Fence Regulations in Ames, IA (2026)
3 verified fence regulations for Ames, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In the City of Ames, Iowa, fences are capped at 4 feet in front setbacks and front yards, 6 feet in side and rear setbacks, and 8 feet outside setbacks under Ames Municipal Code Sec. 29.408(2). Fences near street rights-of-way face extra limits, and every fence must clear the corner visibility triangle set out in Sec. 29.408(5).
Ames Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 29.408(2)(c)
(2) Fences. ... (c) Location and Height. (i) Height in Front Setbacks & Yards. The maximum height of fences in front setbacks and front yards is four (4) feet. (ii) Height in Side and Rear Setbacks. The maximum height for fences in side or rear setbacks is six (6) feet, except as further limited by this section in setbacks abutting street rights-of-way. (iii) Height in Setbacks Abutting Rights-...
Retaining Walls
In the City of Ames, Iowa, a retaining wall no more than 4 feet above the lowest adjacent grade needs no building permit under Sec. 5.104(5), unless it supports a surcharge or impounds hazardous liquids. Zoning also caps how far a fill-retaining wall may project into a required setback under Sec. 29.402(2)(c): up to 4 feet in a front setback and 6 feet in a side or rear setback, while a wall retaining only natural grade has no height cap.
Ames Retaining Wall Height and Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 5.104(5); Sec. 29.402(2)(c)(v)-(vi)
(5) Retaining walls that are not more than 4 feet in height above the lowest adjacent grade, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids. ... (v) Retaining walls that retain fill and which are up to four feet in height in front setbacks and up to six feet in height in side and rear setbacks. (vi) Retaining walls of any height that retain existing natural grade;
Material Restrictions
In the City of Ames, Iowa, barbed wire, razor wire, electric fencing, and similar materials are outright prohibited on residential and most other zoned properties under Ames Municipal Code Sec. 29.408(2)(d). The ban sits inside the same subsection that governs fence height and applies to walls, fences, and screens of any construction type.
Ames Prohibited Fence Materials
Heavy RestrictionsAmes Municipal Code Sec. 29.408(2)(d)
(a) Applicability. These standards apply to all zoning districts except General Industrial (GI), Research and Innovation (RI), Intensive Industrial (II), and Planned Industrial (PI). ( ... b) Types of Fences. These standards apply to walls, fences, and screens of all types whether open, solid, wood, metal, wire, masonry, earthen, or other material. ... (d) Prohibited Materials. Barbed wir...
Looking for Story County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ames city rules.
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