Ankeny, IA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Section 191.09 of the Ankeny Zoning Ordinance, in Chapter 191, General Regulations, governs swimming pools as an accessory use permitted in every zoning district unless a specific district rule prohibits them. The third requirement in that section is the barrier rule: an outdoor swimming pool must be enclosed to prevent unauthorized access by small children and provide a degree of security. For an in-ground pool, the city requires a fence or wall not less than four feet in height, set not less than four feet from each side of the pool.

For an above-ground pool, a fence or wall may be combined with the pool's own water-enclosing wall, provided the resulting enclosure is reasonably secure and the effective height is still not less than four feet. Every opening into the pool enclosure, whether a gate or a door, must carry a self-closing and self-latching device with locking provisions so the opening stays securely closed whenever the pool is not in use. Ankeny's Planning and Building Department administers the zoning ordinance and inspects the barrier as part of the pool permit process required under Chapter 183, the Ankeny Swimming Pool and Spa Code.

Section 191.09 also sets a four-foot minimum side- or rear-yard setback from any property line for residential pools, a separate placement rule enforced at the same inspection. A pool built or left without the required four-foot barrier and self-latching gate is out of compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and subject to municipal code enforcement action until the barrier is corrected.