Can a domestic violence victim end a lease early in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, a tenant may end a lease without an early-termination penalty if the tenant or a household member is the victim of alleged domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior or stalking, by giving the landlord written notice that the termination is due to fear of imminent danger and attaching a police report, a protection order or a licensed health care provider’s statement from the thirty days before the notice. The tenant may vacate on or before a date the tenant specifies. A tenant who gives notice under the section is not liable for any early termination fee or for the rent for the month after the month in which the tenant vacates. If the tenant gives the landlord a forwarding address or other contact information, the landlord may not disclose it to anyone except with the tenant’s consent or as required by law. This is SDCL §§ 43-32-19.1, 43-32-19.2.
| What | South Dakota |
|---|---|
| Ending the lease early | Written notice with a recent police report or order |
What the statute says
“If a tenant or a member of the tenant’s household is the victim of alleged domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, or stalking, the tenant may terminate the lease and vacate the rental unit without penalty for early termination on or before a specified date …”
Quoted word for word from the section’s text.
Source
SDCL §§ 43-32-19.1, 43-32-19.2
Read the statute in the South Dakota Codified Laws (South Dakota Legislature): sdlegislature.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.
Guides on this rule
- Breaking a Lease for Domestic Violence: Laws by State — How a domestic violence victim can end a lease early, with the notice, documents and rent rule in each of the 39 jurisdictions with a statute.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
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