Cedar Falls planning commission backs 4-foot fence or ASTM-certified powered pool cover; also recommends mandatory 4-foot fence alternative

The Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission on April 9 recommended that City Council consider two amendments to the city zoning code that would change residential pool safety and setback rules: (1) allow either a 4-foot fence or an ASTM‑rated powered pool cover to satisfy the barrier requirement, and (2) alternatively, adopt a mandatory 4-foot fence standard.

The recommendation matters because the proposed changes would replace the city’s current 5-foot fence requirement and clarify multiple setback and installation questions that staff said have caused conflicts and uncertainty for homeowners. City planning staff presented the amendment after a pool contractor and a Cedar Falls homeowner requested an exception to the existing rule so a powered safety cover could be used in cases where a 5-foot fence is infeasible.

City planning staff said the current code is older and inconsistent with building-code practice and insurance standards. The draft amendment would reduce the fence-height requirement from 5 feet to 4 feet or allow a powered safety cover that meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) safety standards. Staff also proposed adjusting setback rules: the code currently allows a 2-foot setback; the draft would require a 5-foot setback to the…