7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Polk County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Polk County, residential fences may be up to 4.5 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in side/rear yards, never over 6.5 feet overall. Non-residential fences max out at 12 feet. Cities like Des Moines or Ankeny set their own limits.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 5(A)(1)
Residential fences not exceeding four and one half (4 1/2) feet in height are permitted in the front yard setback, and fences not exceeding six and (6) feet in height are permitted in the side or rear yard setback... no fence shall be taller than six and one half (6 1/2) feet in overall height from ground to top of fence.
The Polk County Zoning Ordinance sets fence height rules but does not require a standalone fence permit for an ordinary fence within limits. A building permit IS required for any retaining wall over 4 feet. Confirm current requirements with Polk County Planning & Development before you build.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 5(B)(3)
The property owner shall obtain a building permit to install any retaining wall greater than 4 feet in height. The retaining wall shall be installed according to manufacturer's specifications.
Polk County's zoning ordinance requires fence posts and rails to face the property interior (finished side out) and bars any fence from blocking sight distance. It does not assign shared-fence cost between neighbors; that is handled under Iowa's partition-fence law, Iowa Code Chapter 359A.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 5(A)(1)
Structural support for fencing shall be placed facing the property interior.
In unincorporated Polk County, a retaining wall over 4 feet tall needs a building permit and must be set back from any property line at least 1.5 times its height. Walls closer than that need engineered design, and guard rails are required on walls 30 inches or more above grade
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 5(B)(1)
Retaining walls greater than four (4) feet in height shall be setback a minimum distance from the base of the retaining wall to any property line equal to 1.5 times the height of the wall as measured from the top of the footing to the highest point of the wall. If the retaining wall collapse or fail, it should fall wholly within the property lines on which it is located.
Beyond height limits, Polk County requires swimming pools to be enclosed by a non-climbable fence at least 4 feet high with a self-latching gate, and livestock-confining fences to sit 100 feet or more from a neighbor's dwelling. Fences must never obstruct sight distance.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 4(A)-(B)
A solid wall, non-climbable fence, railing, or chain link fence not less than four (4) feet in height shall enclose all swimming pools. Fences shall enclose swimming pools and have a self-latching gate to prevent unauthorized entry.
Polk County's zoning ordinance does not broadly ban residential fence materials such as wood, vinyl, or chain-link, but it requires chain-link with barbed-wire topping for certain hazardous utility and tank enclosures, and prohibits chain-link fence with slats for screening outside storage.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 4 (Outside Storage Screening)
All outside storage must be completely enclosed in a fenced yard with a minimum screening (landscaping or board on board fence) opacity of 1.0. Chain link fence with slats is not permitted.
Polk County allows common fence materials for residential fences and does not impose a general material list, so long as height, sight-distance, and orientation rules are met. Special material requirements apply only to storage screening and hazardous-equipment enclosures.
Polk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 4, Div. 6, Sec. 5(A)
Provided there is no obstruction of a sight distance all fences shall meet the following requirements: (1) Residential fences not exceeding four and one half (4 1/2) feet in height are permitted in the front yard setback, and fences not exceeding six and (6) feet in height are permitted in the side or rear yard setback.
1 cities in Polk County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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