Huxley, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Huxley, Iowa.
Huxley, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Huxley and all of Story County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. This small rural community deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service, even for projects in towns where some contractors won’t travel.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Huxley 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 Huxley and Story County
Huxley is the growth story in Story County. It grew 27.9 percent between 2010 and 2020, from 3,317 people to 4,244. Anthem keeps that going. It is a 120 acre mixed use development of about 270 residential units. A US 69 roundabout at Anthem Drive opened in November 2025.Permits come from the City of Huxley at 515 N Main Ave, 515-597-2561. The Building Permit Packet was updated in September 2026, so use that version. Safe Building of Polk City inspects at 515-333-4161. Safe Building’s initial review takes about 3 to 8 business days from receipt, and work must begin within 6 months of approval.New home submittals here ask for detailed design paperwork. You need ACCA Manual J, S and D design documents and 2012 Iowa Energy Code paperwork. That front-loads design cost, and we say so up front.The published fees are clear. Trade permits run $125 each. Water connection is $800, water tapping $300, sewer tapping $300, street opening $75, plus a $50 administrative fee.Huxley does not publish its adopted code edition, and it is not on the state list of jurisdictions with approved local building code enforcement. We confirm the standard with the building official before we draw. Ballard schools serve the town, which sits in the Ames metro about 25 road miles from Des Moines.Call 844-435-9800. Permit rules and fees change, so confirm them with the city before you commit to a budget.
What each project costs and requires in Huxley
Huxley grew from 2,316 people in 2000 to 4,244 in 2020, with annexations in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2023. Permits are filed at City Hall, while Safe Building, a private firm the city contracts, reviews plans and inspects. Each card below gives a starting price where we publish one, what Huxley asks for, and one detail you only find here.
Home Building in Huxley
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Permit paperwork goes to Huxley City Hall on North Main Avenue, on a packet revised in September 2026. Plan review and inspections are handled by Safe Building. Any lot not zoned R-1 or R-2 needs a full site plan reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission before any permit is issued. That review carries a $100 fee, and the city also bills back its legal and engineering costs. Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor, DIAL C140184.
Home Remodeling in Huxley
Remodels in Huxley start with the city’s building permit packet, filed at City Hall or sent to the city’s utilities email. Safe Building inspects, and the city’s rule is simple: nothing gets covered until the inspector approves it. On the city’s trade form, any work begun before approval costs double the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are $125 each on their own. City Hall keeps weekday hours, 8 to 4:30. Small projects get fit into our schedule quickly, and one customer noted the crew cleaned up before leaving.
Kitchen Remodeling in Huxley
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. A full job runs about 6 to 12 weeks from approval through the final punch list. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. In Huxley, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each carry a $125 trade permit. The city waives those fees when an approved building permit already covers the job. Each trade must be done by a contractor licensed by the State of Iowa in that trade. The costs homeowners most often underestimate on our kitchens are tile, countertops, added outlets and plumbing moves.
Bathroom Remodeling in Huxley
We have quoted light hall bath facelifts at about $3,000 to $5,000, and large primary baths have reached about $60,000. A typical full bath that keeps its layout lands near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Huxley charges $125 for a plumbing permit and $125 for an electrical one, unless the work rides on an approved building permit. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate handle both trades. A trade permit lapses 12 months after approval, or sooner if work stalls for 180 days. Our bathroom estimates are set up front, and most jobs that grow do so because the owner adds scope later.
Basement Finishing in Huxley
We price basements after a walkthrough, because ceiling height, moisture, egress and room count change the cost. Huxley routes basement permits through City Hall, and Safe Building inspects the work. Drywall waits until the inspector has seen the framing and trades, since nothing may be covered before approval. Electrical and plumbing permits are $125 each, waived when they are part of an approved building permit. A new bedroom needs an egress window with at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. After cost, homeowners search most for how to finance a basement finish.
