South Dakota Storage Auction Laws

44-14-1.   Definition of terms. Terms used in this chapter mean:

              (1)      "Last known address," that address provided by the occupant in the latest rental agreement or the address provided by the occupant in a subsequent written notice of a change of address;

             (2)      "Occupant," any person entitled to the use of the storage space at a self-service storage facility under a rental agreement, to the exclusion of others;

             (3)      "Owner," the owner of a self-service storage facility;

             (4)      "Personal property," movable property, including goods, merchandise, and household items stored in a self-service storage facility;

             (5)      "Rental agreement," any agreement or lease, written or oral, that establishes or modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy of a self-service storage facility; and

             (6)      "Self-service storage facility," any real property designed and used for the purpose of renting or leasing individual storage space to occupants who are to have access to such for the purpose of storing and removing personal property.

Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 1.

    Owner of facility has lien upon all personal property.

The owner of a self-service storage facility has a lien upon all personal property located at a self-service storage facility for rent, labor, or other charges, present or future, in relation to the personal property, and for expenses necessary for its preservation, or expenses reasonably incurred in its sale or other disposition pursuant to this chapter. The lien provided in this chapter attaches as of the date the occupant defaults on the rental agreement. Any lien provided in this chapter, which is recorded pursuant to chapter 44-2, is prior to any other lien or security interest, except for those liens and security interests which were perfected earlier.

 Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 2.

     44-14-3.   Satisfaction of lien--Notice-- Sale of property.

An owner's lien for a claim which has become due shall be satisfied as follows:

             (1)      The occupant and the holder of any lien shall be notified;

             (2)      The notice shall be delivered in person or sent by regular first class mail postage prepaid to the last known address of the occupant and lienholders;

             (3)      The notice shall include:

             (a)      An itemized statement of the owner's claim showing the sum due at the time of the notice and the date when the sum became due;

             (b)      If known to the owner, a brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien. The description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify it, except that any container including a trunk, valise, or box that is locked, fastened, sealed, or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be described as such without describing its contents;

             (c)      A notice of denial of access to the personal property, if such denial is permitted under the terms of the rental agreement, which provides the name, street address, and telephone number of the owner whom the occupant may contact to respond to this notice;

             (d)      A demand for payment within a specified time not less than fourteen days after delivery of the notice; and

             (e)      A conspicuous statement that unless the claim is paid within the time stated in the notice, the personal property will be advertised for sale or other disposition, and will be sold or otherwise disposed of at a specified time and place;

             (4)      After the expiration of the time given in the notice, an advertisement of the sale or other disposition shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation where the self-service storage facility is located. The advertisement shall include:

             (a)      A brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided for in subdivision (3) of this section;

             (b)      The address of the self-service storage facility and the number, if any, of the space where the personal property is located and the name of the occupant; and

             (c)      The time, place, and manner of the sale or other disposition. The sale or other disposition shall take place not sooner than fifteen days after the first publication;

             (5)      If there is no newspaper of general circulation where the self-service storage facility is located, the advertisement shall be posted at least ten days before the date of the sale or other disposition in not less than six conspicuous places in the neighborhood where the self-service storage facility is located;

             (6)      Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall conform to the terms of the notification as provided for in this section;

             (7)      Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall be held at the self-service storage facility or at the nearest suitable place to where the personal property is held or stored;

             (      Before any sale or other disposition of personal property pursuant to this section, the occupant may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien, and the reasonable expenses incurred under this section, and thereby redeem the personal property. Upon receipt of such payment, the owner shall return the personal property, and thereafter the owner has no liability to any person with respect to such personal property;

             (9)      A purchaser in good faith of the personal property sold to satisfy a lien, as provided for in this Act, takes the property free of any rights of any person, but subject to the rights of any prior lienholder unless the personal property is consumer goods as defined in § 57A- 9-109(1), despite noncompliance by the owner with the requirements of this section. For

the purpose of this section, personal property for which ownership is evidenced by a certificate of title is not consumer goods; and

             (10)      In the event of a sale under this section, the owner may, after satisfying all prior liens, satisfy the lien pursuant to this chapter from the proceeds of the sale, but shall hold the balance, if any, for delivery on demand to the occupant. If the occupant does not claim the balance of the proceeds within two years of the date of sale, the proceeds shall become the property of the owner and the occupant has no further recourse.

Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 3.

    Residence in facility prohibited.

No occupant may use a self-service storage facility for residential purposes.

 Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 4.

    Self-service storage facility not a warehouse.

A self-service storage facility is not a public warehouse or public storage warehouse as defined in chapter 49-42 or 49-42A. If an owner issues any warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored, the owner and the occupant are subject to the provisions of chapters 49-42 and 49-42A and the provisions of this chapter do not apply.

Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 5.

    Application of chapter.

This chapter is effective July 1, 1997, and applies to all rental agreements entered into, or extended, or renewed after that date.

 Source: SL 1997, ch 249, § 6.