Des Moines Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines, 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 projects throughout Des Moines’ 46 neighborhoods, from the Victorian homes of Sherman Hill to the mid-century ranches of Beaverdale. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand the unique challenges of working in the state capital, including historic district requirements, diverse housing ages, and the city’s comprehensive permitting process.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. We provide detailed written estimates, explain permit requirements 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 Des Moines and Across Polk County
Des Moines is the largest city we serve and the one with the widest range of housing. Permits go through the city’s Permit and Development Center. Call 515-283-4200 to confirm what your project needs.
The range is the point. A Beaverdale bungalow, a Sherman Hill Victorian and a mid-century ranch on the south side are three different jobs. A new build on the northwest edge is a fourth. The older homes can hide original wiring, sometimes knob-and-tube, plus cast-iron waste lines or framing that predates modern spans. We open a small area first when a client wants a firm number instead of a range.
Older Des Moines neighborhoods also come with historic overlays and narrow lots. Both change what an addition can look like, and both are cheaper to discover during design than during framing.
Footings still need 42 inches of depth to clear Iowa’s frost line. On a century-old foundation we verify what is actually under the house before tying anything new into it.
We build across Polk County. Homeowners in West Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, and Johnston call us for the same work.
Remodeling an older Des Moines home? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will open a small area before quoting.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Des Moines before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Des Moines
The median Des Moines home was built in 1961, and the city has enforced the 2024 residential code since January 1, 2026. Permit fees here are flat amounts set by project type, not a share of job value. Each card below gives a starting price where we publish one and the permits and inspections the city asks for. It also names one rule you only meet inside Des Moines.
Home Building in Des Moines
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Des Moines prices the building permit by finished floor area, leaving the basement and garage out of the count. A house with 1,201 to 2,000 finished square feet pays $1,390.50. Every new house must also fit one of four city house types, A through D, depending on its zoning district. Types A, B and C each call for a garage of at least 288 square feet. Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa since 2020.
Home Remodeling in Des Moines
Most whole-room remodels in Des Moines need a permit. The city’s exemption policy, in effect since July 1, 2023, requires one whenever the finish comes off an entire wall or ceiling. The renovation permit is a flat $154.50, and each electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit adds $77.25. Here is a rule found only in this city. A renovation that raises a home’s assessed value at least 5 percent can qualify for a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement. Every permit has to be in place. Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor, DIAL C140184, and finishes more than 100 projects a year.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Moines
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. Des Moines asks for a permit once drywall comes off a whole wall, and electrical and plumbing work each carry a $77.25 trade permit. The typical home here predates 1978, so Iowa’s lead paint notice applies before work starts. When we open kitchen walls, we often find mold behind the sink from a faucet that leaked slowly for years.
Bathroom Remodeling in Des Moines
We have quoted light hall bath facelifts at about $3,000 to $5,000. Most full bathrooms that keep fixtures in place land near $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. In Des Moines, tearing out a whole wall of tile or drywall needs a permit, while patching up to 64 square feet does not. Plumbing and electrical each carry their own $77.25 permit, and licensed subcontractors we coordinate do that work. Two full bathroom remodels we finished in 2026 drew reviews from the homeowners.
Basement Finishing in Des Moines
We do not post a basement price, because every basement starts in a different place. Ceiling height, moisture, egress and the number of rooms drive the number, and we put it in writing after a walkthrough. Des Moines lists basement finishes in its Residential Combination Inspection program, so one city inspector checks every trade on the job. A new bedroom needs an egress window under a policy the city updated in 2014. The nearest fee line is the $154.50 renovation permit. Radon turns up often on our Des Moines area basement jobs, so mitigation is part of our finish.
Basement Remodeling in Des Moines
Remodeling a basement that is already finished starts with what sits behind the old walls, so we price it in writing after we look. Moisture, wiring and how much has to come out drive the cost. In Des Moines, patching up to 64 square feet of drywall needs no permit. Stripping the finish from a whole wall, or gutting the room, does. Turning a rec room into a bedroom brings in the city’s egress policy. It calls for an escape window in any existing basement finished with a bedroom. That window needs at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. A new bedroom also means smoke alarms placed as in a new home, wired so one sets off the rest. One city inspector covers every trade under the Combination Inspection program.
