Pleasant Hill Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Pleasant Hill, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa. We bring decades of combined trade experience to projects in Pleasant Hill and throughout Polk County. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand local building codes, permit processes, and the specific characteristics of growing suburban communities. From bathroom updates to custom home builds, we deliver quality work with transparent communication.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. We provide detailed written estimates, explain permit requirements upfront, and maintain clear communication throughout your project.
Our Vision
To serve all of Central Iowa with dedicated construction services, building lasting relationships through quality workmanship and integrity.
Building in Pleasant Hill and the East Side
Pleasant Hill has roughly 10,147 residents and sits along Highway 163 on the east edge of Des Moines. City permitting runs through 515-262-9368. Confirm what your project needs before you commit to a start date.
Pleasant Hill is unusual because it grew outward onto rolling ground rather than flat farmland. Slope is the defining site condition here. It makes walkout basements genuinely achievable on lots where other suburbs cannot offer them. It makes drainage and retaining work a real line item rather than an afterthought.
We price the grading honestly. A walkout on a good slope is one of the best value additions in Central Iowa. A walkout forced onto the wrong lot is an expensive way to get a window.
Footings need 42 inches minimum to sit below Iowa’s frost line. On a graded lot we confirm we are bearing on undisturbed soil rather than fill.
We build across the east side. Homeowners in Altoona, Des Moines, Bondurant, and Polk City call us for the same work.
Got a sloped lot in Pleasant Hill? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will tell you what it can take.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Pleasant Hill before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill runs its own building department on Maple Drive and inspects every permit in-house. The 2021 codes took effect here on August 1, 2023, and the city posts a permit value per square foot for each kind of work. Each card below starts with what the project costs, then what Pleasant Hill checks.
Home Building in Pleasant Hill
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
For the permit fee, Pleasant Hill values a wood-frame house at $111.36 per square foot and an attached garage at $50. The sewer connection is a flat $250, and the certificate of occupancy issued with a building permit carries no charge. One change matters for 2026 budgets: the city stopped accepting new tax abatement applications on June 12, 2026, citing state law SF 2472. Many owners search for what a general contractor actually does before they call, so we spell out our role in the estimate.
Home Remodeling in Pleasant Hill
Remodel prices depend on how much changes, from finishes alone to moved walls and new circuits. We price it in a written estimate after a walk-through.
Pleasant Hill values remodel work at $40 per square foot when it figures the permit fee. Start before the permit is issued and the city doubles the fee. A permit expires 180 days after it is issued unless the building official approves a longer construction schedule. Re-inspections cost $25. One customer with a small job noted how fast it got scheduled and that the crew cleaned up before leaving.
Kitchen Remodeling in Pleasant Hill
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Expect about 6 to 12 weeks from approval through installation and final punch.
Pleasant Hill charges flat rates for electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits on remodels. Its own inspectors work weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and usually schedule a day ahead. On our kitchen jobs, the lines homeowners most often underestimate are tile, countertops, extra outlets and relocated plumbing, so we price those first.
Bathroom Remodeling in Pleasant Hill
Bathrooms we have quoted range from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light facelift to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. Most three-quarter or full baths that keep the layout land near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Pleasant Hill’s basement finish guide asks for at least one 20-amp circuit for bathroom outlets and bath fans vented outdoors. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits carry flat rates for remodels. When a bathroom grows, it is usually because new wiring, plumbing or lighting got added after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Pleasant Hill
Basement cost turns on square footage, layout, a bathroom, egress windows and wall condition. We give you a written estimate after a site visit.
Pleasant Hill requires a building permit and an electrical permit for a finish. Framing, wiring, plumbing and ductwork are inspected before insulation, and insulation is inspected before drywall. Ceilings must clear 7 feet, and any unfinished area left open needs half-inch drywall under the joists. The city values a finished basement at $60 per square foot for the fee. Radon is very common on our Des Moines-area basement jobs, so mitigation is part of our finish.
Basement Remodeling in Pleasant Hill
A basement rework is priced by what we remove, what we find and what we rebuild. We put all three in a written estimate.
