Story County, IA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Findings section
- § 33.01(2)-(3), Board of Supervisors
- Listed obstructions
- fences, ditches, drainage tiles, signs, mailbox supports
- Legal status of violation
- public nuisance / county infraction
- Grass-mowing carve-out
- does not count as an obstruction
- Short-term parking carve-out
- under 2 hours on shoulder
Summary
Story County's Board of Supervisors has formally found that fences, ditches, drainage-tile changes, trash, junk, abandoned vehicles, billboards, signs and hazardous mailbox supports placed in the secondary road right-of-way create hazardous obstructions and hinder snow removal. Chapter 33 treats unpermitted placement of any of these as unauthorized use of county right-of-way.
The Story County Board of Supervisors finds as follows: ... ... 2. This problem includes, but is not limited to, the cultivation and growing of crops on the County right-of-way; the improper placing of fences or ditches on the County right-of-way; the alteration of ditches, water breaks and drainage tiles on the County right-of-way; the placement of trash, junk, rocks, corncobs, brush, abandoned vehicles or machinery and other items on the County right-of-way; and the placement of billboards, signs, hazardous mailbox supports, and advertising devices on the County right-of-way. 3. The unauthorized use of secondary road right-of-way can, among other things, undermine attempts to control drainage and floodwater, diminish snow storage capacity and hinder snow removal, damage or shorten the life expectancy of the roadway, or create hazardous obstructions in the roadway.
Full Breakdown
01 of the Story County Code of Ordinances lays out the Board's findings behind Chapter 33: unauthorized use of secondary road right-of-way is a recognized problem in the county, and it specifically lists the improper placing of fences or ditches on the right-of-way, alteration of ditches, water breaks and drainage tiles, placement of trash, junk, rocks, corncobs, brush, abandoned vehicles or machinery, and placement of billboards, signs, hazardous mailbox supports and advertising devices on the right-of-way. The Board found that this kind of obstruction can undermine drainage and floodwater control, diminish snow storage capacity and hinder snow removal, damage or shorten the roadway's life expectancy, and create hazardous obstructions in the roadway itself, which is why the Board declared it necessary to prevent unauthorized use of county right-of-way altogether.
03 makes any unauthorized placement a county infraction. 22(2); driving on the traveled roadway, or parking on the shoulder for under two hours (24 hours for a disabled vehicle), is likewise not treated as an obstruction.
Violations & Fines
Placing an obstruction such as a fence, sign, mailbox support, ditch alteration or debris pile in the county right-of-way without the County Engineer's written pre-authorization is unauthorized use under § 33.03: a declared public nuisance and county infraction, enforceable by the Story County Attorney at the Engineer's request. Anyone responsible, including a contractor hired to do the work, can be held liable for abatement costs and damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a fence or mailbox post in the Story County road right-of-way?
Why does Story County restrict what can be placed in the road right-of-way?
Is mowing grass in the county right-of-way an unauthorized obstruction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Story County
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