May 6, 2014. Part of what a legislator tries to do is to balance the interests of protecting the public against helping the public engage in free commerce. Laws that were put into effect years ago are often repealed, and regulations rolled back to encourage business expansion. That was the case this past legislative session with Senate Bill 29, which rolled back regulations of campgrounds.
Many people are effectively able to meet the challenges of roughing it in the wild without requiring the State Health Department, and enjoy the great outdoors forgoing the need for government inspection. It’s with that spirit that our health department and legislature reduced requirements regarding the regulation of campgrounds and the license fees for campgrounds and also repealed administrative rules regarding primitive campgrounds, full service campgrounds, limited services campgrounds, and temporary campgrounds.
What the Department of Health did at the request of Governor Daugaard this year was to no longer distinguish between full-service, limited service, and temporary campgrounds. One set of minimal campground regulations would exist and it would apply equally to all types of campgrounds. While the South Dakota Department of Health does believe that campground licensure and regulation is necessary, the state regulations could be minimized with very little potential for an adverse public health impact.
South Dakota is a great state to enjoy the outdoors and there is a lot of opportunity for investors to start campgrounds. In South East South Dakota there is a lot of tourism that could be expanded by setting up campgrounds. Because of our proximity to the Siouxland metropolitan area we have over 100,000 Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota residents that could use more outdoor camping facilities. Also, due to the proximity of I-29 as the gateway to the west, we in South East South Dakota have the geographic advantage to provide affordable stop-overs for travelers headed to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore.
Increasing regulation has a chilling effect on business, and it’s hoped that reducing regulation will make it easier for more people to start up their own enterprise without being put off by the time and expense of having to meet regulatory requirements.
After all, you don’t need a lot of oversight for people to pitch a tent and fire up a grill.
For additional information about up-to-date South Dakota laws and news, contact the Goosmann Law Firm at info@goosmannlaw.com or call 712-226-4000.
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