Basement Remodeling
Clive, IA
Remodeling a basement someone already finished is a different job from finishing bare concrete. In Clive, the old walls may even predate the city’s first building code, which took effect January 1, 1972. This page sets out what Clive requires before you tear out and rebuild, from the permit to egress for a new bedroom.
- Clive at a glance
The Clive housing picture
Clive counts 7,053 households, with about 2.69 people in each. Three in four homes are lived in by their owners, and the typical owner-occupied home is valued at $401,100. The figures come from Census data and Clive’s own code.
7,053
Clive households, 2020 to 2024
2.69
Average people per household
$401,100
Typical owner-occupied home value
Jan. 1, 1972
First Clive building code
5.7 sq ft
Egress opening for a bedroom
44 inches
Highest sill for egress
Not allowed
Removing a sash for egress
In-house
Who inspects Clive remodels
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (ACS 2020 to 2024); Clive egress window handout; Clive residential code amendments; Clive Code 10-1-10, inspections.
- Permits and rules
Reworking a finished basement in Clive: six rules to know
Yes, you need a permit. Clive says remodel projects require a building permit, and city code covers repairs and alterations too. A new bedroom adds egress rules, and trade work brings its own checks. Each card below covers one piece.
Remodel, repair or alteration
Clive’s code reaches further than many owners expect. It calls for a permit to repair, add to or alter a building, and to change any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. The only residential items Clive adds to the exempt list are private sidewalks and driveways. Ask before assuming a basement job is too small.
Adding bedrooms or walls
New rooms change how the basement is used, so they go on the permit. Clive’s remodel packet is the permit application, a signed Builder’s Acknowledgement and one set of construction drawings. The city files the drawings with your address and does not return them. Show any new bedroom on those drawings, since egress rules follow.
Egress for a new bedroom
Clive’s amended code says a new sleeping room in an existing basement needs an emergency escape and rescue opening. The city handout lists the size: 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide. The sill can be no more than 44 inches off the floor, and pulling a sash to gain size is not allowed.
What we find behind old walls
When our crew strips an older Central Iowa basement, the usual finds are mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and old or unsafe wiring. We also see work other contractors botched, from concrete spilled into a sump pit to finished walls that fell because they were never fastened. Each problem gets fixed before new framing goes up.
Trade work and licensing
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC changes go to licensed subcontractors we hire and schedule. Iowa licenses those trades, while general contractors like Busy Builders register with DIAL, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Clive requires a permit before anyone installs, alters or replaces those systems.
Inspections by city staff
Clive inspects with its own staff, not a hired firm. Under city code, whoever does the construction or trade work tells the Construction Services Administrator when it is complete. Mind the calendar too: no work within 90 days of issuance voids the permit, and every permit ends at 365 days without a written extension.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Clive basement remodel
Every Clive basement remodel starts with a walkthrough and a written estimate. We draw the new layout and file the permit, with the drawings Clive keeps on file. Once the old finish comes down, moisture, insulation and wiring problems get fixed before any new framing. A new bedroom gets an escape window sized to the city’s handout.
Radon is very common on our Des Moines area basement jobs, so mitigation is part of the plan, not an add-on. Licensed subcontractors handle trade work, and we notify the city as each stage is ready. Busy Builders completes more than 100 projects a year, and basement finishes are among the most common.
- Permit first, then old finish removed
- Bedroom egress sized to Clive's handout
- Trade permits and city notices coordinated
Permit, strip, repair, rebuild
- Achievement
Trusted Basement Remodeling Contractors in Clive
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. We serve homeowners in Clive and the surrounding west-side suburbs. Every project starts with a written plan and ends with a walkthrough that confirms every detail is right.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Basement Remodeling in Clive
What does it cost to remodel a basement in Clive?
We do not publish a basement price range, because what sits behind the old walls moves the number most. Size, new rooms, a bathroom, egress windows and any mold or wiring repairs all count. Clive’s permit fee comes from a schedule the city council sets. We put your price in a written estimate after a walkthrough.
Does Clive require a permit to redo a finished basement?
Yes. Clive’s residential construction page says remodel projects require a building permit. City code also requires one to repair or alter a building or its electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems. Work done without a permit must later be certified as code compliant, which can mean special inspections and fees.
Can I add a bedroom to my basement in Clive?
Yes, with a proper escape opening. Clive’s amended code requires one for any new sleeping room created in an existing basement. The opening needs at least 5.7 square feet of clear space, and the sill can sit no higher than 44 inches. Clive does not allow removing a window sash to reach that size.
My Clive home was built before 1972. Does that matter?
It can. Clive adopted its first building code on January 1, 1972, and the city’s egress handout treats homes permitted before then differently. A basement finished before that date may predate city code review, and later work may have permits on file. Check the city’s permit records for your address, and we look closely at older framing and wiring once the walls come down.
What do you usually find when you open old basement walls?
Mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and old or unsafe wiring are the most common finds in older Central Iowa basements. We also redo work other contractors botched, such as concrete spilled into a sump pit. Some customers come to us after a bad experience elsewhere and say so in their reviews.
Who inspects basement work in Clive?
Clive’s own Community Development Department does. City code says the person or company doing construction, electrical, plumbing or mechanical work must notify the Construction Services Administrator when it is finished. Reach Community Development at (515) 223-6221 with questions about a basement permit or inspection.
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