Johnston Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Johnston, Iowa
Johnston, 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 in Johnston and throughout Polk County. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand the building codes, permit processes, and quality expectations of this professional community. From updating 1970s-era homes to building custom new construction, 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 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 Johnston and the North Metro
Johnston has about 24,064 residents and runs a full building department. Call 515-727-7767 to confirm requirements before you set a schedule. Plan review on a city this size is a real step with a real queue.
Johnston grew in distinct waves, and knowing which wave your house belongs to predicts the job. Homes near Merle Hay and the older core are mid-century and usually need structural work to open a kitchen. The Beaver Creek and northern developments are newer, where the work shifts to basements, sunrooms, and fourth bedrooms.
Saylorville and the Beaver Creek corridor put drainage in play on a lot of Johnston properties. Where a lot sits relative to that corridor decides whether a walkout is straightforward or a drainage project first.
Every footing goes at least 42 inches down to sit under the frost line. On sloped Johnston lots we check bearing before pricing a foundation.
We build across the north metro. Homeowners in Grimes, Urbandale, Polk City, and Clive call us for the same work.
Planning a Johnston addition? Call: 844-435-9800 for a written estimate.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Johnston before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Johnston
Johnston grew from 2,526 residents in 1980 to an estimated 25,065 in 2025. Every project below runs through the city’s Building Department at 6221 Merle Hay Road. Each application needs a site plan, and the city asks you to allow at least 7 working days for review. Here is what each kind of job costs to start and what Johnston asks for.
Home Building in Johnston
New homes in Johnston start at about $150 per square foot with Busy Builders. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
A new house carries more city paperwork than any other Johnston permit. The city links a New Residential Home Application Packet, a New House Building Permit Checklist, a Grading Permit Application and a Water Service Application.
Johnston is also rewriting its zoning and subdivision code, so check your lot’s district before you buy. What it costs to build a house in Iowa is the question homeowners search most before they call us.
Home Remodeling in Johnston
Johnston’s permit list names remodels and repairs, and the Building Department says that list is not all-inclusive. When a job sits in a gray area, call 515-727-7778 before you open a wall.
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical changes go on a separate Trade Permit Application. Fees follow the value of the work, using the fee tables in the city’s adopted codes.
Johnston more than tripled in size between 1990 and 2010, from 4,702 residents to 17,278. Small remodels get fit into our schedule quickly, and one customer noted the crew cleaned up before leaving.
Kitchen Remodeling in Johnston
Kitchen remodels in Johnston start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. A full kitchen with us runs about 6 to 12 weeks, driven by lead times, permits and trade scheduling.
Johnston files new plumbing, wiring and venting on its Trade Permit Application, apart from the building permit. Its application form also says all permits require a site plan.
The costs owners most often underestimate are tile, countertops, added outlets and moved plumbing. Once the sink wall is open, our crew regularly finds mold from a slow faucet leak.
Bathroom Remodeling in Johnston
Bathrooms we quote run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light facelift to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter or full bath that keeps the layout lands around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Johnston needs a permit for remodels, and a moved drain or new circuit adds a trade permit. Allow at least 7 working days for city review.
Licensed plumbers and electricians we coordinate handle the trade work. Most bathroom budgets grow when owners add wiring, plumbing or lighting after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Johnston
Johnston lists basement finishes by name among the projects that need a permit. The city also keeps its own basement requirements sheet, revised in 2023.
Send the Building Permit Application and site plan by drop-off, mail or email. No confirmation within 24 hours means you should follow up another way.
Size, bedrooms, a bathroom and moisture work set the price, so we quote it in writing after a visit. Radon is very common on our Des Moines-area basement jobs, and we treat mitigation as part of the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Johnston
Reworking a basement that is already finished still needs a Johnston permit. The city’s permit list covers remodels and repairs, not only first-time finishes.
Adding a bedroom brings in the escape window rule. The opening needs at least 5.7 square feet of net clear area, with the sill 44 inches or less above the floor. New circuits, drains or ductwork go on the separate Trade Permit Application, and licensed trades we coordinate do that work.
All work is subject to inspection and approval by the Johnston Building Department or its designee. The city asks you to allow at least 7 working days for review.
