Fence laws in West Des Moines, Iowa
What the West Des Moines municipal code says about fences, one topic at a time, with the section number and a link to the document behind every line. Where West Des Moines sets no rule of its own, the Iowa rule is shown in its place and marked as such.
Fence laws in West Des Moines, Iowa, question by question
The short version
- Who pays on the line
- A fence in West Des Moines may sit on the property line, or on the ultimate street right-of-way line where that is more restrictive, and in a side or rear yard not adjacent to a street the full district height is allowed right up to the line, and the answer turns on whether the line faces a street and how tall the fence is. The figure is 0 feet, for setback from a side or rear line not adjacent to a street.
- How tall
- In every West Des Moines residential district except Residential Estate a fence may reach six feet in a side yard, a street side yard or a rear yard, subject to the setback for the type of fence, and the answer turns on the district, the size of the lot, the yard and how open the fence is. The figure is 6 feet, for fence in a side, street side or rear yard in most residential districts.
- Permits
- The section assumes a fence permit exists rather than creating one, requiring that the openness percentage of an eight foot Residential Estate fence be provided at the time of a fence permit application, and the answer turns on the age of the fence and whether it conforms.
- Pool barriers
- Chapter 135I sets the Iowa rules for swimming pools, spas and spray pads.
- Spite fences
- West Des Moines has no spite fence statute. The chapters that were read are listed below. Cities and counties decide this one.
- Measured from what
- West Des Moines writes the most complete measuring rule in Iowa. The figure is 2 feet, for extra height allowed where the yard sits below the street.
- Corner lots
- West Des Moines states the duty and names three ways of meeting it rather than setting one ceiling, and the answer turns on the visual clearance illustration elsewhere in chapter 14.
- Retaining walls
- West Des Moines leaves retaining walls to the 2024 International Residential Code. It reaches houses, duplexes and townhouses up to three stories, and the structures beside them only.
- Materials
- West Des Moines regulates the look of a fence more closely than any other city in this project, and the answer turns on the material, the color and whether the fence can be seen from off the lot.
- Livestock
- Iowa names six builds that count as a lawful fence. The figure is 10 feet, for post spacing for a three rail lawful fence.
Who owns the fence between two properties in West Des Moines?
Compare fences on the property line across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this, but the answer changes depending on whether the line faces a street and how tall the fence is.
A fence in West Des Moines may sit on the property line, or on the ultimate street right-of-way line where that is more restrictive, and in a side or rear yard not adjacent to a street the full district height is allowed right up to the line. Along a street the rule trades distance for height. A fence at the district height along a street side or rear boundary has to keep at least fifteen feet from the ultimate right-of-way, and a fence of four feet or less may go to the line. One relief exists for an old house: where a single family dwelling stands at a legal non-conforming side yard setback of less than fifteen feet, a full height fence may sit on the same plane as the dwelling, but never closer than five feet to the lot line. A garden or animal enclosure keeps five feet from a side or rear boundary and is barred from the front yard entirely.
fences up to but not exceeding the zoning district allowed height may be placed along the lot boundary adjacent to a street (street side yard or rear yard) when the fence maintains a minimum setback from the ultimate right-of-way of no less than fifteen feet (15′). However, on existing properties zoned Single Family Residential where the dwelling is located at a legal non-conforming side yard setback of less than fifteen feet (15′) from the ultimate right of way, a fence up to but not exceeding the zoning district allowed height may be placed at the same plane as the dwelling, but in no instance shall the fence be located closer than five feet (5′) to the lot line.
The answer turns on whether the line faces a street and how tall the fence is.
- a side or rear line away from a street
- On the line, full height. 0 ft
- full height along a street
- Fifteen feet back. 15 ft
- a house already closer than that
- In line with the house, five feet minimum. 5 ft
- a garden or animal pen
- Five feet in, and never in front.
