The low temperature surface resistance R_s of d-wave superconductors is calculated as function of frequency assuming normal state quasiparticle mean free paths l in excess of the penetration depth. Results depend strongly on the geometric configuration. In the clean limit, two contributions to R_s with different temperature dependencies are identified: photon absorption by quasiparticles and pair breaking. The size of nonlocal corrections, which can be positive or negative depending on frequency decreases for given l as the scattering phase shift delta_N is increased. However, except in the unitarity limit delta_N = 0.5 pi, nonlocal effects should be observable.