Ames Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Ames, Iowa.
Ames, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Ames and all of Story County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As home to Iowa State University and a vibrant community of families and professionals, Ames deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Ames 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 Story County and beyond.
Building in Ames and Story County
Ames publishes exactly which codes it enforces. The city lists the 2024 International Residential Code, the 2024 International Existing Building Code, the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code and the 2024 International Mechanical Code. Electrical work follows the State of Iowa electrical code. Local amendments sit in Chapter 5 of the municipal code. The Inspections Division is at 515 Clark Avenue. Call 515-239-5101.
Those local amendments matter. A detail that passes in a neighboring county can get flagged in Ames, so we price plan review as real work rather than a formality.
The housing splits sharply. Near campus you find pre-war homes carved up over decades, often with additions stacked on additions and framing nobody documented. West and north of town the stock is newer and the work shifts to basements, additions, and kitchens. We quote those two situations differently because they are not the same job.
We serve Story County and north. Homeowners in Nevada, Maxwell, Boone, and Ogden call us for the same work.
Planning a project in Ames? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will walk the site with you.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Ames before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Ames
About 68,220 people live in Ames, per the July 2025 Census estimate, and only 42.1 percent of homes here are owner-occupied. The city’s own Inspection Division reviews plans and inspects every trade. Each card below opens with a price where we publish one. Then it covers what Ames requires and one rule you only meet in this city.
Home Building in Ames
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Ames updated its new home submittal packet in July 2026. It asks for floor plans, elevations, truss certification, a REScheck energy report and a site plan with distances to every property line. Each house also needs a COSESCO erosion control permit with a storm water plan. The driveway gets its own paving application, and its final inspection must happen within 48 hours of the pour. City code does not require fire sprinklers in one- and two-family homes. Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor, DIAL C140184.
Home Remodeling in Ames
Most remodels in Ames need a permit. City code calls it a violation to alter, repair or enlarge a home without the required one. Moving a door or window opening counts. Painting, cabinets and taking off under 32 square feet of wall covering do not. Plan review adds 70 percent of the building permit fee. Homes in the Old Town Historic District, the only local historic district in Ames, need a Certificate of Appropriateness before major exterior changes. The Historic Preservation Commission issues it before any permit. Most of the 100-plus projects we finish each year are additions, full remodels and basement finishes.
Kitchen Remodeling in Ames
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. A full job runs about 6 to 12 weeks from approval to the final punch list. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. New cabinets alone need no building permit in Ames. New circuits, moved plumbing or a shifted wall opening each bring one in, and trade work uses the city’s 2026 trade forms. Ames sets permit valuation from average square foot costs published by the City Assessor. On our kitchens, homeowners most often underestimate tile, countertops, added outlets and plumbing moves.
Bathroom Remodeling in Ames
We have quoted light hall bath facelifts at about $3,000 to $5,000 and large primary baths up to about $60,000. A typical full bath that keeps fixtures in place lands near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. In Ames, a new vanity counts as a cabinet finish and needs no building permit. New supply lines or circuits need trade permits, and licensed subcontractors we coordinate do that work. City staff inspect every trade in house. When a bathroom job grows, it is usually because the owner adds wiring, plumbing or lighting after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Ames
We price basements in writing after a walkthrough, because ceiling height, moisture, egress and room count drive the number. Ames wants a dimensioned floor plan with every room labeled by use. It also asks for the finished ceiling height and the stair rise, run and headroom. Each egress window must show its net clear opening and its sill height. The city inspects that window when it is set, before the inside is covered. Fireblocking at soffits and drop ceilings is checked at the framing inspection. After cost, the basement question homeowners search most is how to finance the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Ames
Reworking a finished basement starts with what sits behind the old walls, so we quote it in writing after we look. Moisture, old wiring and how much has to come out drive the cost. Taking down a patch of wall covering under 32 square feet needs no Ames permit. Shifting a doorway or creating a bedroom does. That bedroom needs an escape window opening of 5.7 square feet or more, with the sill at 44 inches or lower. The well outside must cover 9 square feet, and one deeper than 44 inches gets a fixed ladder.
Landlords meet a rule found only in Ames. In seven Near Campus Neighborhoods, rental occupancy is tied to bedroom counts on record January 1, 2018. A bedroom can be added there, yet the cap on adult tenants stays put. City inspectors come for footings on 2 hours notice and for framing on 24. Behind old basement walls in Central Iowa, our crew most often finds mold, absent moisture barriers, weak insulation and unsafe wiring. We have also redone basements that other contractors botched.
Deck Building in Ames
Deck prices depend on size, height, stairs and whether you pick composite or treated lumber, so we quote each one in writing. Replacing a deck or its stairs is on the city’s list of permit jobs. The city points builders to the American Wood Council DCA 6 guide for deck framing. Footings must reach 42 inches, the frost line written into local code. Zoning lets a deck of 24 inches or less above grade sit inside setbacks, but a taller one may not. One customer had us build a deck and later hired us back to remodel the basement.
Home Additions in Ames
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Ames reviews additions against its residential addition guide. The site plan shows every building, the distance to each property line and any easements. Plans label each room and include floor, wall and roof sections. New bedrooms list their egress window specs.
The guide accepts three foundations. One is a continuous 8 by 16 inch footing at least 42 inches deep with a wall. The others are a trench footing for one story, or engineered piers. On an RL lot, the house stays 25 feet from the front line and 20 feet from the rear. Each side yard needs 6 feet, rising to 8 feet for a two-story house. Buildings may cover no more than 35 percent of the lot. Ames allows accessory dwelling units in RL with a zoning permit. Under state law SF 592, an ADU can reach 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house, whichever is larger. Sunrooms, enclosed porches and attached garages each have their own city guide. We build storm shelters and safe rooms as part of an addition on request.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Project, Our Passion.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Backsplash
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Custom Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Ames, IA
How do home building permits work in Ames?
The City of Ames Inspections Division, part of the Fire Department, handles building permits.
Contact them at Ames City Hall, 515 Clark Ave, phone (515) 239-5160.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Permits are required for new construction, additions, alterations, and all permitted work must be inspected for code compliance.
What building codes does Ames follow?
Ames operates under the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and related energy and accessibility codes.
The Inspections Division administers these codes, reviews construction plans, issues permits, and coordinates inspections.
Contractor registration is required for trade work.
What's the housing market like in Ames?
Ames has a unique housing market influenced by Iowa State University’s 30,000+ students.
The median household income is approximately $69,000, though this figure is affected by the large student population.
Housing ranges from Campustown apartments to single-family homes in established neighborhoods.
The city has steady construction activity with both rental and owner-occupied housing.
Which school district serves Ames?
Ames Community School District serves the city.
Ames is also home to Iowa State University, established in 1858.
Additional educational institutions include Des Moines Area Community College and several private schools.
How far is Ames from Des Moines?
Ames is approximately 30 miles north of Des Moines via I-35, about a 35-40 minute drive.
The city is also 17 miles from Boone.
Busy Builders regularly serves Ames and Story County from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Ames unique for homeowners?
Ames is home to Iowa State University, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory, and major USDA facilities, including the National Animal Disease Center.
The city hosts the Iowa Department of Transportation headquarters.
Homes in the Old Town Historic District need a Certificate of Appropriateness before major exterior changes.
The geographic center of Iowa is in Story County.
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