Also on fences on the property line in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa treats a fence on a boundary as a shared job. When one owner asks in writing, the law makes each owner of the touching land build and keep up the partition fence, or pay a share toward it. The duty runs the whole year, not part of it. Iowa Code 359A.1AIowa · Statute
- set in state lawIowa hands boundary fence fights to local officials called fence viewers. The township trustees for the place where the argument starts are the fence viewers, and they can hear and settle every question in the dispute. Iowa Code 359A.2AIowa · Statute
- set in state lawThe fence viewers give everyone in the dispute five days of written notice before a hearing. The notice gives the time and place and lists what will be decided. It also names the fence viewers and says whether any of them reported a conflict of interest. Iowa Code 359A.3Iowa · Statute
- set in state lawAfter the hearing the fence viewers write an order. It gives each owner the part of the fence to build, keep up, rebuild, trim or pay for. It also sets the value of that work and the deadline to finish it or pay. Iowa Code 359A.4Iowa · Statute
- set in state lawIowa lets a fence sit right on the boundary. A person building one may lay it on the line so part of it stands on each side, and keeps the same right to take it down as if the whole fence stood on one lot. Iowa Code 359A.16Iowa · Statute
- set in state lawIowa names six kinds of fence that count as a lawful fence. One is a wire, rail or board fence with its bottom line sixteen to twenty inches off the ground and its top line between forty eight and fifty four inches high. Fence viewers may also accept any other fence they judge equal to the six. Iowa Code 359A.18Iowa · Statute
How tall can a fence be in West Des Moines?
Compare fence height across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this, but the answer changes depending on the district, the size of the lot, the yard and how open the fence is.
In every West Des Moines residential district except Residential Estate a fence may reach six feet in a side yard, a street side yard or a rear yard, subject to the setback for the type of fence. In the front yard and a street side yard a fence of no more than four feet may go right up to the property line. The Residential Estate district carries the only eight foot allowance, and it is conditional three ways: the lot has to exceed forty thousand square feet, the fence has to be decorative metal, and it has to be seventy five percent open for its full length, with the openness stated at the time of the fence permit application. Chain link is expressly barred from that route. Opaque privacy fencing in the same district stays at six feet. A footprint lot gets six feet at most, only where the fence is at least fifty percent open, and no fence at all in the front yard.
Fences up to but not exceeding eight feet (8′) in height shall be allowed within the limits of side, including street side and rear yards on lots that exceed forty thousand q(40,000) square feet in size and when the fence is constructed of decorative metal and provides seventy-five percent (75%) openness for the full length of said fence.
The answer turns on the district, the size of the lot, the yard and how open the fence is.
- a residential side or rear yard
- Six feet. 6 ft
- right up to the line at the front
- Four feet. 4 ft
- a large Residential Estate lot
- Eight feet, three quarters open. 75%
- a footprint lot
- Six feet, half open, none in front.
Also on fence height in West Des Moines
- no rule, documents checkedIowa sets no statewide limit on how tall a fence at a house can be. The fence chapter gives heights only as specs for a lawful farm fence, and the state building code as adopted deletes the permit sections and never mentions fences at all. Height for a yard fence comes from city ordinance. Iowa Code 359A.18Iowa · Statute
Do I need a permit for a fence in West Des Moines?
Compare permits across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this, but the answer changes depending on the age of the fence and whether it conforms.
The section assumes a fence permit exists rather than creating one, requiring that the openness percentage of an eight foot Residential Estate fence be provided at the time of a fence permit application. Where it does create a procedure is around old fences. A lawfully established legal non-conforming fence along a street side yard that existed before 2000, proved by aerial photographs or permit records, may be rebuilt in its current location once and only once on the issue of a building permit, with any modification needed for visual clearance made at that time, and city staff record a copy of that permit. Every later rebuild has to meet the current setback. Two discretionary routes also exist. The Director of Development Services may approve a fence that does not conform but satisfies the spirit and intent of the ordinance, and the City Council may approve an alternative open fence design on a double frontage lot.
Upon issuance of a building permit, lawfully established legal non-conforming fences along the street side yard which existed prior to 2000 (as determined by aerial photographs, permit records, etc.) may be reconstructed/replaced only once in its current location, except that modifications to provide visual clearance, if necessary, must be made. Any subsequent reconstruction/replacement at its current location shall be prohibited and must meet the current setback requirements.
The answer turns on the age of the fence and whether it conforms.
