Fine structure in the $alpha$ decay of $^{223}$U was observed in the fusion-evaporation reaction $^{187}$Re($^{40}$Ar, p3n) by using fast digital pulse processing technique. Two $alpha$-decay branches of $^{223}$U feeding the ground state and 244 keV excited state of $^{219}$Th were identified by establishing the decay chain $^{223}$U $xrightarrow{alpha_{1}}$ $^{219}$Th $xrightarrow{alpha_{2}}$ $^{215}$Ra $xrightarrow{alpha_{3}}$ $^{211}$Rn. The $alpha$-particle energy for the ground-state to ground-state transition of $^{223}$U was determined to be 8993(17) keV, 213 keV higher than the previous value, the half-life was updated to be 62$^{+14}_{-10}$ $mu$s. Evolution of nuclear structure for $N$ = 131 even-$Z$ isotones from Po to U was discussed in the frameworks of nuclear mass and reduced $alpha$-decay width, a weakening octupole deformation in the ground state of $^{223}$U relative to its lighter isotones $^{219}$Ra and $^{221}$Th was suggested.
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