Lake Panorama, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Lake Panorama, Iowa.
Lake Panorama, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Lake Panorama and all of Guthrie County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. This small rural community deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service, even for projects in towns where some contractors won’t travel.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Lake Panorama homeowners deserve contractors who show up when promised, communicate clearly, and deliver quality work at fair prices.
Our Vision
To serve all of Central Iowa with dedicated construction services, from West Des Moines through Guthrie County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Lake Panorama
New home construction at Lake Panorama starts earlier in the year than people expect. New home permit requests typically begin reaching the LPA in January and February. The association approved 12 new homes in 2025. A spring start means a winter application. You sign the permit application yourself, because owners rather than contractors must sign. We build the design and approval calendar backward from that. Building starts around $150 per square foot, and shoreline sites move it.
Home remodeling at Lake Panorama fits a maturing community. About 1,100 homes stand around 1,160 acres of water. More than 1,750 member property owners hold them. Plenty were built for a different era of lake living. We handle whole-house updates as well as room by room work. The owner signature rule applies to remodeling permits too, so plan a trip out for signing. If you own here but live elsewhere, tell us early.
Kitchen remodeling at Lake Panorama should start with a call to the LPA at 641-755-2301. The association’s 2025 permit list breaks out new homes, decks, sheds, additions and garages. It also covers fences, gazebos, boat house remodels and demolitions. It does not separate kitchens. Ask whether your project needs a permit before anyone swings a hammer. Lake kitchens usually need seating more than they need storage. Kitchen work starts around $250 per square foot.
Basement remodeling at Lake Panorama runs into ground rules. The association issued 38 land disturbing permits in 2025. That is more than any building category. It tells you how carefully ground work near the water gets watched. Any exterior grading, drainage or excavation tied to your basement needs that conversation with the LPA first. Water is the whole story this close to a lake. Inside, we handle moisture and drainage before a sheet of drywall goes up.
Bathroom remodeling at Lake Panorama serves houses that host people. Weekend guests turn a second bathroom into the difference between a good summer and a queue in the hallway. The LPA permitted two boat house remodels in 2025. That shows how specific its permit categories get. Confirm your project’s status with the office at 641-755-2301 before demolition. We schedule this work for the quiet seasons, because nobody wants a torn out bathroom in July.
Home additions at Lake Panorama follow a monthly clock. The association approved nine home additions in 2025. If your plan needs a variance, the request must reach the LPA by 4:30 pm on the first Monday. That deadline carries it into that month’s Building Codes Committee and LPA Board review. Miss it and you wait a month. Additions start around $300 per square foot. We track that date for you.
Basement finishing at Lake Panorama starts with two documents we insist on. The first is a radon test. Iowa’s statewide average is 8.5 picocuries per liter against 1.3 for the country. The second is the current LPA building standard in writing. The association’s building codes document is not public and names no code edition. We ask for that standard before we frame. A basement bedroom still needs 5.7 square feet of egress and a seven foot ceiling.
Deck building at Lake Panorama is the association’s busiest building category. The LPA approved 14 decks in 2025, more than new homes, garages or sheds. That makes sense on a lake with more than 30 miles of shoreline. You sign the permit application yourself. Posts go 42 inches down to clear the Iowa frost line. Lake views and railings get decided together. We confirm the current LPA standard in writing before we set a footprint.
Building at Lake Panorama and in Guthrie County
Lake Panorama is not a city. It is an unincorporated development in Guthrie County, about 55 miles from Des Moines. That changes who you ask for a permit.The Lake Panorama Association issues building permits and land disturbing permits inside the development. Those are separate from any government permit. The LPA office number is 641-755-2301. One rule matters more than any other here. Owners, not contractors, must sign every LPA permit application. Your builder cannot sign for you, so your signature becomes part of the construction schedule. We plan around that and tell you exactly when we need you.Whether a Guthrie County permit is also required inside the development is not something we can confirm. So check. Guthrie County planning and zoning is administered under contract by Region XII Council of Governments. Zoning administrator Chris Whitaker can be reached at 712-792-9914.This is a large and active building community. The lake covers 1,160 acres with more than 30 miles of shoreline. There are more than 1,750 member property owners and about 1,100 homes built. Panorama Community School District serves the area, along with Panora, Bagley, Jamaica, Linden and Yale.Call Busy Builders at 844-435-9800. LPA rules and fees change, and setback and size standards have been revised. Confirm current requirements before you commit to a budget.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Dream, Our Passion.
Since 2020, more than 1,285 Central Iowa homeowners have trusted us with their projects, and it shows.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Based on Average Pricing in Lake Panorama.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Based on Average Pricing in Lake Panorama.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Windows
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Based on Average Pricing in Lake Panorama.
- Dream Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Lake Panorama, IA
Who issues building permits at Lake Panorama?
The Lake Panorama Association, not a city. Lake Panorama is an unincorporated development in Guthrie County. The LPA issues both building permits and land disturbing permits for property inside it. The office number is 641-755-2301. That permit is separate from any government permit that may apply to your property.
Can my contractor sign the permit application for me?
No. Owners, not contractors, must sign every LPA permit application. It is the single most useful thing to know before you plan a project here. That matters especially if you own at the lake but live somewhere else. We prepare the paperwork, then arrange the signature. Your project should not sit waiting on an envelope.
Do I also need a Guthrie County permit?
We cannot confirm that a county permit is required inside the development. Treat it as a question to answer rather than an assumption. Guthrie County planning and zoning is administered under contract by Region XII Council of Governments. Zoning administrator Chris Whitaker can be reached at 712-792-9914. Ask before you start.
When should I apply for a new home permit?
Early in the year. New home permit requests typically start reaching the LPA in January and February. The association approved 12 new homes in 2025. Design and approval both take time, so a spring start usually means winter paperwork. We would rather open the conversation in December than in April.
What if my plan needs a variance?
Get it in by 4:30 pm on the first Monday of the month. That deadline is what carries a variance request into that month’s Building Codes Committee and LPA Board review. Miss it and your project waits for the next cycle. We build that date into the schedule rather than discovering it late.
What building code does the LPA enforce?
The LPA building codes document is private and names no code edition, so nobody can quote you one honestly. Setback and minimum size standards have also been revised more than once. That means older numbers floating around online are not reliable. Ask the LPA office for current requirements in writing at 641-755-2301.
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