Is it legal to wear only body paint as clothing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

Body paint does not count as clothing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally or anywhere else in South Dakota.

According to the City of Sturgis Code of Ordinances, people cannot appear in public with his or her genitals or the female breast showing without a full opaque covering, such as bandaids or pasties.

“Paint or any similar substance does not qualify as a full opaque covering,” the ordinance says.

A 2009 Meade County Ordinance requires bars and campgrounds to obtain a special license if they allow partial or full nudity.

Two of the rally’s campgrounds, Sturgis Buffalo Chip and Pappy Hoel Campground and Resort, have resources on how to follow the law while at the rally.

“Nudity — as well as any open sexual acts — are not allowed. That said, we still get pretty wild. … We want YOU to continue to come back,” the Pappy Hoel website says.