Basement Remodeling in Huxley
A finished basement hides its problems, so we price a Huxley remodel in writing after we see behind the walls. Moisture, wiring and the amount of finish that must come out drive the number. Huxley grew from 937 residents in 1970 to 4,244 in 2020. The permit runs through City Hall, and Safe Building does the inspections. The city’s rule is that no work is concealed until approved, so new walls, wires and pipes all wait for sign-off.
Trade permits are $125 each, waived when they ride on an approved building permit, and state-licensed trades must do the work. A new bedroom needs an egress window with 5.7 square feet of net clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. Radon is worth a test before you finish: about 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Once walls open in older Central Iowa basements, we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and unsafe wiring. We have also rebuilt basements that other contractors botched, from concrete in a sump pit to walls that fell because nobody fastened them.
Deck Building in Huxley
Deck prices depend on size, height, stairs and decking material, so we quote each one in writing. Huxley handles building permits through its packet at City Hall, and Safe Building reviews and inspects. Lots in the R-1 and R-2 districts are spared the full site plan review other districts face. Iowa frost means footings reach 42 inches deep or more. Deck lighting needs a $125 electrical permit unless it is part of the building permit. A homeowner whose composite deck we built in spring 2026 praised our communication and the finished result in a review.
Home Additions in Huxley
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Huxley’s zoning map splits housing into several districts. They include R-1 and R-1A single family, R-2A patio homes and R-5 planned unit development. That split matters for an addition. The city requires a full site plan before any building permit in every district except R-1 and R-2.
That plan follows a 36-point checklist. The packet must reach the Planning and Zoning Commission 15 or more days ahead of its meeting, and the City Council gives final approval. The city charges $100 and passes along its legal and engineering bills. Setbacks come from Chapter 165 of the zoning code, so we confirm them for your lot with the city. Safe Building checks the drawings and the work in the field, and footings go at least 42 inches deep. Under state law SF 592, an ADU can reach 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house, whichever is larger. Cities cannot require owner occupancy. Huxley runs a community Safe Room that holds up to 296 people. We build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages into additions 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 Huxley, IA
Why does Huxley ask for Manual J, S and D on a new home?
Huxley requires ACCA Manual J, S and D design documents and 2012 Iowa Energy Code compliance documentation on new home submittals. That is more than a basic plan set. It adds design work up front. It also means the house gets sized on math instead of habit, which shows up later in comfort and in the utility bills.
How long does permit review take in Huxley?
The current packet says to plan on 3 to 8 business days for Safe Building’s initial review, longer if materials are missing. Once approved, work must begin within 6 months. The Building Permit Packet was updated in September 2026, so use the current version rather than a saved copy. We file with the city at 515 N Main Ave and follow up rather than wait quietly for a call.
What are the published fees for a Huxley project?
Huxley posts real numbers, which helps. Trade permits run $125 each. Manufactured homes are $325. Water connection is $800, water tapping $300, sewer tapping $300, and street opening $75. There is also a $50 administrative fee. Fees change, so confirm the current schedule at 515-597-2561 before you set a budget.
Which building code does Huxley enforce?
Huxley does not publish its adopted code edition. The city is also not on the state list of jurisdictions with approved local building code enforcement. That is worth knowing rather than hiding. We confirm the working standard with the building official and with Safe Building of Polk City at 515-333-4161 before we draw plans.
What is the Anthem development?
Anthem is a 120 acre mixed use development in Huxley with about 270 residential units. Iowa DOT opened a US 69 roundabout at Anthem Drive, on the south side of town, in November 2025. It is a big reason the town keeps growing after a 27.9 percent jump between 2010 and 2020. Expect steady construction traffic through the season.
Is Huxley part of the Des Moines metro?
Huxley sits in the Ames metropolitan area, not the Des Moines one, though it works as a commuter town between the two along I-35. It runs about 25 road miles from Des Moines. Ballard Community School District serves the town. We work both metros, so the drive does not change how we schedule crews.
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