Jefferson, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Jefferson, Iowa.
Jefferson, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Jefferson and all of Greene 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. Jefferson 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 Greene County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Jefferson
Building a new home in Jefferson runs on the newest residential code of any city we serve. The city code adopts the Iowa State Building Code by reference, so it tracks the state, currently the 2024 International Residential Code. Building Inspector Chad Stevens inspects footings, floor framing, completed framing, chimneys and stairways himself. Home building starts at $150 per square foot, and final costs vary by scope, materials and complexity.
A home remodel in Jefferson brings one surprise for anyone used to a metro job. Electrical permits and inspections come from the State of Iowa, not the city. That is a separate application and a separate inspector. Chad Stevens handles everything else at 515-386-4660. The median Jefferson home dates to about 1960. We open a small area early and price the work from what is actually there. The city tracks the newest state residential code, so the standard is current.
A kitchen remodel in Jefferson splits across two desks. The building permit goes to Chad Stevens at the city. The electrical permit and inspection go to the State of Iowa. Knowing that in advance keeps a rough-in from waiting on the wrong phone call. We handle both filings so nothing sits idle. Iowa licenses the electricians and plumbers doing the work. Kitchen remodeling starts at $250 per square foot, and final costs vary by scope.
Remodeling a basement in a 1960 Jefferson house means checking three things before design. Ceiling height, which has to reach 7 feet for habitable space. Egress, which needs 5.7 square feet of net clear opening for a bedroom. And water, which gets solved before anything goes on a wall. Remember that the electrical rough-in is permitted and inspected by the State of Iowa. Chad Stevens handles the rest at 515-386-4660.
A bathroom remodel in Jefferson runs on two permit clocks, not one. The city inspector handles the building permit at 515-386-4660. The State of Iowa permits and inspects the electrical work separately. A new fan or light circuit gets scheduled against a state inspector, not a local one. We sequence around that from the first week. Jefferson tracks the state code by reference, currently the 2024 International Residential Code.
An addition in Jefferson is inspected by Chad Stevens personally, from footings through floor framing and completed framing. Permit fees are set by council resolution off total construction cost excluding land. The amounts are not published online, so we call for a number. New footings go below 42 inches, the Iowa frost line. We build additional stories, sunrooms, garages, ADUs and tornado shelters. Additions start at $300 per square foot.
Basement finishing in Jefferson, IA. Chad Stevens is the city building inspector. He approves the permit and inspects the work himself, from footings through floor framing and completed framing. His office is at 220 N Chestnut Street, open weekdays 8 to 4:30. One difference from a metro job matters here. The State of Iowa permits and inspects electrical work, not the city. Rooms finished below grade almost always add circuits, so we book that visit early.
A deck in Jefferson is inspected by the city’s own building inspector, who reviews footings and framing himself. Because Jefferson adopts the state code by reference, the deck provisions track the current edition rather than an older one. Any wiring for a deck light or outlet is permitted by the State of Iowa. Footings go below 42 inches, the Iowa frost line. We size footings for the span, flash the ledger properly, and build guard height to code.
Building in Jefferson and Greene County
Jefferson is the farthest city we serve, about 65 road miles from Des Moines. We say that first because it affects scheduling and mobilization, and you should hear it from us. Two things make building here unusual. First, electrical permits and inspections are done by the State of Iowa, not the city. That is a real difference from how a metro job runs, and it changes who you call and when. Second, the city code adopts the Iowa State Building Code by reference instead of naming an edition. Jefferson tracks state updates automatically, which puts it on the newest residential code of any city we serve, currently the 2024 International Residential Code. Jefferson is not on the state approved local enforcement list, so confirm the current edition with the inspector before you rely on it. Chad Stevens is the Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer, at 220 N Chestnut Street, 515-386-4660, Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30. He reviews and approves every permit type. He also inspects footings, floor framing, completed framing, chimneys and stairways himself. Permit fees are set by council resolution off total construction cost excluding land, and the amounts are not published online. Call us at 844-435-9800. Permit rules and fees change, so confirm them with the city before you commit to a budget.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Dream, Our Passion.
Since 2020, more than 1,285 Central Iowa homeowners have trusted us with their projects, and it shows.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Based on Average Pricing in Jefferson.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Based on Average Pricing in Jefferson.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Windows
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Based on Average Pricing in Jefferson.
- Dream Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Jefferson, IA
Who issues electrical permits in Jefferson?
The State of Iowa does, not the city. Electrical permits and inspections in Jefferson run through the state, which is a real difference from how a metro job works. The city inspector handles every other permit type. Plan for two separate filings and two separate inspection schedules. We manage both so a rough-in does not sit waiting on the wrong office.
Which building code does Jefferson enforce?
The city code adopts the Iowa State Building Code by reference rather than naming an edition. So Jefferson tracks state updates automatically. That puts it on the newest residential code of any city we serve, currently the 2024 International Residential Code. Jefferson is not on the state approved local enforcement list, so confirm the current edition with the inspector before you rely on it.
What does a building permit cost in Jefferson?
Fees are set by council resolution, based on total construction cost excluding the land. The dollar amounts live in that resolution and are not published online. Call Chad Stevens, the Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer, at 515-386-4660, Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30. Get the figure in hand before you finalize a budget, since an unpublished fee is easy to overlook.
Who inspects my project in Jefferson?
Chad Stevens does it himself. The Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer reviews and approves every permit type, then inspects footings, floor framing, completed framing, chimneys and stairways personally. His office is at 220 N Chestnut Street, 515-386-4660. Electrical inspection is the exception, since the State of Iowa handles that side. One person on the city side keeps answers consistent.
Is there a historic district or design review in Jefferson?
We found no local historic district and no design review board in Jefferson. So a home addition or exterior change is reviewed against the building code and zoning, not against design guidelines. The Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower stands 168 feet over the square, and the original Lincoln Highway bisects town. Neither creates a review requirement we could confirm.
Jefferson is 65 miles out. Do you really work there?
Yes, and it is the farthest city we serve. We are straightforward about that, because 65 road miles affects scheduling, mobilization and what size of job makes sense. Larger projects absorb the distance better than small ones do. We have served over 1,000 Central Iowa homeowners since 2020. Call 844-435-9800 and we will tell you honestly.
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