In Johnson County, city zoning sets residential fence height. Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty generally allow about six feet along side and rear lines and a lower fence in front. Unincorporated county land follows its own rules.
Fence height here depends on where you build. Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty each set limits in their zoning codes, typically allowing roughly six feet along side and rear lot lines and a lower fence, often three to four feet, in the front yard, with a sight-triangle kept clear at corners. In unincorporated Johnson County, the county's development ordinance governs height, but land used primarily for agriculture is exempt from county zoning under Iowa Code Section 335.2. Taller fences need a variance. Set posts below Iowa's roughly 42-inch frost line so winter heaving does not tilt them.
A fence over the local limit or blocking a corner sight-triangle draws a zoning correction notice from the city or county, with fines and required lowering or removal until it complies.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Johnson County, IA
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See how Johnson County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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