depth. The cover shall be not less than 12 inches (305 mm) below
finish grade." are removed from section 609.1;
(32) The sentences "Potable water service piping may not be located in, under, or above
cesspools, septic tanks, septic tank drainage fields, or drainage pits. A separation of twenty-five
17 feet must be maintained from these systems, except for livestock confinement facilities, which
may be three feet" are added to section 609.2(2);
(33) The words "shall not” is replaced with “may" in section 609.4;
(33)(34) The word "shall" is replaced with "may" in section 609.5;
(34)(35) The sentence "Dwellings units are exempt from this requirement unless an
expansion tank is installed." is added to the end of section 609.11;
(35)(36) The sentences "The minimum size water service allowed is one inch, except to travel
trailer or mobile home sites, which must be at least three-fourths of an inch. Exception: remodeling
without changes to existing foundation." are added to the end of section 610.1;
(36)(37) The sentence "Plastic pipe and fittings installed underground outside of buildings may
be SDR 35 ASTM 3034 or heavier." is added to the end of section 701.2(2) and the words "and
Chapter 14 'Firestop Protection'" are removed from section 701.2(2);
(37)(38) The sentence "(7) CPVC Schedule 80 or 40 pipe and fittings may be used in lieu of
cast-iron in underground installations for high temperature discharge applications." is added to
section 701.2 and the following are added to Table 701.2 and Table 1701.1:
TABLE 701.2
MATERIALS FOR DRAIN, WASTE, VENT PIPE AND FITTINGS
MATERIAL UNDERGROUND DRAIN, WASTE, VENT PIPE AND FITTINGS ABOVEGROUND DRAIN, WASTE, VENT PIPE AND FITTINGS BUILDING
SEWER PIPE AND
FITTINGS REFERENCED
STANDARD(S)
PIPE REFERENCED
STANDARD(S)
FITTINGS
18 CPVC Schedule 80 or 40 X X -- ASTM F441/F441M, CSA B181.2 ASTM F439, CSA B181.2
(Portions of table not shown remain unchanged)
TABLE 1701.1
REFERENCED STANDARDS
STANDARD
NUMBER STANDARD TITLE APPLICATION REFERENCED
SECTION
CSA B181.2-2024 Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinylchloride (CPVC) drain, waste, and vent pipe and pipe fittings Piping, Fittings Table 701.2
(38)(39) The words "tubular PVC or tubular ABS" are added after "(0.8 mm)" in section 701.4;
(39)(40) The sentence "Not to exceed one-third of the total permitted length of a vent shall be
permitted to be installed in a horizontal position." is removed from Note 6 under Table 703.2;
(40)(41) The words "except commercial dishwashing machines must be provided with indirect
wastes" are added to the end of the first sentence to section 704.3;
(41)(42) The words "primer purple in color" are changed to "approved primer" in section
705.6.2;
(42)(43) The sentence "Exception: one-quarter bends may be used on individual fixture drains
for horizontal to vertical, horizontal to horizontal, and vertical to horizontal changes in direction."
is added to the end of section 706.1;
(43)(44) The sentence "(5) Where the piping is concealed, a fixture trap or a fixture with
integral trap, readily removable without disturbing concealed roughing work, is accepted as a
cleanout equivalent." is added to the exceptions in section 707.4;
19 (44)(45) The words "and gate valve" are removed from section 710.3(2);
(45)(46) Section 712.1 is revised as follows:
(a) The words "except plastic pipe shall not be tested with air" are removed:
(b) The sentence "After the plumbling plumbing fixtures have been set and their traps filled
with water, they shall be submitted to a final test" is removed;
(c) The following sentences are added at the end: "Where the Administrative Authority, due
to practical difficulties or hardships, finds that a water or air test cannot be performed, a smoke or
peppermint test must be substituted in lieu thereof. A smoke test is made by introducing into the
entire system a pungent, thick smoke produced by one or more smoke machines. When the smoke
appears at stack openings on the roof, the stack openings must be closed, with a pressure equivalent
to a one-inch water column developed and maintained during the inspection. A peppermint test is
conducted by the introduction of two ounces of oil of peppermint into the roof terminal of every
line or stack to be tested. The oil of peppermint is immediately followed by ten quarts of hot water,
whereupon all roof vent terminals are sealed. The detection of the odor of peppermint at any trap
or other point on the system is a positive test result revealing leakage. Anyone whose person or
clothes have come in contact with oil of peppermint must be excluded from the test area.";
(46)(47) "5 feet (1524 mm)" is changed to "fifteen feet" in section 801.4;
(47)(48) The following words are added to section 801.7: "Drip pans must be installed under
storage-type water heaters to prevent tank leakage from causing property damage, except that drip
pans are not required in:
1. The lowest level of buildings, provided that the floor is concrete or other material that is
not damaged or deteriorated by water leakage from the tank;
20 2. Crawl spaces;
