Private investigator licensing in South Dakota
No. South Dakota has no specific private investigator licence.
South Dakota has no state licence for private investigators. The Attorney General's Law Enforcement Training office says it does not license PIs and that the only state requirement is a sales tax licence from the Department of Revenue. It tells investigators to check for city and county ordinances where they plan to work.
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How to get licensed
- 1
Register your business entity with the South Dakota Secretary of State if you trade as a company
- 2
Apply online to the Department of Revenue for a sales tax licence
- 3
Check with the city and county where you plan to work for any local ordinances
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in South Dakota.
How to qualify
- Fees
- No PI licence fee; the Department of Revenue charges no fee for a sales tax licenceFees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in South Dakota
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in South Dakota?+
No. South Dakota has no specific private investigator licence. South Dakota has no state licence for private investigators. The Attorney General's Law Enforcement Training office says it does not license PIs and that the only state requirement is a sales tax licence from the Department of Revenue. It tells investigators to check for city and county ordinances where they plan to work.
How much does a private investigator licence cost in South Dakota?+
No PI licence fee; the Department of Revenue charges no fee for a sales tax licence
How do you get a private investigator licence in South Dakota?+
1. Register your business entity with the South Dakota Secretary of State if you trade as a company 2. Apply online to the Department of Revenue for a sales tax licence 3. Check with the city and county where you plan to work for any local ordinances
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in South Dakota?+
No state licence is needed, so investigators from other states can work in South Dakota subject to any local ordinances
Can a private investigator record phone calls in South Dakota?+
South Dakota is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in South Dakota
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