Sioux City, IA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Retaining walls shall be designed and stamped by an Iowa Registered Professional Engineer, specializing in Structural Engineering, under the following conditions:

1. Any wall, four feet in height or greater, where its height exceeds its distance from a right-of-way line or a common property line; or

2. Any wall six feet or greater at its highest point as measured from the top of the wall to the lowest adjacent ground level, not including its foundation depth.

3. Permit Required. Any retaining wall 48 inches in height or greater shall require a retaining wall permit.

4. Foundation Walls as Retaining Walls. On hillsides, a foundation wall that is not more than 12 feet in height above adjacent grade may be used as a retaining wall for a building.

(Ord. 2015-0433; 2015-0215)

Effective on: 6/13/2015

Subsection 25.03.080.4 Solar Arrays

1. Generally. Solar arrays are allowed as provided in this Item.

2. Exemption. Solar arrays and energy storage units are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a certificate of occupancy, as set out in Subsection 25.06.080.12, Certificate of Occupancy.

3. Height and Area Exceptions. Solar arrays and their condensers and energy storage units may exceed the height limit and encroach into the required yards of the district in which they are located, subject to the standards and limitations set out in Section 25.03.050, Height and Area Exceptions.