No statewide license, local rules may apply
How to become a security guard in South Dakota
South Dakota has no state license for security guards. Rapid City requires a city license for every guard, including bar door staff who check IDs or collect cover charges: $75, then $50 to renew every 24 months. Sioux Falls licenses only airport authority security officers.
Reviewed September 27, 2026
The path
- NoneState licenseNo statewide scheme; a city or county may still require a permit.
- LocalCheck city and county rulesRapid City (Municipal Code ch. 5.52): individual license for anyone doing security work, age 18+, with an affidavit listing 5 years of work history and any criminal record; the Chief of Police recommends approval and may require basic security instruction; denials can be appealed to the Common Council within 10 days. Companies that patrol with vehicles or use more than 3 guards also need a merchant security license ($250, then $200). Sioux Falls: airport authority security officer license, $50 a year (§ 110.032). Elsewhere, ask the city clerk or police department.
- WorkEmployer sets the standard
Steps to get started
- Ask the city where you'll work whether it licenses guards. In Rapid City, you need a city license before your first shift.
- In Rapid City, get the Security License application from the Finance Office (605-394-4143) and complete the affidavit with your work history and any criminal record.
- Submit it with the $75 fee; the Chief of Police reviews it and the Finance Office issues the license.
- Renew before the license expires 24 months after issue ($50).
Working armed in South Dakota
No state permit is needed to carry a concealed pistol if you may lawfully possess one (SDCL 23-7-7); regular, gold card and enhanced permits are optional and issued through county sheriffs for 5 years. Your employer decides whether you carry on duty and sets any qualification.
Local rules to know
Rapid City (Municipal Code ch. 5.52): individual license for anyone doing security work, age 18+, with an affidavit listing 5 years of work history and any criminal record; the Chief of Police recommends approval and may require basic security instruction; denials can be appealed to the Common Council within 10 days. Companies that patrol with vehicles or use more than 3 guards also need a merchant security license ($250, then $200). Sioux Falls: airport authority security officer license, $50 a year (§ 110.032). Elsewhere, ask the city clerk or police department.
What guards earn in South Dakota
A median of $17.86 an hour across 1,460 security guards, from official BLS wage data.
Security guard pay in South Dakota →Hiring a guard rather than becoming one?
The same rules read from the other side: what to ask a guard and a security company for in South Dakota, and the steps to confirm it in the regulator's own records.
How to check a licence in South Dakota →Sources
- Rapid City Municipal Code, ch. 5.52 Security Guards
- City of Rapid City Finance Office, Forms and Applications
- Sioux Falls Code of Ordinances, ch. 110 Licenses
- South Dakota Secretary of State, Concealed Pistol Permits
tessura is an independent study and career tool, not affiliated with any state agency. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the regulator before relying on them.
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