Home Remodeling
Des Moines, IA
Remodeling in Des Moines starts with one question: is the work on the city’s exempt list? If not, you need a permit. The typical home here was built in 1961, so older-home rules apply too. This page covers the list, the fees and a city tax break for renovations.
- Des Moines at a glance
Des Moines housing, then and now
Des Moines had 208,982 residents in 1960, then shrank for decades before the 2020 count passed that mark. Owners live in 60.5 percent of homes. The remodel figures come from city permit, fee and abatement pages.
1961
Median year built
208,982
Residents in 1960
60.5%
Owner-occupied homes
2024 IEBC
Code for existing buildings
$154.50
Flat renovation permit fee
10 years
Abatement on qualifying renovations
5%
Value gain to qualify
$25.75
Reinstates an expired permit
- Permits and rules
What needs a permit when you remodel in Des Moines
Anything not on the city’s exempt list needs a permit. That list, in Municipal Code 26-302(a)(11), covers small repairs like tuckpointing, door swaps and drywall patches. Structural work, full wall tear-outs and new trade work are not on it.
The exempt list
Since July 1, 2023, several small jobs need no permit. They include tuckpointing, new decking boards on an open wood deck, and a non-fire-rated door swapped for a match in size and swing. Foundation stabilization limited to ground anchors, wall plates and braces is exempt too. So are drywall and plaster repairs up to 64 square feet.
Structural and foundation work
Structural changes are not on the exempt list, so they need a permit. The city names helical and push pier foundation repairs as permit work. Removing interior finishes from a whole wall or ceiling also needs one, which covers most layout changes. The renovation permit is a flat $154.50 under the January 2026 schedule.
Trade permits and codes
Every trade gets its own permit on an existing home: electrical, mechanical and plumbing, at $77.25 each. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate do that work. For the structure, Des Moines enforces the 2024 International Residential Code alongside the 2024 International Existing Building Code.
Lead rules in pre-1978 homes
Iowa law covers renovation, remodeling and repainting in homes built before 1978. Before work starts, owners and occupants must receive a notice and an approved lead hazard pamphlet. The city posted this rule with its construction codes. With a median build year of 1961, a large share of Des Moines homes fall under it.
Expired permits and historic lots
If a residential permit expires before the work is done, the city charges $25.75 to reinstate it for one more year. Historic districts add a step. Exterior changes there need a $10 Certificate of Appropriateness, reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Permits protect the tax break
Des Moines offers a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement on renovations to single-household homes that raise assessed value at least 5 percent. The work must have all of its permits. You apply through the Customer Self Service portal. Skipping a permit can cost you the abatement.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Des Moines home remodel
Before any wall comes down, we check the scope against the city’s exempt list and file what is needed through the portal. Structural changes, full-wall finishes and new trade work all go on the permit. Licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC techs we coordinate handle their parts. Keeping every permit in place also protects your shot at the city’s 10-year abatement.
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor (DIAL C140184) and completes more than 100 projects a year. Small jobs get fit into the schedule quickly, as one reviewer noted, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
- Scope checked against the exempt list
- Building and trade permits filed together
- Permits kept for the tax abatement
Permits first, then demolition
- Achievement
Trusted Home Remodeling Contractors in
Des Moines, IA
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa. We serve homeowners in Des Moines and throughout the metro.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Remodeling
in Des Moines, IA
What does a home remodel cost in Des Moines?
It depends on the rooms and trades involved, so we give a written estimate after a walkthrough. Kitchens start at about $250 per square foot, and full bathrooms we quote often land near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. City permit fees are flat, starting at $154.50.
Which remodeling jobs skip the permit in Des Moines?
Only the ones on the city’s exempt list. It includes tuckpointing, fresh decking boards on an open wood deck and same-size door swaps that keep the swing. Drywall repairs up to 64 square feet also qualify. Exempt work still has to meet current code. Anything else, from new walls to new circuits, needs a permit.
Is there a tax break for remodeling in Des Moines?
Yes. Under the city’s low-density residential tax abatement, renovations on single-household lots can qualify for a 10-year, 100 percent schedule citywide. The work has to raise assessed value at least 5 percent and carry every required permit. You apply through the Customer Self Service portal.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair in Des Moines?
For helical or push piers, yes; the city names them as permit work. Stabilization limited to ground anchors, wall plates and braces is exempt. Other structural repairs are off the exempt list, so they need a permit. If you are unsure, call the Permit and Development Center at 515-283-4200.
My house is in a historic district. What changes?
Exterior work in a Des Moines Local Historic District needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before it starts. You request it in the city portal for a $10 fee. The Historic Preservation Commission reviews every request at its monthly meeting, held the third Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Show Me My House tells you if your address is in a district.
What happens if my remodel permit expires?
You can reinstate it. The city’s January 2026 fee schedule lists a $25.75 fee to reinstate an expired residential permit for one more year. The schedule shows no separate fee for reinspection or for working without a permit. Questions go to permits@dmgov.org.
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