In older basements we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, thin insulation and unsafe wiring. We have also rebuilt basements other contractors botched, including concrete poured into a sump pit. Does your sump empty into the sanitary sewer? The city’s Private Property Protection Program pays up to $1,500 to reroute it, with approval before work starts.
Deck Building in Des Moines
Deck prices depend on size, height, stairs and the choice between composite and treated wood, so we quote each one in writing. Des Moines takes deck applications only through its online Customer Self Service portal, under the Residential Other Building Permit type. The fee is a flat $77.25. The city’s exemption list covers just one deck task: swapping out decking boards on an open wood deck. Footings must reach the city’s 42-inch frost depth and be at least 12 inches thick. A homeowner whose composite deck we built in spring 2026 singled out our communication in a review.
Home Additions in Des Moines
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Des Moines charges a flat $257.50 building permit for an addition, plus $77.25 for each electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit. The city’s checklist asks for plans detailed enough that a stranger to the project could build from them. The site plan shows setbacks, impervious surface, trees, utilities and easements.
Setbacks follow your lot’s house type and zoning district. On a House Type B lot, for example, the rear setback is 40 feet. The house may cover no more than 35 percent of the lot. Lots in a local historic district need a $10 Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes. Additions fall under the Combination Inspection program, so one assigned inspector handles every trade inspection. Accessory dwelling units are allowed in the N and NX districts, among others. One can reach half the home’s floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is larger. We also build attached garages, storm shelters and safe rooms as part of an addition when asked.
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 Des Moines, IA
How do building permits work in Des Moines?
The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center handles all construction permits.
Located at the Armory Building, 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Contact (515) 283-4200 or permits@dmgov.org.
The city offers an online Customer Self Service (CSS) portal at css.dmgov.org for permit applications, payments, and inspection requests.
Building rules sit in the Des Moines Municipal Code: Chapter 26 covers buildings, Chapter 134 is zoning and Chapter 135 is planning and design.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What if my home is in a historic district?
Des Moines has 30+ historic districts, including Sherman Hill (listed on the National Register since 1979), River Bend, and Owl’s Head.
Work in local historic districts requires review by the Historic Preservation Commission before permit approval.
Exterior modifications visible from the public right-of-way typically require a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Contact the Planning & Urban Design division at (515) 283-4192 or planning@dmgov.org for questions about historic districts.
We have experience navigating historic preservation requirements while achieving your remodeling goals.
Which school district serves Des Moines?
Des Moines Public Schools serves most of the city.
A few Des Moines addresses fall in neighboring districts, so check the district boundary map for your exact address.
If a bedroom addition or basement finish is meant to make room for a growing family, settle the school question before design.
What's the housing market like in Des Moines?
Des Moines offers diverse housing across 46 neighborhoods.
Median household income is approximately $64,000, with median home values around $194,000, well below coastal markets.
The city contains housing from every era: 1880s Victorian mansions in Sherman Hill, 1920s-40s Tudor Revival homes in Beaverdale, mid-century ranches in South Park, and new construction in developing areas.
Polk County’s median home value is approximately $285,000 (2024).
The Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan area includes six counties with an estimated 750,000 residents.
How far is Des Moines from other Central Iowa cities?
Des Moines is the hub of Central Iowa.
West Des Moines borders immediately to the west (5-10 minutes).
Urbandale and Clive are northwest (10-15 minutes).
Ankeny is directly north (15-20 minutes).
Altoona and Pleasant Hill are east (10-15 minutes).
Waukee and Grimes are west/northwest (15-20 minutes).
Ames is approximately 35 miles north (35-40 minutes via I-35).
Busy Builders serves all Des Moines neighborhoods from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Des Moines unique for construction projects?
As Iowa’s capital, Des Moines offers unique construction opportunities and challenges.
The city has 46 distinct neighborhoods with housing spanning 180 years.
Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub (Principal Financial, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield), supporting a strong economy.
The city maintains 4,000+ acres of parkland and 100+ miles of trails.
Historic preservation is important, with Sherman Hill being one of Iowa’s first local historic districts (1982).
The diverse housing stock, from Victorian mansions to new construction, requires contractors experienced with a range of building eras and techniques.
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