Basement Remodeling
Des Moines, IA
The median Des Moines home dates to 1961. Reworking an older finished basement here means pulling out old finishes and meeting the city’s current rules. This page covers what Des Moines asks for when you tear out and rebuild, and what tends to turn up behind the walls.
- Des Moines at a glance
The city behind your basement remodel
Des Moines bottomed out at 191,003 residents in 1980 and has since grown past its 1960 count. Half its homes were built in 1961 or earlier, by the Census Bureau’s median. The remodel figures below come from city permit and egress rules.
191,003
Population low point, 1980
1961
Median year homes were built
198,682
Residents in 2000
11
Inspectors trained for combo checks
64 sq ft
Drywall patch without a permit
20 inches
Narrowest egress opening allowed
$1,500
City cap for sump rerouting
$77.25
Each trade permit on remodels
Sources: State Data Center of Iowa, population 1850 to 2000; Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024, median year built; Residential Combination Inspection program; Des Moines permit exemption policy; Egress window requirements; Private Property Protection Program; Des Moines permit fee schedule, January 2026.
- Permits and rules
Remodel or repair? How Des Moines draws the line
The line is 64 square feet. Patch that much drywall or less and no permit is needed. Strip the finish from a whole wall or ceiling, or gut the room, and Des Moines requires one. New bedrooms then bring egress and alarm rules.
Repair versus remodel
The city’s exemption policy took effect July 1, 2023. It lets you patch or replace up to 64 square feet of damaged drywall or plaster without a permit. Removing and replacing the finish on an entire wall or ceiling needs one. So does complete removal of interior finishes. Exempt work must still meet current code.
New walls and new bedrooms
Reworking the layout counts as a renovation, and the closest fee line is $154.50 for renovations to dwellings. A new bedroom adds two triggers. One is an egress window under the city policy. The other is smoke alarms placed through the home as if it were new construction, interconnected so one sounds them all.
Egress for a new bedroom
Minimum opening: 5.7 square feet clear, 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide. The sill may sit no more than 44 inches off the floor. Outside, the well needs 9 square feet of area and a fixed ladder past 44 inches deep. The policy also covers basements undergoing what it calls a 100% wall replacement.
What we find behind old walls
Once the old finish comes off, older Central Iowa basements most often show mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation, and old or unsafe wiring. We have also redone basements other contractors botched. That includes concrete spilled into a sump pit and finished walls that fell because nobody fastened them properly.
Trade work and older homes
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit, at $77.25 on an existing home. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate handle those trades. In homes built before 1978, Iowa law requires the contractor to hand over a lead hazard notice and pamphlet before renovation starts.
Inspections and sump drains
Basement finishes fall under the Residential Combination Inspection program, so one assigned inspector handles every trade. Request visits through the city portal. If the sump drains to the sanitary sewer, a city program pays up to $1,500 to reroute it. That needs pre-approval and a licensed plumber.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Des Moines basement remodel
The permit comes first, because pulling the finish off a whole wall already requires one in Des Moines. Then the old drywall comes down and the basement shows what it needs. Mold, missing moisture barriers and unsafe wiring are the usual finds, and they get fixed before anything new goes up. Licensed electricians and plumbers we coordinate work under your one combination inspector. Radon is very common on our Des Moines area jobs, so mitigation is part of the remodel.
Busy Builders holds Iowa contractor registration C140184. Some customers reach us after a bad experience with another contractor, and several reviewers mention our communication.
- Permit filed before any tear-out
- Moisture and wiring problems fixed first
- Egress and alarms for every new bedroom
Permit, tear-out, rebuild
- Achievement
Trusted Basement Remodeling Contractors in Des Moines
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. We serve homeowners in Des Moines and the surrounding 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 Des Moines
What does a basement remodel cost in Des Moines?
We price each one after a look, because the cost depends on what is behind the old walls. Demolition, mold or moisture repair, wiring updates, a new bedroom with egress, and finish choices all move it. You get a written estimate. City fees are flat: the renovations line is $154.50 and each trade permit is $77.25.
Do I need a permit to replace basement drywall in Des Moines?
It depends on how much. Patching or replacing up to 64 square feet of damaged drywall is exempt. Removing and replacing the finish on an entire wall or ceiling needs a permit, and so does stripping all interior finishes. That rule comes from Municipal Code 26-302(a)(11) and the city’s exemption policy.
Can I turn a basement rec room into a bedroom in Des Moines?
Yes, with an egress window and updated smoke alarms. City policy requires an escape window in any existing basement finished with a bedroom. Adding a sleeping room also means smoke alarms placed as in a new home and interconnected. Your assigned combination inspector checks both.
What if my sump pump drains into the sewer line?
Des Moines will pay to fix it through the Private Property Protection Program. It covers 100 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, to send sump water to a storm sewer, rain garden or the ground surface. Get city pre-approval first, use a licensed plumber, and finish by June 30, 2028. The Clean Water Program Office is at 515-323-8165.
Does lead paint matter in a Des Moines basement remodel?
It can. Iowa’s rule covers homes built before 1978, and the median Des Moines home is from 1961. Before renovating one, the contractor must give owners and occupants a notice and an approved lead hazard pamphlet. The city posts that notice with its construction code documents.
Is radon a concern in Des Moines basements?
Yes. About 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, according to Iowa HHS. Radon is very common on our Des Moines area basement jobs, so we treat mitigation as part of the remodel. A test before and after the work tells you where your home stands.
- Newest Blogs
