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FENCE AND HEDGE BUILDING AND
ZONING REQUIREMENTS
WHEN PERMIT IS REQUIRED
• ANY FENCE OVER 6’ HIGH, ELECTRIC FENCES, & BARBED WIRE FENCES
Submittal documents required:
− SKETCH OR DESIGN SHOWING DIMENSIONS AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
− PLOT PLAN SHOWING LOCATION
ALTHOUGH NO PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR OTHER FENCES, THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY TO ALL:
HEIGHT AND LOCATION
• IF WITHIN A FRONT, SIDE, OR REAR SETBACK OR WITHIN 5’ OF A LOT LINE:
− NO PORTION MORE THAN 10% SOLID MAY EXCEED 8’ HIGH
− NO PART CAN BE WITHIN 2’ OF ANY ALLEY OR STREET R.O.W. LINE
− AT STREET INTERSECTIONS, VISION TRIANGLE LIMITS APPLY:
∗ NO PORTION CAN BE MORE THAN 2’ ABOVE THE CURB MEASURED 30’
ALONG THE LEGS OF THE TRIANGLE AS FOLLOWS:
⋅ LOCAL AND COLLECTOR STREETS MEASURED ALONG THE CURB
. ARTERIAL STREETS MEASURED ALONG THE R.O.W.
⋅ WHERE THE LOCAL/COLLECTOR AND ARTERIAL INTERSECT, MEASURE
AS ABOVE
− FENCES LESS THAN 20% SOLID ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE VISION TRIANGLE
LIMITS (such as a split rail fence)
− IN “R” ZONES OR WITHIN 50’ OF A “R” ZONE ALONG THE SAME FRONTAGE:
∗ FENCES WITHIN THE FRONT SETBACK CANNOT EXCEED 4’ HIGH.
⋅ IF A FRONT SETBACK ABUTS AN EXPRESSWAY OR ARTERIAL STREET, A
FENCE MAY BE A MAX. 6’ HIGH WHEN:
FRONT YARD IS WITHIN A DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT OR A
REVERSED CORNER LOT.
WHEN FENCE ENCLOSURES ARE REQUIRED
• OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS 18” OR MORE DEEP SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:
− POOL EDGE LESS THAN 4’ ABOVE GRADE
∗ FENCE AT LEAST 4’ HIGH
∗ CONSTRUCTED SO THAT A 5” SPHERE CANNOT PASS THROUGH
∗ BUILDINGS MAY BE USED AS PART OF ENCLOSURE
∗ GATES OR DOORS THROUGH ENCLOSURE MUST HAVE A SELF-CLOSING
AND SELF- LATCHING DEVICE. (EXCEPT DOORS OF BUILDING)
• DOG RUNS
∗ SUFFICIENT IN HEIGHT AND CONSTRUCTION TO CONTAIN DOG. CANNOT BE
LOCATED IN A SIDE SETBACK OR WITHIN TEN FEET OF A REAR LOT LINE.
DEFINITIONS
FRONT LOT LINE- The line separating a lot from the street right of way.
REAR LOT LINE- The lot opposite and most distant from the front lot line.
STREET-SIDE LOT LINE- Any lot line that separates a lot from a public or private street (not including
alleys or private rear lanes).
FRONT SETBACK LINE- A line parallel to the street and as far back from the street as specified for the
principal building front setback.
FRONT SETBACK AREA - The area on a lot between the street-side lot line(s) and the front setback
line.
REAR SETBACK AREA- On an interior lot, the area extending from one side lot line to another side lot
line and between the rear setback line and rear lot line. On a corner lot, the area extending from the side
lot line to the front setback line between the rear lot line and the rear setback line. On a double frontage
lot, there is no rear setback.
SIDE SETBACK AREA - Any setback area between a side lot line and a side setback line that is not a
front or rear setback area.
LOT LINE- A line oriented by stable points of reference which establishes one boundary of a lot.
LOT FRONTAGE- The continuous width of a lot measured along the public right-of-way line.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE- A lot having frontage on 2 parallel or approximately parallel streets.
LOT, CORNER- A lot located at the intersection of 2 or more streets.
LOT, REVERSED CORNER- A corner lot, the rear of which abuts the side of another lot.
LOT, INTERIOR- A lot bounded by a street on only one side.
STREET, LOCAL- A street used primarily for access to abutting property and for moving local traffic.
STREET, COLLECTOR- A street whose principal function is to carrying traffic from local streets to
arterial streets.
STREET, ARTERIAL- A street whose principal function is to provide for through traffic and which is
designed to carry large volumes of traffic.
City of Iowa City
Housing & Inspection Services Dept.
2/20/2007