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Habitat Conservation License Plate

The Habitat Conservation Plate is available for all South Dakota residents and serves as a valid license plate on standard vehicles. These plates are available at all county courthouses and serve as another option when selecting license plates for your vehicles. 

Purchase Habitat Emblems

A few things to know about the Habitat Conservation Plate:

  • The Habitat Conservation Plate is entirely voluntary, and functions similar as an Organizational Plate.
  • Habitat Conservation Plates will be free if current plates have expired, $10 if they have not.
  • If you are looking to switch your existing plates to the Habitat Conservation Plate, please remove your current plates and take them with you to the Treasurer’s Office. You will then need to pay an initial $10 to switch to the new plate, there is no additional charge to your normal registration fees following this.
  • Purchasing the habitat decal is entirely voluntary, plates are legal without the decals.
  • A set of decals cost $50, there is no limit on the number of sets that can be purchased.
  • There are four decal options: deer, pheasant, meadowlark, and pasque flower.
  • No verification of residency, nor Habitat Conservation Plate, are required to purchase a decal set.
  • All proceeds from the sale of the habitat emblems will support conservation in South Dakota.
  • Unapproved decals cannot be placed on the plate, nor can the habitat decals be placed on the traditional Organizational Plate.

Obtaining Your Habitat Conseration Plate and Decals

Step 1: 

Get your Habitat Conservation Plate at your local courthouse. (No charge if renewing your plates.)

Step Two:

Visit Go Outdoors South Dakota or your local GFP office to purchase your $50 specialty habitat decals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I purchase a Habitat Conservation Plate even if my current plates have not expired?

If you are looking to switch your existing plates to the Habitat Conservation Plate, please remove your current plates and take them with you to the Treasurer’s Office. You will then need to pay an initial $10 to switch to the new plate, there is no additional charge to your normal registration fees following this.

Am I limited to one set of habitat decals?

No, you can purchase as many habitat decals as you wish. The only limit is emblems must be placed on Habitat Conservation Plates only.

Can I mix and match decals on my respective plates?

Yes, decal options can be mixed and matched on the front and back license plates, but you would need to purchase two sets of decals. For example, you could have a deer on the front plate and a meadowlark on the rear plate. This would be legal placement.

Do I need to purchase an decal for my plate to be legal?

No, you have no legal requirement to purchase a habitat decal for your Habitat Conservation Plate. However, if you do not purchase the decal you will not be financially supporting habitat conservation as the fees associated with your license plate are associated with respective state and local regulations. The habitat decal is what supports conservation.

Where can I purchase my habitat decal?

You can purchase your habitat decal at Go Outdoors South Dakota or your local GFP office.