Bondurant Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Bondurant, Iowa.
Bondurant, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Bondurant and all of Polk County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As one of the Des Moines metro’s fastest-growing communities, Bondurant deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Bondurant 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 Bondurant and the Northeast Metro
Bondurant has pushed past 10,000 residents, and almost all of that arrived recently. That single fact explains most of what we do here.
When a town grows this fast, the housing is young and the work is not renovation. It is finishing what the builder left, expanding what the plan skipped. Replacing the first round of decks now reaching the end of their service life. We see far more bare-block basements in Bondurant than we see plaster walls.
Fast growth also means active covenants and tight lot lines. Before we draw an addition we confirm setbacks and any association rules, because in a newer subdivision those govern more than the building code does.
One thing newer construction does not exempt you from is radon. Iowa has some of the highest readings in the country and a new house is not automatically a low one. We test before finishing a basement, not after.
We build across the northeast metro. Homeowners in Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, and Ankeny call us for the same work.
Ready to start in Bondurant? Call: 844-435-9800 for a written estimate.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Bondurant before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Bondurant
Bondurant nearly doubled in ten years, from 3,860 residents in 2010 to 7,365 in 2020, and 91 percent of its homes are owner-occupied. The city enforces the 2021 residential code, with inspectors from Veenstra & Kimm working through City Hall. It also has rules few places share, like a required basement under every new single-family house. Here is what each project costs and requires.
Home Building in Bondurant
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Bondurant’s zoning code requires a basement under every single-family house, covering at least 60 percent of the first floor’s area. Walks, drives, approaches, seed and sod must be in before the city issues a final Certificate of Occupancy. R-1 lots start at 8,400 square feet and 70 feet wide. Homeowners ask how long a new home takes almost as often as what it costs, so both answers come in writing.
Home Remodeling in Bondurant
Bondurant requires a building permit whenever a structure is altered, repaired, improved or converted. Its exemption policy draws a clear line on drywall. Patching holes or replacing a 64-square-foot damaged area is exempt, but stripping a whole wall or ceiling needs a permit. Start work before the permit and the fee doubles. For the fee, the city values a remodel at 30 percent of the ICC rate for new wood-frame homes. We handle the paperwork and keep you informed, which is what our reviewers mention most.
Kitchen Remodeling in Bondurant
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. A full Busy Builders kitchen runs about 6 to 12 weeks. In Bondurant, swapping a sink or faucet in place needs no plumbing permit, but new piping does, and the licensed plumber pulls it. Replacing a light fixture with no other work is exempt, while new circuits are not. Countertops, tile, added outlets and moved plumbing are where kitchen budgets most often slip.
Bathroom Remodeling in Bondurant
We have quoted hall bath facelifts from about $3,000 to $5,000 and large primary baths up to about $60,000. A typical full bath that keeps its layout lands around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Bondurant’s permit flyer says plumbing and electrical work usually goes to licensed tradespeople, who secure their own permits. Plumbing follows the state’s 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code. Bath jobs grow most when wiring, plumbing or lighting gets added after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Bondurant
Bondurant amended its code so new habitable rooms in an existing basement must have emergency escape openings. That means a window with at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. Where the sill sits too high, the city allows a fixed landing up to 24 inches tall, 36 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Older basements short on ceiling height may still be finished if the ceiling drops only by the finish material. Radon is common in our Des Moines area basements, so mitigation is planned in.
Basement Remodeling in Bondurant
A Bondurant basement remodel can need a permit even when no walls move. The city’s exemption policy says removing and replacing drywall on an entire wall or ceiling, or stripping interior finishes completely, requires one. Patching holes does not. Remodel work is valued at 30 percent of the ICC wood-frame rate when the city sets the fee.
Turn a room into a bedroom and the code amendment requires an escape opening, with a fixed landing allowed to meet the 44-inch sill limit. Helical or push pier foundation repairs need their own permit, though wall anchors and braces that only stabilize do not. Sump pumps and foundation drains cannot tie into the sanitary sewer under city code 95.04. Miss a required inspection before covering work, and Bondurant revokes the permit.
When we open older walls, we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and unsafe wiring. We price those fixes before new drywall goes up.
Deck Building in Bondurant
Decks need a building permit in Bondurant, and the local code drops the model code’s exemption for small, low decks. Replacing worn boards on an open wood deck is the one exception. For the fee, Bondurant values an open deck at 8 percent of the ICC wood-frame rate per square foot. Open decks can reach up to 20 feet into the 35-foot rear yard. Before pricing, we measure the yard, check the setbacks and confirm whether you want a roof later. We quote in writing, since height and material drive the price.
Home Additions in Bondurant
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. For anything outside the existing walls, Bondurant’s permit guide asks for a full drawing set. That means a site plan, floor plans, foundation plans, structural details, elevations, sections and energy documents, including Manual J and S heating and cooling calculations.
R-1 lots keep 30 feet in front, 7.5 feet on each side and 35 feet in back, with homes up to 2.5 stories. Foundations reach at least 42 inches below grade.
Bondurant’s own ADU section allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot, attached or detached. It can reach 1,000 square feet or half the house, whichever is larger. An ADU meets the main house setbacks and pays the same utility connection fees and parkland dedication as a house. Storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages are built on request within addition projects.
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
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Backsplash
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
- Custom Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Bondurant, IA
How do building permits work in Bondurant?
The City of Bondurant handles building permits through City Hall.
Contact them for permit applications and requirements.
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 Bondurant follow?
Bondurant operates under the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC).
The city reviews plans, issues permits, and coordinates inspections to ensure compliance with adopted standards.
What's the housing market like in Bondurant?
Bondurant is one of the Des Moines metro’s fastest-growing communities, with population increasing 378% since 2000 and 143% since 2010.
Per the 2024 Special Census, the population reached 9,393 residents.
The median household income exceeds $128,000, among the highest in the metro.
Housing is predominantly owner-occupied (88%), with most homes built after 2000.
Which school district serves Bondurant?
Bondurant is served by the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District.
The district operates local area public schools serving Bondurant and the surrounding communities.
How far is Bondurant from Des Moines?
Bondurant is located east of Des Moines, accessible via US Route 65 or NE 78th Ave.
The city is approximately 12 miles from downtown Des Moines, about a 20-minute drive.
Busy Builders regularly serves Bondurant from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Bondurant unique for homeowners?
Bondurant offers small-town community character with Des Moines metro accessibility.
The city has experienced remarkable growth while maintaining family-friendly neighborhoods.
Bondurant’s zoning code requires a basement under every new single-family house.
Transit service via Des Moines Area Regional Transit Route 17 connects the city to the wider metro region.
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