South Dakota Retainage Guide and FAQs

South Dakota does not provide a specific retainage statute for private projects.

The lowest responsible bid in all cases shall be accepted and the contract for the building or buildings may permit progress payments, but if so shall provide for retention of not less than the following percentages: twelve percent of the amount of the contract up to fifty thousand dollars; five percent of the next two hundred thousand dollars of the amount of the contract and two and one-half percent of the amount of the contract in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars until the contract is fully executed and the building or buildings completed to the satisfaction and acceptance of the board of county commissioners. However, if the contractor has furnished the board all required records and reports and a final inspection has been made, the board shall pay to the contractor interest at the Category A rate of interest as established in § 54-3-16 on the amounts retained and on the final payment due the contractor beginning sixty days after the work under the contract has been completed, as evidenced either by the completion date established in the superintendent’s or architect’s letter of acceptance or by the use and occupancy of the building, and running until the date when payment is tendered to the contractor unless delay in payment has been the result of federal participation in such contract, in which event interest may not begin until sixty days after payment by the federal authority involved.