Bathroom Remodeling
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines draws a clear line for bathroom work. Patch a little drywall and no permit is needed, but strip a whole wall of finish and one is. Plumbing and electrical each carry their own permit. This page covers the city’s rules and what our bathroom quotes have run.
- Des Moines at a glance
Des Moines homes by the numbers
Des Moines counted 203,433 residents in 2010 and 214,133 in 2020. Code and fee figures come from the city’s construction codes page and January 2026 fee schedule.
203,433
Residents, 2010 Census
$194,700
Median home value
64 sq ft
Drywall patch without a permit
1978
Lead notice cutoff year
$77.25
Each plumbing or electrical permit
2024 UPC
Basis of the plumbing code
2023 NEC
Basis of the electrical code
$15,000 to $20,000
Typical full bath we quote
- Permits and rules
When a Des Moines bathroom remodel needs a permit
A full gut does. The city’s exemption policy requires a permit to remove and replace finishes on an entire wall or ceiling. Patching up to 64 square feet of drywall is exempt. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work each need a separate permit.
When the permit applies
Tile or drywall off an entire wall or ceiling means a permit, under the policy in effect since July 1, 2023. Complete removal of interior finishes also needs one. Small repairs up to 64 square feet do not, though exempt work must still meet current code. The renovation permit is a flat $154.50.
Trade permits
Each trade needs its own permit for work on an existing home: electrical, mechanical and plumbing, at $77.25 apiece. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate do that work. Iowa’s plumbing code is based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code. Its electrical code is based on the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Older homes and lead paint
With a 1961 median build year, many Des Moines bathrooms sit in homes built before 1978. Iowa law says anyone renovating, remodeling or repainting those homes must give the owner and occupants a lead notice first. An approved lead hazard pamphlet goes with it. The city posts this rule with its codes.
Inspections
City building inspectors do the checks. You request each one from the permit page in the Customer Self Service portal, and results post there too. The city does not publish an inspection lead time or cutoff. Questions go to the Permit and Development Center at City Hall, 1200 Locust St.
Price bands from our quotes
Our bathroom quotes have run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall bath facelift to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter or full bath that keeps the layout lands near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Why bathroom jobs grow
We set the estimate up front. The most common reason a bathroom grows is new scope added afterward: extra wiring, moved plumbing, new lighting and finer details. In Des Moines, some of those changes also bring a $77.25 trade permit, so settle them before the permit is filed.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Des Moines bathroom remodel
Bathroom estimates are set up front, so we ask about fixtures, lighting and tile before we write one. That matters here, because plumbing and electrical work each carry a separate Des Moines permit. Once you approve the plan, the renovation permit and the trade permits go in together through the city portal. Licensed plumbers and electricians we coordinate do their parts, and city inspectors check the work.
Two full bathroom remodels we finished in 2026 earned reviews from the homeowners, and one came from a repeat customer. Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects since 2020.
- Estimate set before any demolition
- Renovation and trade permits filed together
- Licensed plumbing and electrical subs
Scope set before demolition
- Achievement
Des Moines 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 Des Moines homeowners know exactly what they are getting before demo begins.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Bathroom Remodeling in Des Moines, IA
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Des Moines?
Our quotes have ranged from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall bath refresh up to about $60,000 for a large primary suite. Most full baths that keep fixtures in place land around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. City permit fees are separate: $154.50 for the renovation and $77.25 per trade.
Do I need a permit to retile a shower in Des Moines?
If the tile comes off an entire wall, yes. The city requires a permit to remove and replace finishes on an entire wall or ceiling in a room. Replacing a small damaged area, up to 64 square feet, is exempt. When in doubt, the Permit and Development Center answers at 515-283-4200.
How many permits does a Des Moines bathroom remodel need?
Often more than one. The building side uses the $154.50 renovation permit when finishes come off whole walls. Each electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit on an existing home is a separate $77.25. A bath that moves plumbing and adds circuits could need three permits in all.
Does lead paint affect a bathroom remodel in an older Des Moines home?
In a home built before 1978, yes. Iowa law requires a lead notice and an approved pamphlet for the owner and occupants before renovation or repainting begins. With a 1961 median build year, many homes here fall under that rule.
Who inspects bathroom work in Des Moines?
City building inspectors, scheduled online. You request each inspection from the permit page in the Customer Self Service portal and see the results there. The city does not publish a lead time. Permit questions can also go by email to permits@dmgov.org.
Why do bathroom remodels go over the first estimate?
On our jobs, the top reason is added scope. Homeowners decide on extra wiring, moved plumbing, new lighting or finer details after the first estimate. Each change adds cost and time, and in Des Moines some also add a trade permit. Settling those choices early keeps the price where you expect it.
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