- a new fence
- A fence permit application is assumed.
- a fence older than 2000
- One rebuild where it stands.
- the rebuild after that
- Current setbacks apply.
- a fence that misses a rule
- The Director may still approve it.
Also on permits in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa has a state building code and it does not switch on by itself. It applies in a city or county only after the local governing body passes an ordinance accepting it and files a certified copy with the state commissioner. A place that adopted the code may later vote to withdraw from it. Iowa Code 103A.12Iowa · Statute
- set in state lawThe Iowa state building code adopts the 2024 International Residential Code for houses, duplexes and townhouses up to three stories, plus the structures beside them. The state version of the International Building Code covers everything else. Iowa Admin. Code 481-301.8Iowa · Building code
- set in state lawIowa strips the permit chapters out of the residential code it adopts. Sections R103 through R114 are deleted, and those are the sections that create the building department, the permit itself, and the list of work that needs no permit. The state building code text carries no fence permit rule and no fence height, so the local jurisdiction settles the permit question for a fence. The state version of the International Building Code deletes its sections 103, 104 and 105 the same way. Iowa Admin. Code 481-301.8(2)Iowa · Building code
Pool fence requirements in West Des Moines
Compare pool barriers across all 50 states
Iowa answers this in its own law. The words that do it are quoted below.
Chapter 135I sets the Iowa rules for swimming pools, spas and spray pads. It reaches pools run by state and local government, by businesses and by private groups, and it names hotels, motels, camps, apartments, condominiums and country clubs. A pool meant for one family at a home falls outside the chapter.
This one is Iowa law, not West Des Moines law. All Iowa findings
This chapter does not apply to facilities intended for single family use
Also on pool barriers in West Des Moines
- set in state lawA pool covered by chapter 135I has to be ringed by a fence, wall, building or a mix of those, at least four feet high and built of lasting material. The rule leaves out a wading pool that is drained when not in use, and it leaves out a spray pad. Iowa Admin. Code 481-485.4(4)Iowa · Agency guidance
- set in state lawThe same Iowa rule limits the gaps in a pool barrier. No opening may let a four inch ball pass, and the barrier cannot be easy for a toddler to climb. The lowest horizontal support that can be reached from outside sits at least forty five inches above the ground. Iowa Admin. Code 481-485.4(4)Iowa · Agency guidance
Spite fence laws in West Des Moines
Compare spite fences across all 50 states
West Des Moines law has no rule about this. The chapters that were read are listed below. Cities and counties decide it instead.
Iowa has no spite fence law. The fence chapter and the nuisance chapter never mention a fence built to annoy a neighbor, and neither one sets a height that turns a fence into a legal wrong. Section 657.1 gives only a general test covering anything that blocks the free use of property, and section 657.2 lists twelve named nuisances, none of them a boundary fence.
This one is Iowa law, not West Des Moines law. All Iowa findings
Documents read before writing that:
- Iowa Code ch. 359AIowa Legislature
- Iowa Code 657.1Iowa Legislature
- Iowa Code 657.2Iowa Legislature
How fence height is measured in West Des Moines
Compare how height is measured across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this in its own law. The words that do it are quoted below.
West Des Moines writes the most complete measuring rule in Iowa. In an ordinary yard the height is the vertical measurement from the ground beneath the fence to the top. On a street side yard the effective height is measured on the side nearest the street, and where the property sits lower than the adjacent street the measurement is taken from the street grade at a right angle to the fence instead. Because that would leave a sunken yard with a short fence, up to two extra feet are allowed to bring the effective height to six, with a hard ceiling of eight feet measured from the ground beneath. Then the loophole is closed from both directions: deliberately building an earthen berm, a retaining wall or a raised planter for the sole purpose of gaining height is not allowed in the single family districts, and a fence may sit on a retaining wall or planter only if the top of the fence measured from the bottom of the wall stays within eight feet in Residential Estate or six feet elsewhere.
On a street side yard, the total effective height above the finished grade shall be measured on the side nearest the street. If a property or premises is lower than an adjacent street, then the effective height of the fence shall be determined by a measurement from the street grade at a ninety-degree (90°) angle from the fence. Up to an additional two feet (2′) of height may be allowed to achieve an effective height of six feet (6′); however, the total vertical measurement from the ground beneath the fence to the top of the fence shall not exceed eight feet (8′).
