Home Remodeling
Clive, IA
Clive grew from 3,005 residents in 1970 to 12,855 in 2000, and its first building code took effect in 1972. A remodel here can open walls built on either side of that line. This page covers when Clive wants a permit, who checks structural and trade work, and how long a permit lasts.
- Clive at a glance
Clive's growth by the decade
Clive’s population grew more than fourfold between 1970 and 2000, then reached 18,601 in 2020. The tiles pair that history with the permit rules that matter most when you remodel.
3,005
Clive residents in 1970
12,855
Clive residents in 2000
1972
Year Clive’s code began
Ord. 1173
Code current, December 2025
90 days
To start before permit voids
60 days
Stopped work ends a permit
365 days
Longest a permit lasts
2 weeks
Extension request lead time
Sources: State Data Center of Iowa (1970, 2000); U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2020 Census); Clive egress window handout (1972 code); Clive Code 10-1-8, permits.
- Permits and rules
What Clive asks before you remodel
Most remodels in Clive need a permit. The city says remodel projects require one, and its code covers repairs, alterations and any change to electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems. Here is how that plays out for structural work, trades, older homes and timing.
Work that needs a permit
Clive’s code lists the triggers: repairing, adding to, altering, relocating or demolishing a building, or changing its use. Any install, conversion or replacement of an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system is on the list too. Private sidewalks and driveways are the only residential items the city adds to the exempt list.
Walls that carry weight
Removing or moving a load-bearing wall is an alteration, so it needs a permit and construction drawings. Clive’s remodel packet is the permit application, a signed Builder’s Acknowledgement and one set of drawings. The city keeps those drawings in the file for your address, so they stay with the home’s record.
Trade permits
Kitchens, bathrooms and layout changes usually touch wiring, plumbing or ductwork. Clive requires a permit before anyone alters those systems, and Iowa licenses the electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors who do it. When the trade work is complete, city code requires notice to the Construction Services Administrator.
Older Clive homes
Clive’s first building code took effect January 1, 1972. Original work from before then may predate city code review, though later alterations may have permits on file. Check the city’s permit records for your address. The egress handout also sets different rules for homes permitted before that date. In older basements, our crew most often finds mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and old wiring.
How long a permit lasts
Clive gives a permit 90 days to get started, or it becomes void. Suspending work for 60 days ends it, and so can a stop of more than 10 days on an unsecured site. No permit runs past 365 days unless the city gets a written extension request two weeks ahead.
Work done without a permit
Clive’s code says work finished without a permit must be certified as code compliant. That can mean special inspections, plus fees from the adopted schedule. If you are buying or remodeling a home with unpermitted work, plan for that step before new work starts.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Clive home remodel
A Clive remodel starts with a walkthrough, a written estimate and a drawing of what changes. We file the remodel packet and start inside Clive’s 90-day window. Structural changes are framed to the drawings, and licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC subcontractors handle the systems. We notify the city as each stage is ready for its inspector.
Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa since 2020, and full remodels are among the most common. Small jobs get fit into the schedule quickly, and one customer noted the crew cleaned up before leaving.
- Permit packet and drawings filed
- Licensed trades for every system
- Clive notified as each stage ends
From walkthrough to final check
- Achievement
Trusted Home Remodeling Contractors in
Clive, Iowa
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. We serve homeowners in Clive and throughout the Des Moines metro.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Remodeling
in Clive, Iowa
How much does a home remodel cost in Clive?
It depends on the rooms. Kitchen remodels start from about $250 per square foot. Our bathroom quotes run from about $3,000 for a light refresh to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Other remodels get a written estimate after a walkthrough.
Which remodeling projects need a permit in Clive?
Nearly all of them. Clive’s code requires a permit to repair, add to, alter, relocate or demolish a building, and to change any trade system. The city’s residential page says remodel projects require a building permit. Private sidewalks and driveways are exempt, but approaches in the right of way are not.
Can I remove a load-bearing wall in my Clive home?
Yes, with a permit and construction drawings. Taking out a bearing wall is an alteration under Clive’s code, and the drawings go into the city’s file for your address. We frame the new beam and supports to those drawings, and Clive’s own inspectors check the work.
What if past owners remodeled without a permit?
Clive’s code says work completed without a permit must be certified as code compliant. That can mean special inspections and fees from the city’s adopted schedule. We look at what is there and include any needed fixes in your written estimate.
How long do I have to finish a permitted remodel in Clive?
Up to 365 days from issuance, the longest any Clive permit lasts. Work has to begin within the first 90 days. A 60-day stop also ends the permit. If the project will run long, file a written extension request at least two weeks before the deadline.
Does a pre-1972 Clive home change the remodel?
Often, yes. Clive adopted its first building code on January 1, 1972, so original work from before then may predate city code review. Later alterations may have their own permits, so check the city’s permit records for your address. The city’s egress handout also treats pre-1972 homes differently. We check framing, wiring and insulation closely when walls open in an older home.
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