Home Building
Ankeny, IA
Ankeny grew from 45,582 residents in 2010 to 67,887 in 2020. Building a house here means a city plan review, water and sewer hookup fees, and a footing drain rule written into Ankeny’s own code. This page sets out what Ankeny requires for a new home, from plans to hookups.
- Ankeny at a glance
Ankeny growth in numbers
Ankeny’s population rose from 45,582 in 2010 to 67,887 in 2020 and an estimated 77,833 in 2025. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $331,000. Lot and fee figures below come from Ankeny’s code and fee schedules.
45,582 to 67,887
Residents, 2010 to 2020
$331,000
Median owner-occupied home value
Two districts
Ankeny and North Polk schools
2024 IRC
Effective July 1, 2025
$169.09 per sq ft
City valuation, new dwelling
5 working days
Typical residential plan review
$150 and $200
Water and sewer hookup fees
10,200 sq ft
Smallest R-1 lot
- Permits and rules
New home rules in Ankeny, from plans to hookups
A new house in Ankeny needs a building permit, a plan check and inspections, with separate trade permits. The city sets the fee from a per-square-foot valuation and collects utility hookup fees at the same time. Here is what the city asks of a new build.
Submittal and plan review
Each new house needs an application, construction drawings and a plan check review. The drawings must show all proposed work and how it complies with the building code and zoning ordinance. Plans go in as PDFs through Ankeny One Stop. Residential review takes about 5 working days, according to the city’s handout.
How the permit fee is set
Ankeny values new dwelling space at $169.09 per square foot and garages at $66.20. A new finished basement is valued at $63.00 and an unfinished one at $31.50. That total runs through the valuation table. In the FY 2026 schedule, a project valued from $100,001 to $500,000 pays $706.95 plus $3.85 per added $1,000.
Trade permits for a new house
New residential construction carries flat trade fees: $100 for mechanical, $100 for plumbing and $100 for electrical. The electrical fee rises to $150 with a temporary power pole, which supplies power on site before the permanent service is live. Licensed trades pull these permits.
Utility hookups and other fees
Ankeny collects water hookup and meter fees, sewer connection fees, and driveway and sidewalk permit fees with the building permit. The FY 2026 schedule lists hookup fees of $150 for water and $200 for sewer on a single family dwelling. Septic systems and private wells go to Polk County Planning and Development, 515-286-3705.
Footing drains and the sump
Ankeny added its own rule to Section R405: footing drains must discharge to a sump pump plumbed to a system separate from the sanitary sewer. The Building Official may grant exceptions. Footings sit below the 42-inch frost line, and the house is designed for a 33 psf ground snow load and 107 mph wind.
Lot size and height
An R-1 lot needs at least 10,200 square feet and 85 feet of width. Residential buildings top out at 35 feet and 3 stories. R-2 and R-3 districts also allow single family homes, and many newer areas are planned unit developments with their own setback numbers.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Ankeny new home
A new Ankeny house starts with the lot: its zoning district, its setbacks and whether the plat is a planned unit development. We then prepare drawings that show code and zoning compliance, file them through One Stop and schedule each inspection. Our licensed trade partners pull the mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits, and footing drains are routed to a sump that stays off the sanitary sewer.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa.
- Zoning and lot checked first
- Drawings filed through Ankeny One Stop
- Footing drains routed to the sump
Lot check to final
- Achievement
Trusted Home Building Contractors in Ankeny, IA
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Building in Ankeny
What does it cost to build a house in Ankeny?
Busy Builders builds new homes starting at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Ankeny’s permit, trade and hookup fees come on top. The city’s own $169.09 per square foot figure is only a fee basis, not a price quote.
How long does Ankeny take to review new home plans?
About 5 working days for residential plans, per the city’s Building Permits handout; commercial review takes 10 days or more. Plans go in as PDFs through Ankeny One Stop or by email. Inspections during the build usually happen within 24 to 48 hours of a request.
What utility fees come with a new home permit in Ankeny?
Water hookup and meter fees, sewer connection fees, and driveway and sidewalk permit fees are collected with the building permit. The FY 2026 schedule lists $150 for the water hookup and $200 for the sewer hookup on a single family dwelling. Meter fee amounts were not in the schedule we reviewed.
How big does a lot need to be to build in Ankeny?
In the R-1 district, at least 10,200 square feet with 85 feet of lot width. R-2 and R-3 also allow single family homes. Many newer areas are planned unit developments with their own standards, so we confirm your lot’s district before design work begins.
Will a new Ankeny home need radon protection?
Iowa’s HF 2297 was signed and took effect July 1, 2026. Its passive radon requirement for new homes starts once the State Building Code Commissioner adopts it. About 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, according to Iowa HHS. Ask us where that rule stands when your permit is filed.
Where does the sump pump discharge on a new Ankeny house?
To a system kept separate from the sanitary sewer. Ankeny’s Section 184.43 requires footing drains to discharge to a sump pump plumbed that way, under the city’s standard specifications. The Building Official can grant exceptions. Septic and private well questions go to Polk County Planning and Development.
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