2 ftextra height allowed where the yard sits below the street
Also on how height is measured in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa names the ground, for the one kind of fence it regulates. Section 359A.18 lists what counts as a lawful fence, and the rail, wire or board version puts the lowest piece sixteen to twenty inches from the ground and the top piece between forty eight and fifty four inches high. The ground is the starting point and the statute prints it. This is a livestock fence rule and it never reaches a yard. A city fence height comes from the city, since section 414.1 lets a city set the height of buildings and other structures without naming a surface. Iowa Code 359A.18Iowa · Statute
Fence rules for corner lots in West Des Moines
Compare corner visibility across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this, but the answer changes depending on the visual clearance illustration elsewhere in chapter 14.
West Des Moines states the duty and names three ways of meeting it rather than setting one ceiling. Visual clearance has to be maintained where two streets meet and where a street meets a private driveway, and providing it may require the fence to be angled, reduced in height, or of a design that allows visibility through the fence at the corner. That last option is the interesting one, because it lets an owner keep the height by making the corner see-through, which most codes do not offer. The geometry itself is provided and illustrated elsewhere in the same chapter, a part not read for this page, so the size of the clear area is not recorded here. One related duty is stated plainly and catches owners out elsewhere: putting a fence along a street side or rear boundary does not relieve the owner of maintaining the strip between the fence and the curb, or of clearing snow from the public sidewalk.
Visual clearance as provided and illustrated elsewhere in this chapter shall be maintained at intersection of two (2) streets and at intersections of a street and private driveway. Provision of visual clearance may require the fence to be angled, reduced in height or of a design that allows visibility through the fence at the corner.
The answer turns on the visual clearance illustration elsewhere in chapter 14.
- a street corner or a driveway
- Visual clearance is kept.
- the ways of meeting it
- Angle it, lower it, or see through it.
- the size of the clear area
- Illustrated elsewhere, not read here.
- the strip outside the fence
- Still the owner to mow and clear.
Also on corner visibility in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa gives obstructions in a road their own chapter, and it names fences. Chapter 318 bars putting an obstruction inside a highway right of way and lists the placing of fences as one of the examples, alongside crops, ditches, billboards and debris. Section 318.6 then calls anything placed there a public nuisance. The chapter is about the public strip and carries no triangle, no angle and no height. City zoning power comes from chapter 414 and county zoning from chapter 335, and that is where a corner clearance rule on a private lot is written in Iowa. Iowa Code 318.3Iowa · Traffic code
Retaining wall rules in West Des Moines
Compare retaining walls across all 50 states
West Des Moines does not set this. It leaves it to the 2024 International Residential Code.
Iowa adopts the 2024 International Residential Code for houses, duplexes and townhouses up to three stories and the structures beside them, then lists the changes it makes. None of those changes touch a wall that holds back earth, so the model code carries that rule unchanged. Iowa does delete sections R103 through R114, which is where the model code keeps the permit chapter and the list of work that needs no permit. So the foundation and retaining wall chapter stays in force while the permit call belongs to the city or county.
This one is Iowa law, not West Des Moines law. All Iowa findings
The provisions of the International Residential Code, 2024 edition, published by the International Code Council, located at www.iccsafe.org, are hereby adopted by reference as the requirements for construction
The code hands this to the 2024 International Residential Code, which is not published in the code itself.
Fence materials allowed in West Des Moines
Compare materials across all 50 states
West Des Moines answers this, but the answer changes depending on the material, the color and whether the fence can be seen from off the lot.
West Des Moines regulates the look of a fence more closely than any other city in this project. Permitted materials are the customary ones, wrought iron, aluminum, metal, wood, PVC and composite, with natural wood limited to treated lumber, cedar, redwood, bamboo or a similar decay-resistant species, and chain link permitted in single family districts but reviewed case by case elsewhere and required to be a complete uniform system with standard round posts, top rails and connectors. Then the appearance rules. Every side of a fence easily visible from outside the property has to be an earth tone, neutral or natural color, naming white, black, gray, tan and brown, unless the city approves a design theme. Bright or fluorescent colors are prohibited. Slats or strips woven through a fence to increase opacity are prohibited, except sun or wind screening at a sports facility. And no copy, picture, lettering, logo or artwork may appear on a fence unless it is approved as a sign.
