Story County, IA Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum barrier height
- 4 feet
- Design standard
- prevents unintentional child access
- Applies to
- outdoor in-ground pools
- Above-ground pools under 4 ft
- must be secured against child access
- Enforcing office
- Planning and Development
- First-offense fine
- up to $750
Summary
Every outdoor in-ground swimming pool in unincorporated Story County must be enclosed by a fence or wall at least four feet tall and designed to keep young children from getting in unintentionally. Above-ground pools under four feet, or with stairs or ladders, need equivalent child-access protection instead.
A fence or wall of at least four feet in height and designed to prevent unintentional access by a child shall enclose all outdoor in-ground swimming pools. ... Above-ground pools less than four feet in height or with stairways, ladders, or other accesses shall be appropriately secured to prevent unintentional access by a child. A zoning permit is not required for above-ground pools.
Full Breakdown
07(5), within the Land Development Regulations' fence chapter, requires that a fence or wall at least four feet in height, designed to prevent unintentional access by a child, enclose all outdoor in-ground swimming pools in the unincorporated county. The barrier requirement is tied directly to the pool-permit process: the same subsection requires an Application for a Zoning Permit to be submitted for review and action before construction begins, so the barrier design gets checked at the permitting stage rather than after the pool is built.
Above-ground pools are treated differently: a pool less than four feet in height, or one equipped with a stairway, ladder or other means of access, must be appropriately secured to prevent unintentional child access, but the county does not require a zoning permit for above-ground pools. 07(1)-(3), which cap ordinary residential fences at eight feet in side and rear yards, so a compliant pool enclosure can be built well within the height allowance that already governs the property.
Violations & Fines
A pool built or enclosed without meeting the four-foot barrier standard is a Land Development Regulations violation handled through Planning and Development. The department investigates a reported violation and, if confirmed, issues a Notice of Violation under § 93.02 with 30 days to correct the enclosure or submit a compliance schedule. Continued noncompliance allows a county infraction citation under § 93.03, carrying a civil penalty up to $750 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each repeat offense, with the Notice of Violation appealable to the Board of Adjustment within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does my pool fence need to be in unincorporated Story County?
Do I need a fence around an above-ground pool?
Is a zoning permit required for the pool fence itself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Story County
Compare Story County to another location·View the Iowa swimming pools & spas overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.