Clive Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Clive, Iowa.
Clive, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa. We bring decades of combined trade experience to every project in Clive and surrounding communities. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand local building codes, permit processes, and the specific challenges of construction in our climate. From bathroom updates to custom home builds, we deliver quality work with transparent communication.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. We provide detailed written estimates, explain the permit process upfront, and maintain clear communication throughout your project.
Our Vision
To serve all of Central Iowa with dedicated construction services, building lasting relationships through quality workmanship and integrity.
Building in Clive and the West Metro
Clive is a city of roughly 19,500 that stretches a long way east to west. The two ends are not the same place to build. Call the city at 515-223-6221 to confirm permit requirements before you set a start date.
The eastern end near 86th Street holds mid-century homes on mature lots. Those come with full-height basements, real trees to protect during excavation, and kitchens that were never meant to be open. The western end toward Waukee is newer, and there the work is basements, decks, and adding the room the original plan left out.
Clive also runs along the Walnut Creek greenbelt. Lots backing that corridor bring drainage and easement questions that need answering before an addition is drawn, not after it is priced.
Iowa footings go 42 inches down at minimum so they sit below the frost line. On a sloped greenbelt lot we confirm bearing rather than assume it.
We build across the west metro. Homeowners in Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, and Johnston call us for the same work.
Planning a Clive remodel? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will walk it with you.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Clive before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Clive
Clive straddles Polk and Dallas counties and runs its own permits and inspections through the Community Development Department. Each card below opens with a starting price where we publish one. Then it names the Clive rule that shapes that kind of job, plus one thing we have learned on projects across Central Iowa.
Home Building in Clive
New homes start from about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Clive wants a full packet before it issues a new-home permit: a plan checklist, drawings, a site plan and energy paperwork. It also asks for a Manual J and D report, which sizes the heating, cooling and ductwork.
Homes of 8,000 square feet or more need a fire sprinkler system under Clive’s amended code. Lots in plats approved after October 1, 2012 also need a Top Soil Agreement. What it costs to build a house in Iowa is the question homeowners search most before they call us, so the price comes first.
Home Remodeling in Clive
Clive keeps it simple: remodel projects need a building permit. The city asks for an application, a signed Builder’s Acknowledgement and one set of drawings, and it keeps those drawings on file for your address. Changes to wiring, gas, plumbing or ductwork also fall under the city’s permit rule.
Clive adopted its first building code on January 1, 1972, so its oldest homes went up before the city reviewed construction. We price every remodel with a written estimate after a walkthrough. Repeat customers show up often in our reviews, including one household that hired us back for a bathroom and plans a kitchen next.
Kitchen Remodeling in Clive
Kitchen remodels start from about $250 per square foot. A full kitchen 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.
Clive requires a building permit for remodel projects. Moving a sink line or adding circuits also brings in the city’s rule on altering plumbing and electrical systems. Clive enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, and its code library is current through an ordinance passed in December 2025. On our kitchens, tile, countertops, added outlets and plumbing moves are the costs owners most often underestimate.
Bathroom Remodeling in Clive
We have quoted hall bathrooms from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light refresh, up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter to full bathroom that does not move much lands around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
In Clive, a bathroom remodel needs a building permit, and so does any change to plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems. Once that trade work is done, city code says the installer must notify Clive’s Construction Services Administrator. Licensed plumbers, electricians and HVAC subcontractors handle it on our jobs, and we coordinate them.
Basement Finishing in Clive
A basement finish price depends on the square footage, the rooms you want, a bathroom, egress windows and radon work. We quote each one in writing. Clive counts a basement finish as an addition because it adds living area. That means a permit every time, though the packet skips the site plan other additions need.
One Clive detail: the city’s egress handout sets a window well minimum of 9 square feet of floor area. The well must be 36 inches wide and deep. After cost, the question homeowners search most about basements is how to pay for the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Clive
Remodeling a finished basement starts with what is hiding behind the old drywall. In older Central Iowa basements, our crew most often finds mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and old or unsafe wiring. Those findings drive the price, so we write your estimate after a walkthrough instead of quoting a range.
