Deck Building Clive, Iowa
Clive is home to about 19,900 people across Polk and Dallas counties, and every deck here needs a city permit. Clive publishes its own deck rules, from footing depth to setbacks. This page lays out what the city requires, so you know the rules before you compare quotes.
- Clive at a glance
Clive by the numbers
Clive grew from 752 residents in 1960 to 18,601 in the 2020 Census. Three of every four homes are owner-occupied. These figures come from the Census Bureau and the city code.
19,861
2025 Census Bureau estimate
752 to 18,601
Residents, 1960 to 2020
$401,100
Median owner-occupied home value
75.4%
Homes that are owner-occupied
2021 IRC
Residential code Clive enforces
42 inches
Minimum deck footing depth
Two districts
West Des Moines and Waukee schools
1972
Clive’s first building code
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2020 Census, July 2025 estimate, ACS 2020 to 2024); State Data Center of Iowa (1960); Clive Code of Ordinances, Title 10.
- Permits and rules
Deck permits in Clive: what the city requires
Yes, every deck in Clive needs a permit. The city’s deck handout says a permit and fee are required for all decks, and a deck with a roof counts as an addition. Here is what the Community Development Department asks for and checks.
When you need a permit
Clive requires a permit and fee for every deck, with no size exemption. Add a roof and the city treats it as an addition, like a three or four season room. Work done without a permit must later be certified as code compliant, which can mean special inspections and added fees.
What to submit
The site plan shows the deck size, its distance to each property line and its height above grade. It also shows footing locations and diameters, post sizes, beam and joist sizes, joist span and spacing, decking and guard details. Apply through Community Development at 1900 NW 114th Street or citizenserve.com/clive.
Inspections and timing
Clive inspects the footings and inspects again when the deck is complete. Schedule each inspection at least 24 hours ahead at (515) 223-6221. A permit is void if work has not started within 90 days. Every permit expires after 365 days unless you request an extension in writing.
Footings and ledger
Footings go at least 42 inches below grade. Clive’s code amendment lets a deck that is not supported by or reached from the house skip frost-depth footings. Footing diameter comes from a load table in the city handout, from 8 to 24 inches. An attached deck needs at least a 2×8 ledger fastened to the band joist. The wall cladding comes off, the ledger is flashed and sealed, and half-inch lags or bolts go in two every 16 inches.
Guards and stairs
Guards must stand at least 36 inches above the deck surface. A 4-inch sphere must not pass through any opening below that height. Stair risers can be no taller than 7 3/4 inches. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep, with a 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch nosing.
Setbacks and zoning
An uncovered deck must sit at least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines, under the city’s deck handout. Add a roof and Clive treats the deck as an addition, which generally must meet the yard rules for the house itself. On most R-1 lots that means 35 feet front and rear and 8 feet on each side. Narrow lots platted on or before January 3, 1963 may qualify for reduced side yards.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Clive deck
We pull the Clive permit, prepare the site plan and framing details the city asks for, and book both inspections. Footings go to 42 inches, the ledger is flashed and bolted to the handout spacing, and guards are built to the 36-inch rule. We build in composite and pressure-treated wood.
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor (DIAL C140184) with more than 1,285 completed projects across Central Iowa since 2020. Several reviews mention our communication, including being able to text the crew mid-project.
- Permit, site plan and both inspections handled for you
- Footings at 42 inches and a flashed, bolted ledger
- Guards and stairs built to Clive's deck handout
Permit to final inspection
- Achievement
Trusted Deck Builders in Clive
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 construction and remodeling projects across Central Iowa.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Deck Building in Clive
What does a deck cost in Clive?
We do not publish a deck price range, because every deck is different. Size, height above grade, composite or pressure-treated boards, stairs, railing style and any roof all move the number. A roof also turns the project into an addition under Clive’s rules. The permit fee comes from the council’s fee schedule. We give you a written estimate after we see the yard.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Clive?
Yes. Clive’s deck handout says a permit and fee are required for all decks, with no exemption for small or low decks. If the deck has a roof, the city treats it as an addition. Busy Builders pulls the permit and books the inspections on every Clive deck we build.
How deep do deck footings need to be in Clive?
At least 42 inches below grade. That is the depth in the city’s deck handout and the frost depth in Clive’s amended residential code. Footing diameter comes from the handout’s load table, from 8 to 24 inches. A deck that is not attached to the house and not reached from it can skip frost-depth footings under Clive’s code amendment.
How close to the property line can a deck be in Clive?
An uncovered deck must stay at least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines. A deck with a roof counts as an addition, which generally must meet the yard rules for the house itself. On most R-1 lots those are 35 feet front and rear and 8 feet per side. The site plan you submit has to show those distances.
Who inspects a deck in Clive, and when?
The city’s Community Development Department inspects decks itself. It checks the footings, then inspects again when the deck is complete. Each inspection must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling (515) 223-6221.
How long is a Clive deck permit good for?
A Clive permit is void if work has not started within 90 days of issuance. It also expires if work stops for 60 days, and every permit expires after 365 days. To extend one, submit a written request at least two weeks before the expiration date.
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