Pleasant Hill wants an egress window in every basement and every sleeping room. Each needs 5.7 square feet of net clear opening and a sill under 44 inches. Its code allows a fixed landing inside, at least 36 inches wide and 12 inches deep, no more than 24 inches high. Wells deeper than 44 inches need an escape ladder. Smoke alarms must be interconnected and dual-sensor, with a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms.
Sole plates on the slab must be pressure-treated, and basement walls need R-19 cavity or R-15 continuous insulation. Start before the permit and the fee doubles. We have redone many basements other contractors botched, including finished walls that collapsed because they were never fastened. Older walls often hide mold, missing moisture barriers and unsafe wiring.
Deck Building in Pleasant Hill
Deck pricing depends on size, height, footing count, stairs, railings and whether you choose composite or treated wood. We measure and give a written estimate.
Pleasant Hill requires a permit whenever a deck has structural parts. It also dropped the model code exemption for decks of 200 square feet or less. Footings reach at least 42 inches. The city posts a fee chart for common sizes, so a 12 by 16 deck permit is $62.90. Elevated composite decks we have built show the treated posts, beams and joists inspectors check.
Home Additions in Pleasant Hill
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Single-family lots in Pleasant Hill need a 30-foot front setback, 8-foot side yards and a 35-foot rear yard. Buildings can reach 36 feet, and 20 percent of the lot must stay open space. Overhangs may extend 3 feet into a side yard if the building stays 5 feet from the line. On older lots of record, side yards together need not exceed 30 percent of lot width.
The city’s code exempts homes under 8,000 square feet, garages excluded, from fire sprinklers, and additions to unsprinklered homes are exempt too. For the fee, the city values new wood-frame space at $111.36 per square foot. State law SF 592 allows an accessory dwelling unit up to 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house. We build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages as part of additions when asked.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Project, Our Passion.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Backsplash
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Custom Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Pleasant Hill, IA
How do building permits work in Pleasant Hill?
The City of Pleasant Hill Building Division handles permits at 5160 Maple Drive, Suite A, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327.
Contact (515) 309-9461 for building permits or (515) 262-9368 for general City Hall inquiries.
The city uses Citizenserve for online permit applications at pleasanthilliowa.org.
A permit is required for all new construction, remodels, additions, basement finishes, garages, sheds, decks, fences, pools, signs, and all electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.
Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
What building codes does Pleasant Hill follow?
Pleasant Hill enforces the 2021 codes, which took effect here on August 1, 2023.
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work follow the state codes: the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2024 International Mechanical Code. Footings go at least 42 inches deep.
All electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits must be applied for by a State-registered contractor.
Which school district serves Pleasant Hill?
Two school districts serve Pleasant Hill.
Most of the city falls within the Des Moines Public Schools district, which operates Pleasant Hill Elementary.
Newer portions are served by Southeast Polk Community School District, which operates Four Mile Elementary and Southeast Polk Junior and Senior High Schools in Pleasant Hill.
Southeast Polk teams are known as the Rams (Runnells, Altoona, Mitchellville Schools), and the district enrolls over 7,200 students across 11 schools.
What's the housing market like in Pleasant Hill?
Pleasant Hill has approximately 10,147 residents (2020 census), with estimates reaching 12,500 in 2025.
The city has nearly doubled since 2000 (from 5,070).
Median household income is approximately $86,890.
About 70.8% of homes are owner-occupied.
The median age is 41.1 years.
The city has seen increasing diversity with 6.4% Hispanic/Latino and 3.5% Black/African American residents.
How far is Pleasant Hill from downtown Des Moines?
Pleasant Hill is approximately 8 miles east of downtown Des Moines (about 15 minutes) via Highway 163.
The city offers easy commuter access while providing suburban amenities.
Des Moines Area Regional Transit (DART) provides public transportation service.
Busy Builders serves Pleasant Hill from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Pleasant Hill unique for homeowners?
Pleasant Hill was incorporated in 1956 and is one of the fastest-growing suburbs on Des Moines’ east side.
The city’s own building department issues and inspects every permit inside city limits.
With more than 500 acres available for development along the Highway 163 corridor, Pleasant Hill continues to expand with new commercial services and housing.
The city offers proximity to Adventureland theme park and Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, plus easy access to 11 colleges and universities within 35 miles.
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