Iowa City, IA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Iowa City's fence standard sits in the accessory-uses portion of the zoning code at 14-4C-2L. The basic residential rule: front yard area fences are capped at 4 feet, side / rear yard fences at 6 feet, and any fence taller than 6 feet requires a permit (which functions as a de facto height review since most residential fences will not be approved above 8 feet). The 4-foot front-yard cap applies on properties zoned residential and on any property within 50 feet of a residential zone, which sweeps in a lot of mixed-use frontages near downtown and the South Riverfront Crossings area. Two exceptions allow a 6-foot front-yard fence: on double frontage lots and on reversed corner lots, where the lot fronts on an arterial street or expressway. Iowa City has unusually broad arterial corridors (Highway 6, Riverside Drive / US 6, North Dodge Street / Highway 1, Mormon Trek Boulevard, etc.) where the 6-foot allowance applies. Setback: all fences, walls, and hedges must be set back at least 2 feet from any alley or street right-of-way line. Corner lot visibility: under Article 14-5D (Intersection Visibility Standards), fences higher than 2 feet above the curb level are prohibited within the vision triangles at street corners and driveways. Vision triangle dimensions: 30 feet along each curb at local-to-local intersections, 30 feet along each right-of-way line at arterial-to-arterial intersections, and an asymmetric 30-foot measurement at mixed local-arterial corners. Open or open-weave fences less than 20 percent solid (split rail, wrought iron, open chain-link without slats) are permitted within the vision triangle so long as they are kept free of plantings or attached materials taller than 2 feet. Note: corner lots have two front yards under the Iowa City definition, so a corner-lot owner cannot simply call the side-street yard a 'side yard' to install a 6-foot fence - it remains a front yard and is capped at 4 feet absent the arterial / reversed-corner exception.