Once old walls come down in Central Iowa basements, our crew most often finds mold, missing moisture barriers, thin insulation and old or unsafe wiring. We have also redone basements other contractors botched, from concrete spilled into a sump pit to walls that fell because nobody fastened them.
About 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA radon action level of 4 pCi/L. We price the job in a written estimate after a walk-through.
Deck Building in Johnston
Johnston puts decks on their own Deck/Pergola Application. Uncovered decks from 1 to 300 square feet pay a flat fee, and other decks follow the city’s value-based fees.
The application form says all permits require a site plan with a north arrow, adjacent street names, measured property lines and every structure’s footprint. Johnston keeps a deck guideline sheet revised in 2023; ask for the current copy before you design.
We build in composite and pressure-treated wood. A spring 2026 composite deck owner singled out our communication in a review.
Home Additions in Johnston
Additions in Johnston start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
The city lists additions among projects that need a permit. Its application asks for your proposed setbacks from the front, rear, right side and left side lot lines, drawn on a site plan.
The yard distances come from your zoning district, and Johnston is mid-rewrite. Districts such as R-1(90), R-1(A) and R-1(150) are being eliminated and rezoned under the new code. The city lists 515-727-7775 for questions about the update.
Iowa’s ADU law, Senate File 592, lets an accessory unit reach 1,000 square feet or half the house, whichever is larger. Cities cannot require owner occupancy. Excavation and grading are permit items of their own in Johnston.
We also build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages as part of an addition when asked. One finished project is a two-story addition with an upper deck and exterior finishes matched to the original house.
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 Johnston, IA
How do building permits work in Johnston?
The Johnston Building Department handles permits at 6221 Merle Hay Road, P.O. Box 410, Johnston, IA 50131.
Contact (515) 727-7778 or email buildingdepartment@cityofjohnston.com.
Applications require complete drawings, site plans, and all required forms; incomplete applications won’t be accepted.
A typical review may last up to seven working days.
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work follow the state codes. Ask the Building Department which residential code edition applies before plans are drawn.
Which school district serves Johnston?
Johnston is served by the Johnston Community School District, home of the Dragons (7,500+ students, PreK-12).
The highly-rated district includes an early childhood center, five elementary schools, two middle schools, and Johnston High School (grades 10-12; freshmen attend Johnston Middle School).
The district is one of Iowa’s largest and fourth-largest employers in Johnston.
Schools are known for strong academics, with 77% proficiency in math and 79% in reading.
What should I check before planning a Johnston addition?
Check your zoning district first. Johnston is rewriting its zoning and subdivision code, and districts such as R-1(90), R-1(A) and R-1(150) are being eliminated and rezoned.
Your setbacks come from your district, so confirm it before design. The city lists 515-727-7775 for questions about the update.
Excavation and grading are permit items of their own, and every Johnston permit needs a site plan.
How far is Johnston from downtown Des Moines?
Johnston is directly north of Des Moines, accessible via I-35/80 and Merle Hay Road (about 10-15 minutes to downtown).
Grimes is 4.5 miles west, Urbandale borders to the south, and Saylorville Lake is on the eastern border.
The new Johnston Town Center houses City Hall and community gathering spaces.
Busy Builders serves Johnston from our West Des Moines base, typically within 15-20 minutes.
What recreational amenities does Johnston offer?
Johnston features extensive parks and trails along Beaver Creek, access to Saylorville Lake and Dam (completed 1977), and the Johnston Town Center with a skating rink and community spaces.
Camp Dodge includes public facilities.
The city is bordered on the east by the Des Moines River, with access to Saylorville Reservoir.
The city offers a family-friendly atmosphere with community events throughout the year.
What makes Johnston unique for homeowners?
Johnston combines suburban family living with major employer access and top-rated schools.
The population grew 39.3% from 2010 to 2020, with an estimated 24,598 residents as of 2024.
Notable landmarks include a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed private residence (Paul J. and Ida Trier House), Camp Dodge military history, and the National Weather Service Des Moines Forecast Office.
The city offers abundant job opportunities in insurance, finance, agriculture, technology, and biotechnology sectors.
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