Home Remodeling
Ankeny, IA
Ankeny has been a town since 1903 and counted 67,887 residents in 2020. Remodels here run under the city’s 2024 Existing Building Code as well as its residential code. Any work that changes structure or a regulated system needs a permit. This page lays out what Ankeny asks for before you open a wall.
- Ankeny at a glance
Ankeny, then and now
Ankeny was declared a city in 1961, and the Census Bureau estimated 77,833 residents in 2025. About 71.3 percent of homes are owner-occupied. Code and fee figures below come from the city’s adopted codes and FY 2026 fee schedule.
5 working days
Residential plan review, per city
1961
Year Ankeny became a city
71.3%
Owner-occupied homes
77,833
Residents, 2025 estimate
2024 edition
Existing Building Code, Chapter 182
$50
Each trade permit on a remodel
$25
Flat fee for a demolition permit
6 months
First permit extension, no charge
- Permits and rules
Remodel permits in Ankeny: what needs one and why
Ankeny requires a permit for any construction that physically changes your home’s structure or is regulated by city code. That covers structural remodeling, alterations, fireplaces, egress windows, heating equipment and trade work. These six points explain how the city handles remodels.
What needs a permit
The Building Permits handout lists structural remodeling, additions and alterations, fireplaces, egress windows and heating equipment. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work need permits too. Ankeny also deleted the model code’s exemptions for small trade jobs, fences and sidewalks, so fewer projects slip through without one.
Load-bearing walls and structure
Taking out or moving a load-bearing wall is structural remodeling. A load-bearing wall carries weight from the floor or roof above. Drawings must show the new framing and how it complies with the building code. Ankeny’s design table sets a 33 psf ground snow load, which shapes beam sizes under a roof.
The existing building code
Ankeny adopted the 2024 Existing Building Code as Chapter 182 under Ordinance 2216. It is the code for alterations to buildings that are already standing. The residential code sits in Chapter 184. Both arrived with the city’s 2024 code package, effective July 1, 2025.
Trade permits
Mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits for remodel work carry a $50 flat fee each. Licensed trades obtain them. A remodel that touches a kitchen and a bath can involve several trades, and each one is permitted and inspected on its own.
Timing and extensions
Residential review takes about 5 working days, according to the city’s permit handout. Plans go in as PDFs through Ankeny One Stop or by email. If a remodel runs long, the city’s fee schedule lists the first 6-month extension of a current permit at no charge.
How the fee is set
Ankeny sets permit fees from project valuation, using a table that starts at $20 for work valued up to $500. In the FY 2026 schedule, work valued from $2,001 to $25,000 pays $53.00 plus $9.90 for each added $1,000. A demolition permit is a flat $25.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Ankeny home remodel
We confirm which permits your scope needs before demolition, then file drawings through One Stop. Licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC subcontractors pull their own $50 trade permits. Inspections are requested in order, so walls stay open until each trade passes. If the job runs long, we ask the city for the free 6-month extension before the permit lapses.
Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa since 2020. Several reviews mention our communication, including being able to text the crew with additions mid-project.
- Permit list confirmed before demolition
- Trade permits pulled by licensed subs
- Walls closed only after inspections pass
Walls open, permits ready
- Achievement
Trusted Home Remodeling Contractors in
Ankeny, IA
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. We serve homeowners in Ankeny and throughout the Des Moines metro.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Remodeling
in Ankeny, IA
What does a home remodel cost in Ankeny?
We do not quote remodels from a price list. Walls that move, plumbing that relocates, new circuits and finish choices drive the cost, and older homes can hide problems behind the walls. We give a written estimate after a walkthrough. Ankeny’s permit fee is separate and scales with project value.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall in Ankeny?
If the wall is load-bearing, yes, because that is structural remodeling. Drawings must show the new beam or framing and how it meets code. Moving outlets or switches in the wall also takes an electrical permit, since Ankeny removed the small-job electrical exemptions.
Which code applies to remodeling an existing Ankeny home?
Ankeny adopted the 2024 Existing Building Code as Chapter 182, alongside the 2024 residential code in Chapter 184. Both took effect July 1, 2025 with local amendments. The existing building code is written for work on houses already standing.
Can I extend an Ankeny remodel permit if the job runs long?
Yes. The city’s fee schedule lists the first 6-month extension of a current building permit at no charge. Ask the Building Division at 515-963-3550 before the permit runs out. Review of a residential permit takes about 5 working days at the start.
Can I add a fireplace during an Ankeny remodel?
Yes, with a permit. Ankeny’s permit handout lists fireplaces among the projects that need one, along with heating equipment. Gas and venting work then falls under the city’s trade permits, each $50 for remodel work.
Who reviews remodel plans in Ankeny?
The Building Division of Community Development, at 1210 NW Prairie Ridge Drive. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and the phone is 515-963-3550. Most residential plans are reviewed in about 5 working days, and inspectors are booked separately at 515-963-3533.
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