Ankeny Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Ankeny, Iowa.
Ankeny, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Ankeny and all of Polk County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities, Ankeny deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service to keep pace with community growth.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Ankeny 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 Polk County and beyond.
Building in Ankeny and the North Metro
Ankeny issues its own permits, and the rule is broad: you need one for any construction that physically changes or adds structure to a property. That catches decks and basement finishes homeowners often assume are exempt. The inspection line is 515-963-3533.
Ankeny also runs a cold weather concrete policy. Pours during an Iowa winter carry extra requirements. That is one reason we push foundation work earlier in the year when a project allows it.
Because Ankeny grew so fast, it has some of the newest housing stock in the metro. That shapes the work. Gut renovations are rare here. Most of our Ankeny work falls into three buckets. We finish basements builders left as bare block. We add a bedroom or a sunroom to a value-engineered plan, and we rebuild first-generation decks.
Fast growth also means tight lots and active covenants. We confirm setbacks and any association rules before we draw an addition.
We build across the north metro. Homeowners in Polk City, Bondurant, Johnston, and Grimes call us for the same work.
Planning a project in Ankeny? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will walk the site with you.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Ankeny before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Ankeny
Ankeny adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with local changes that took effect July 1, 2025. Those changes removed the usual permit exemptions for small decks, sheds, fences and trade work. More projects need a permit here than in many places. Each card below starts with price where we publish one, then shows what Ankeny requires for that kind of work.
Home Building in Ankeny
Building a new home with Busy Builders starts at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Ankeny’s Building Division reviews residential plans in about 5 working days. Every new house here must route its footing drains to a sump pump that discharges apart from the sanitary sewer. The city wrote that rule into its own code. Water and sewer hookup fees are collected with the building permit.
Since 2020 we have completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa, new homes among them.
Home Remodeling in Ankeny
Remodeling costs in Ankeny depend on what moves. Walls, plumbing, wiring and finishes all shift the number, so we price each job with a written estimate.
The city wants a permit for any work that changes structure or falls under its codes. Ankeny also adopted the 2024 Existing Building Code as its own chapter, which governs work on houses already standing. Mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits for a remodel carry a $50 flat fee each.
Small jobs still get attention from us. One customer noted how fast a small project was scheduled and that the crew cleaned up before leaving.
Kitchen Remodeling in Ankeny
Kitchen remodeling with Busy Builders starts at about $250 per square foot, and a full kitchen takes about 6 to 12 weeks. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
In Ankeny, a kitchen that moves walls, plumbing or wiring needs a building permit plus trade permits. The city struck the model code’s exemptions for small electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing jobs, so modest trade work gets permitted too.
The budget surprises we see most in kitchens are tile, countertops, added outlets and moving or adding plumbing.
Bathroom Remodeling in Ankeny
A hall bathroom facelift with Busy Builders has been quoted from about $3,000 to $5,000. A typical three-quarter to full remodel lands around $15,000 to $20,000, and large primary baths have reached about $60,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Ankeny requires bathroom exhaust to vent straight outdoors. Only a room with just a toilet and sink may use a recirculating fan. Plumbing and electrical permits for remodel work cost $50 each.
Two full bathroom remodels we finished in 2026 earned reviews from the homeowners.
Basement Finishing in Ankeny
The cost of finishing an Ankeny basement turns on square footage, bedrooms, a bathroom, egress windows and radon work. We price it with a written estimate.
The city asks for a floor plan showing every wall, the mechanical room, the electrical panel, each room’s use and every window size. It inspects framing, then the trade rough-ins, then a final. You need a Certificate of Occupancy before using the space, and the ceiling must reach 7 feet.
Radon shows up often on our Des Moines area basement jobs, so we make mitigation part of the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Ankeny
Reworking an Ankeny basement that is already finished is priced by what has to come out and what goes back in. We quote it with a written estimate after we see the space.
The city treats this as construction that changes the space, so it needs a building permit. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each add their own permit. One Ankeny rule hits remodels harder than first finishes. Once old wall or ceiling finishes come off, smoke alarms must be hard-wired instead of battery units.
A new bedroom needs an egress window with at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. An older, low basement may keep its ceiling height, as long as new drywall or ceiling tile is the only thing lowering it.
When we open old walls, we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, thin insulation and old or unsafe wiring. We have also redone basements other contractors botched, including walls that collapsed because they were never fastened. Inspections run framing, rough-ins, then final.
Deck Building in Ankeny
Deck pricing in Ankeny depends on size, height, material and stairs, so we give a written estimate rather than a range.
Every deck in Ankeny needs a permit. The city deleted the model code exemption for decks of 200 square feet or less, so small and low decks are included. Footings must reach the 42-inch frost line in the city’s amended code. Out back, an open deck may reach up to 12 feet into the required rear yard.
One homeowner had us build a deck and later hired us back to remodel the basement.
Home Additions in Ankeny
Additions with Busy Builders start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
In Ankeny, the zoning setbacks decide what fits before any design work starts. An R-1 lot keeps 35 feet clear in front and back. Side yards are 8 feet minimum and 18 feet combined for a one-story house, and 10 feet and 20 feet once you go higher. R-2 and R-3 lots allow a 30-foot front yard, and planned unit developments set their own numbers.
Drawings must show the full scope and how it meets both the building code and the zoning ordinance. Footings go to the 42-inch frost line. For the permit fee, the city’s July 2026 schedule values additions, sunrooms and three or four season porches at $175.92 per square foot. That is the same rate it uses for a new house.
Iowa’s SF 592 lets an accessory dwelling unit reach 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house, whichever is larger. We also build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages on request as part of an addition.
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 Ankeny, IA
How do building permits work in Ankeny?
The City of Ankeny handles building permits through their Building Department.
Visit ankenyiowa.gov for permit applications and information.
Building permits are required for new construction, additions, and most remodeling projects.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What building codes does Ankeny follow?
Ankeny operates under the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and related codes.
The Building Department reviews plans, issues permits, and coordinates inspections to ensure compliance with adopted standards.
What's the housing market like in Ankeny?
Ankeny is one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities.
The median household income exceeds $106,000, with median home values around $197,500.
New construction continues at a rapid pace.
The city conducted a special census in 2024, confirming a population of 76,207, a 12.25% increase since 2020.
What school district serves Ankeny?
Most of Ankeny is served by Ankeny Community School District, one of Iowa’s largest and highest-rated districts.
Parts of southern Ankeny are in the Saydel Community School District, and northern areas are in the North Polk Community School District.
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has its main campus in Ankeny.
How far is Ankeny from Des Moines?
Ankeny is located immediately north of Des Moines, approximately 10 miles from downtown via I-35.
The commute takes about 15-20 minutes.
Busy Builders regularly serves Ankeny from our West Des Moines base, approximately 15 miles away.
What makes Ankeny unique for homeowners?
Ankeny removed the usual permit exemptions for small decks, sheds, fences and trade work, so more projects need a permit here.
Its cold weather concrete policy adds requirements to winter pours.
Prairie Trail, a master-planned mixed-use development on former Iowa State research land, offers walkable neighborhoods.
The city has excellent parks, trails, and the DMACC campus.
John Deere Des Moines Works is a major employer.
- Our Articles