3. Spaces having floor drainage that collects leakage from the tank; and
4. Locations where tank leakage does not damage the building or its contents.
Drip pans must be watertight and constructed of corrosive-resistant materials. Metallic pans
must be twenty-four gauge minimum. Non-metallic pans must be one-sixteenth of an inch
minimum thickness. Pans must be not less than one and one-half inches deep and must be of
sufficient size to hold the heater without interfering with drain valves, burners, controls, and any
required access. High impact plastic pans are permitted under gas-fired water heaters where the
heater is listed for zero clearance for combustible floors and the application is recommended by
the pan manufacturer. Drip pans must have drain outlets not less than one inch in size, with indirect
drain pipes extending to an approved point of discharge.";
(48)(49) In section 807.3, the sentences "No domestic dishwashing machine shall be directly
connected to a drainage system or food waste disposer without the use of an approved dishwasher
airgap fitting on the discharge side of the dishwashing machine. Listed dishwasher air gap fittings
shall be installed with the flood level (FL) marking at or above the flood level of the sink or
drainboard, whichever is higher." are changed to "The discharge from a residential kitchen sink
and dishwasher may discharge through a single one and one-half inch trap. The discharge line from
the dishwasher must be at least one-half inch nominal size and either looped up and securely
fastened to the underside of the counter or connected to a deck-mounted dishwasher air gap fitting.
The discharge must connect to a wye fitting between the sink waste outlet and the trap inlet or to
the disposal.";
21 (49)(50) The sentence "ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be in accordance with
Chapter 14 'Firestop Protection.' "Except for" is removed from section 903.1(2);
(50)(51) In section 906.7, the words "Where frost or snow closure is likely to occur in locations
having minimum design temperature below 0◦F (-17.8◦C), vent terminals shall be a minimum of
three inches (76 mm) in diameter but in no event smaller than the required vent pipe. The change
in diameter shall be made inside the building not less than one foot (305 mm) below the roof in an
insulated space and terminate not less than 10 inches (254 mm) above the roof, or in accordance
with the Authority Having Jurisdiction" are changed to "Each vent extension through a roof must
be at least three inches in diameter, except kitchen sink vents in single-family dwellings, which
must be at least two inches in diameter. The change in diameter must be made inside the building
at least one foot below the roof with an approved fitting.";
(51)(52) The word "shall" is replaced with "may" and the words "or upstream" are added after
the word "downstream" in section 908.2.4;
(52)(53) The following words are added as an additional paragraph to the end of section 909.1:
"Alternate island sink installations require a minimum of a three-inch diameter drain,
undiminished in size, which rises up through the sink cabinet and is capped off as high as possible.
The vent may not connect further than fifteen feet from the vertical section of the drain and must
be a minimum of one and one-half inch in diameter. A three by three by one and one-half inch
sanitary tee is required for connection to the trap.";
(53)(54) The sentences "Exception: In single family dwellings the maximum length of a floor
drain that is connected to a uniformly sized building drain vented on both the upstream and
22 downstream sides of the connection to the floor drain is fifteen feet. The minimum trap seal is four
inches." are added to the end of sections 418.3 and 910.1;
(54)(55) The words "17 B&S Gauge" are changed to "20 B&S Gauge" and the words "(0.045
inch) (1.143 mm)" are deleted from section 1003.1;
(55)(56) The sentence "Slip joint extensions with forty-five degree slip joint offsets are
allowed." is added to the end of section 1003.2;
(56)(57) The sentence "The trap shall be the same size as the trap arm to which it is connected."
is removed from section 1003.3;
(57)(58) The sentence "Floor drains in garages serving dwelling units for parking purposes that
are connected to a building sanitary sewer shall have a means of collecting sediment and shall be
provided with a water trap seal." is added to the end of section 1016.3; and
(58)(59) The sentence "ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be installed in
accordance with applicable standards referenced in Chapter 17 and Chapter 14 "Firestop
Protection."" is removed from section 1101.4.
Source: SL 1975, ch 16, § 1; 12 SDR 91, effective December 2, 1985; 12 SDR 151, 12 SDR
155, effective July 1, 1986; 14 SDR 29, effective September 3, 1987; 15 SDR 136, effective March
15, 1989; 16 SDR 88, effective November 12, 1989; 17 SDR 75, effective December 3, 1990; 19
SDR 36, effective September 17, 1992; 20 SDR 29, effective September 1, 1993; 21 SDR 40,
effective September 4, 1994; 23 SDR 83, effective November 28, 1996; 24 SDR 19, effective
August 21, 1997; 26 SDR 33, effective September 12, 1999; 29 SDR 52, effective October 20,
2002; 30 SDR 99, effective December 22, 2003; 31 SDR 35, effective September 23, 2004; 35
SDR 67, effective October 1, 2008; 37 SDR 48, effective September 21, 2010; 38 SDR 40,
23 effective September 20, 2011; 41 SDR 219, effective July 2, 2015; 43 SDR 31, effective September
12, 2016; 45 SDR 91, effective January 9, 2019; 46 SDR 29, effective September 5, 2019; 52 SDR
42, effective October 28, 2025; 52 SDR 106, effective May 25, 2026.
General Authority: SDCL 36-25-15.
Law Implemented: SDCL 36-25-15.
Reference: Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 edition, International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials. Copies may be obtained from the International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials, 5001 East Philadelphia Street, Ontario, CA 91761. Copies may be viewed
free of charge at https://epubs.iapmo.org/2024/UPC/.