Bathroom Remodeling
Clive, IA
A bathroom remodel in Clive needs a building permit, and so does any change to the plumbing, wiring or ductwork behind the tile. Clive inspects that work with its own staff. Below you will find the city’s rules, our quoted price bands and the reasons a bathroom job grows.
- Clive at a glance
Clive, then and now
Clive had 15,447 residents in 2010 and 18,601 in 2020. About 75.4% of homes are owner-occupied, and students attend two school districts. Code facts come from Clive’s ordinances.
15,447
Residents in 2010
18,601
Residents in 2020
75.4%
Homes lived in by owners
Two districts
Waukee and West Des Moines
2021 IRC
Code for Clive bath remodels
Every remodel
Needs a Clive building permit
In-house
City staff inspect trade work
(515) 223-6221
Community Development line
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2010 and 2020 Census, ACS 2020 to 2024); West Des Moines Community Schools boundaries; Waukee Community School District; Clive Code 10-1-5, code adoption.
- Permits and rules
Bathroom remodel rules in Clive
Clive requires a building permit for remodel projects, and a bathroom counts. City code also requires a permit before anyone alters a plumbing, electrical or mechanical system. The rest of this section covers who does that work, how inspections run and what drives your price.
When the permit applies
Clive’s residential construction page says remodel projects require a building permit. The packet is the permit application, a signed Builder’s Acknowledgement and one set of construction drawings. City code adds a second trigger: work to install, alter, convert or replace plumbing, electrical, gas or mechanical systems.
Plumbing and electrical by licensed trades
Iowa licenses plumbers, electricians and mechanical contractors, while general contractors register with the state. On our Clive bathrooms, licensed subcontractors run the water, drain, wiring and fan work, and we coordinate their schedule. One customer review credits our plumbing sub for a weekend faucet repair after a remodel.
Fans, ducts and the codes
Clive enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, and its mechanical rules come from the 2021 International Mechanical Code with local amendments. Electrical work follows the National Electrical Code edition the State Electrical Board adopts. We plan the bath fan and its duct run before any tile goes up.
How Clive inspects
Clive does its own inspections rather than hiring a firm. City code says whoever finishes construction, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work must notify the Construction Services Administrator. That notice is what puts an inspector on your job. Questions go to Community Development at (515) 223-6221.
Price bands we have quoted
Our quotes have run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall bath refresh to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter to full bathroom that does not move much lands around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Why a bathroom job grows
We set the estimate up front. The most common reason a bathroom grows is new scope added after that first estimate: extra wiring, moved plumbing, more lighting or finer details. Decide those early and the price holds. Two full bathrooms we finished in 2026 drew reviews, one from a repeat customer.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Clive bathroom remodel
We walk the bathroom, talk through what you want and set a written estimate before demolition. Then we file Clive’s remodel packet with the drawings the city keeps on file. Licensed plumbers and electricians we coordinate handle the trade work, and the city is notified when it is ready to inspect. Tile, glass and vanity work follow.
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor, DIAL registration C140184, with more than 1,285 completed projects across Central Iowa. Repeat customers are common in our reviews, including one family who hired us back for a full bathroom.
- Written estimate before demolition
- Licensed trades for water and wiring
- City notified when trade work is done
Estimate, permit, trades, tile
- Achievement
Clive Bathrooms Done Right.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. Every bathroom remodel starts with a full walkthrough, a written scope, and a fixed estimate, so Clive homeowners know exactly what they are getting before demo begins.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Bathroom Remodeling in Clive, IA
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Clive?
Most three-quarter to full bathrooms that keep their layout land around $15,000 to $20,000. Light hall bath refreshes have started near $3,000 to $5,000 in our quotes, and large primary baths reach about $60,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Clive’s permit fee comes from a council-set schedule.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Clive?
Yes. Clive says remodel projects require a building permit, and its code requires a permit before plumbing, electrical, gas or mechanical systems are altered. Skipping it is costly: unpermitted work must later be certified as code compliant, which can bring special inspections and fees.
Who does the plumbing and electrical on a Clive bathroom?
Licensed subcontractors. Iowa licenses plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors, and we coordinate them on every bathroom. Clive’s code then makes whoever completes that trade work notify the city’s Construction Services Administrator, so the work can be inspected.
Which codes does Clive use for bathroom work?
Clive enforces the 2021 International Residential Code with local amendments, and the 2021 International Mechanical Code with its own changes. Electrical work follows the National Electrical Code edition adopted by the State Electrical Board. Clive’s code library is current through an ordinance passed in December 2025.
Why do bathroom remodels go over budget?
Most of the time, the scope grows after the first estimate. Homeowners add wiring, move plumbing, change lighting or upgrade details that were not in the original plan. We set the estimate up front, so every change is your call and priced before it happens.
Does a Clive bathroom remodel need drawings?
Yes. Clive’s remodel packet includes one set of construction drawings, along with the application and a Builder’s Acknowledgement. The city keeps the drawings in your address file instead of returning them. For a bathroom, we show the layout, fixtures and any wall changes.
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