All sides of fences easily visible from outside of the property upon which they are located must be of an earth tone, neutral, or natural color such as white, black, gray (silver), tan, or brown, unless otherwise specifically approved by the City for a designated and apparent design theme.
The answer turns on the material, the color and whether the fence can be seen from off the lot.
- the permitted materials
- Iron, aluminum, wood, PVC, composite, chain link.
- the color
- Earth tone, neutral or natural.
- slats woven through a fence
- Prohibited.
- lettering or artwork on it
- Only as an approved sign.
Also on materials in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa writes the barbs themselves into the law. One kind of lawful fence is three barbed wires carrying at least thirty six iron barbs of two points each, or twenty six barbs of four points each, on every rod of wire. Another is four wires, two barbed that way and two smooth. A rod is sixteen and a half feet. Iowa Code 359A.18Iowa · Statute
Livestock and boundary fence law in West Des Moines
Compare agricultural fencing across all 50 states
Iowa answers this in its own law. The words that do it are quoted below.
Iowa names six builds that count as a lawful fence. Three rails on posts no more than ten feet apart. Three boards at least six inches wide and three quarters of an inch thick on posts no more than eight feet apart. Three barbed wires, or four wires with two of them barbed, with the top wire forty eight to fifty four inches up. A wire fence with the bottom line sixteen to twenty inches off the ground and the top line forty eight to fifty four inches up. Four coated high tensile smooth wires on posts no more than two rods apart with the top wire at least forty inches up, a rod being sixteen and a half feet. Or anything the fence viewers judge equal to those.
This one is Iowa law, not West Des Moines law. All Iowa findings
A lawful fence shall consist of: 1. Three rails of good substantial material fastened in or to good substantial posts not more than ten feet apart. 2. Three boards not less than six inches wide and three-quarters of an inch thick, fastened in or to good substantial posts not more than eight feet apart.
10 ftpost spacing for a three rail lawful fence
Also on agricultural fencing in West Des Moines
- set in state lawIowa makes the livestock owner pay for damage from trespassing animals, including the cost of feeding and holding them, and that stays true whether or not the landowner takes the animals in. One thing cancels it. If the animals came through a fence the landowner was supposed to keep up under the fence chapter and did not, the livestock owner owes nothing. The fence chapter hands out those duties, so fence viewers settle the fence half of the question rather than which side owns animals. Iowa Code 169C.4(1)(a)Iowa · Statute
Documents behind this page
16 documents, of which 1 was published by West Des Moines itself. Each was read on the date shown.
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.1A
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.2A
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.3
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.4
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.16
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 359A.18
- City of West Des MoinesWest Des Moines City Code, Title 9, Zoning, Chapter 14, Section 9-14-11, Fences
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and LicensingIowa Administrative Code, Chapter 481-301 (State Building Code)
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 103A.12
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 135I.2
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and LicensingIowa Administrative Code, Chapter 481-485 (Swimming Pools, Spas, and Spray Pads)
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Chapter 359A (Fences)
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 657.1
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Section 657.2
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code 2026, Section 318.3, Obstructions in highway right-of-way
- Iowa LegislatureIowa Code, Chapter 169C, Trespassing or Stray Livestock
What this page does not cover
A city ordinance is not the only rule that reaches a fence. The zoning district a parcel sits in can change the height allowed on it, and so can an overlay district, a recorded easement, a fire hazard severity zone or a coastal zone. A homeowner association can be stricter than the city and nothing in the municipal code will say so. None of those appear here.
The rules above are the ones West Des Moines publishes, plus the Iowa rules that apply where the city sets none. Fence laws in Iowa has the state layer in full.
This is general information drawn from published government documents. It is not legal advice, ordinances are amended, and the date beside each finding is the date the document was read. How findings are made · What the terms mean