South Dakota
Buying Land in Campbell County, South Dakota
One of South Dakota's least populous counties, in the north-central part of the state along the North Dakota border. Campbell County's most consequential land-use story is a real, documented dispute over a wind farm expansion that pushed the county to consider zoning it had never had -- worth understanding in detail if a parcel is anywhere near the project.
Zoning: a real dispute, not a settled fact -- and one worth resolving before you buy
Campbell County's zoning history is unusually well documented for a county this small, precisely because it became a live controversy. As of 2018, the county had adopted neither a comprehensive land-use plan nor a zoning ordinance -- consistent with the pattern the state hub describes for a real share of rural South Dakota counties. That changed when a wind energy developer proposed roughly doubling an existing wind farm from 55 to about 94 turbines. Facing organized resident opposition over noise, health concerns, and turbine setback distances, the County Commission approved a $5,000 contract with the Northeast Council of Governments to draft zoning and ordinance regulations, and moved toward an emergency "temporary" zoning ordinance -- a legally awkward route, since South Dakota law generally requires a comprehensive plan before a county can adopt a standard zoning ordinance, and a temporary ordinance is meant to address a genuine emergency rather than substitute for one.
We could not confirm, from currently available records, whether Campbell County has since completed a comprehensive plan and adopted a permanent, comprehensive zoning ordinance in the years following that 2018-2019 dispute. This is the single most important fact to verify before buying land here: call the Campbell County Auditor's office or County Commission directly and ask, in plain terms, whether the county has an adopted comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance today, and if so, what district and rules apply to your specific parcel. Don't assume the 2018-2019 status still holds, and don't assume a temporary wind-related ordinance (if one was in fact adopted) covers land uses beyond wind energy.
A real, active wind farm expansion -- and a very small, rural county otherwise
Beyond the zoning dispute itself, Campbell County's wind farm is a genuine, physical land-use fact worth understanding on its own terms -- and it has moved well past the 2018-era proposal since. See our dedicated guide below for the project's current developer, confirmed scale, and setback specifics from its 2025 federal environmental review. If a listing is anywhere in the northern part of the county, ask directly whether it's within the wind farm's footprint or expansion area.
Outside the wind-farm story, Campbell County is simply one of South Dakota's smallest counties by population -- 1,377 residents at the 2020 census, an estimated 1,342 in 2024 -- bordering North Dakota in the north-central part of the state, with Mound City as its county seat and Herreid (population roughly 405) as its largest town. This is a lean, agricultural county government, and buyers should expect a thin local comparable-sales market and plan for extra lead time on any document request or permit question, rather than the responsiveness of a larger, better-staffed county.
Who to Call Before Buying Land in Campbell County
We could not confirm a direct phone number, email, or dedicated Planning and Zoning office for Campbell County independent of the Equalization and Register of Deeds offices -- given the county's small size and its documented lack of a standing zoning department as of the 2018-2019 dispute, land-use and zoning-status questions likely route through the County Auditor's office or the County Commission directly rather than a specialized planning department; confirm the correct contact and current zoning status by calling the courthouse in Mound City. We also could not verify a current, direct contact for the wind-farm developer/operator for lease or easement questions specific to a parcel.
Assessor / Property Tax
Campbell County Director of Equalization
Assessed value and property tax questions for a specific parcel.
Recorder / Clerk / Land Records
Campbell County Register of Deeds
Recorded deeds, easements (including any wind-lease or transmission easements), and plat history for a specific parcel.
Other
Campbell County Auditor / County Commission
Whether the county currently has an adopted comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, and current wind-farm-related land-use rules, since this is unresolved from public records as of this research.
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Sources
- Campbell County, South Dakota — Wikipedia (cross-checked against U.S. Census Bureau figures) (accessed 2026-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Campbell County, South Dakota — U.S. Census Bureau (accessed 2026-09)
- Campbell County Considers Zoning Amid Wind Farm Proposal — KELOLAND Media Group (accessed 2026-09)
- Phase II of wind farm comes with controversy — Tri-State Livestock News (accessed 2026-09)
- Proposed Campbell County Temporary Zoning Ordinance #2019-1 — Lex Energy (natural resources/commercial law attorney blog) (accessed 2026-09)
- Campbell County Wind Farm 2 Draft Environmental Assessment — Western Area Power Administration (U.S. Department of Energy) (accessed 2026-09)
- With wind farm expansion proposed, Campbell County mulls planning, zoning ordinances — National Wind Watch (reprint of local reporting) (accessed 2026-09)
- Codified Law 11-2, County Planning and Zoning — South Dakota Legislature (accessed 2026-09)
Last reviewed 2026-09