Clive requires a building permit for remodel projects, and it lists basement finishes among its additions. Adding a bedroom brings egress rules: an escape opening of at least 5.7 square feet with a sill no higher than 44 inches. Clive’s amended code does not let you pull a window sash to reach that size. Because the city’s first building code dates to January 1, 1972, a basement finished before then was never held to a Clive code.
We have redone many basements botched by other contractors, including concrete poured into a sump pit and walls that collapsed because no one fastened them. Licensed subcontractors handle electrical, plumbing and HVAC, and Clive’s own inspectors check the work.
Deck Building in Clive
Deck prices turn on size, height, boards, stairs and railing, so each one gets a written estimate. Every deck in Clive, large or small, needs a city permit and fee. Footings reach at least 42 inches below grade, and the deck must stay at least 5 feet off the side and rear lot lines.
Here is the Clive twist: put a roof over a deck and the city reviews it as an addition. We build in composite and pressure-treated wood. A homeowner whose composite deck we finished in spring 2026 singled out our communication and the result in a review.
Home Additions in Clive
Home additions start from about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Clive calls anything that adds floor area, living area or a roof an addition, so a sunroom or covered deck goes through the same permit.
Room additions also need an energy worksheet or a scope of work from a third-party inspection provider. Three- and four-season rooms and covered decks skip that step. On an R-1 lot, the house stays 35 feet from the front and rear lines and 8 feet from each side. Narrow lots platted on or before January 3, 1963 can qualify for smaller side yards, a Clive rule for its oldest plats.
Footings go at least 42 inches deep, the frost line in Clive’s amended code. We build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages as part of an addition when asked. Most of the more than 100 projects we finish each year are additions, full remodels and basement finishes.
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 Clive, IA
How do building permits work in Clive?
The City of Clive Community Development Department issues permits through its online portal at cityofclive.com.
Contact them at (515) 223-6221 or visit City Hall at 1900 NW 114th Street.
Residential projects require building permits plus separate trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.
Trade contractors must hold state licenses issued by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Inspections require a 24-hour notice and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Permits expire if work isn’t started within 90 days or is abandoned for 60 days.
What building codes does Clive follow?
Clive has adopted the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 International Fire Code, and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work follow the state codes: the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2024 International Mechanical Code.
The Construction Services Division at (515) 223-6221 enforces all codes through plan review and field inspections.
What's the housing market like in Clive?
Clive’s median home value is approximately $328,500, and the median household income is around $90,000.
About 75% of homes are owner-occupied, with single-family detached homes comprising 65% of the housing stock.
The city has grown from 752 residents in 1960 to over 19,000 today, with projections suggesting it will reach 25,000+ by 2030.
This growth drives steady demand for both new construction and remodeling of existing homes.
Which school district serves Clive?
Clive is served by two school districts, divided at 142nd Street.
East of 142nd Street (Polk County): West Des Moines Community School District, (515) 633-5000, including Clive Learning Academy.
West of 142nd Street (Dallas County): Waukee Community School District, (515) 987-4534.
Verify your address with the appropriate district before purchasing or building.
How far is Clive from Des Moines?
Clive sits at the intersection of I-35, I-80, and I-235, approximately 10 miles west of downtown Des Moines (15-minute drive).
The city borders Urbandale to the north, West Des Moines to the south, and Waukee to the west.
Clive counts a basement finish as an addition, so it needs a permit every time.
Busy Builders is based in West Des Moines, adjacent to Clive.
What makes Clive unique for homeowners?
Clive’s signature feature is the 11.3-mile Greenbelt Trail along Walnut Creek, connecting to the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the Central Iowa trail network.
The city maintains extensive parks, including Campbell Recreation Area and the Clive Aquatic Center.
The annual Clive Festival (celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025) and “Art Along the Trail” sculpture exhibit reflect substantial community investment.
The Greenbelt Landing project adds 14.89 acres of wetlands, boardwalks, and community space.
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