Urbandale Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Urbandale, Iowa.
Urbandale, 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 Urbandale and throughout the Des Moines metro. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand local building codes, permit processes, and the specific characteristics of 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 Urbandale and the West Metro
Urbandale is a city of about 45,580 and it runs a full building department. Call 515-278-3930 to confirm what your project needs. On a city this size, plan review is a real step with a real queue. We build it into the schedule rather than treating it as a formality.
Urbandale is unusual because it spans several decades of construction at once. There are post-war ranches on the east side, 1970s and 1980s splits through the middle, and newer builds toward the Waukee line. Those are three different jobs. A ranch usually needs load-bearing work to open a kitchen. A split-level fights you on stair placement for a basement finish. A newer home is mostly finishes and layout.
We tell clients which of those three they own before we price anything, because it drives the number more than material selections do.
Several school districts serve parts of Urbandale, so check the district for your exact address. School boundaries come up often when weighing an addition against a move.
We build across the west metro. Homeowners in Clive, Johnston, West Des Moines, and Grimes call us for the same work.
Ready to start in Urbandale? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will tell you which of those three houses you own.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Urbandale before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Urbandale
Urbandale has grown from 298 residents in 1920 to an estimated 48,570 in 2025. Building Services works from 3600 86th Street, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits are filed and inspections booked through the city’s Citizenserve portal. Here is what each kind of project costs and requires in Urbandale.
Home Building in Urbandale
New homes in Urbandale start at about $150 per square foot with Busy Builders. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Urbandale enforces the 2018 International Residential Code with local amendments. One stands out: new one- and two-family homes of 8,000 square feet or more, attached garages included, need automatic fire sprinklers.
Before move-in, your land surveyor must certify an as-built grading plan within 0.2 foot of the approved plan. What it costs to build a house in Iowa is the question homeowners search most before they call us.
Home Remodeling in Urbandale
Urbandale requires a building permit for almost all construction, except minor repairs and small, portable storage sheds. Plumbing, mechanical and electrical work need their own permits.
Alterations fall under the 2018 International Existing Building Code, adopted alongside the residential code. An application that sits 180 days with no permit issued expires, with one extension available on request.
Urbandale is an older suburb, incorporated on April 16, 1917. Repeat customers show up often in our reviews, including one who had a deck built and then the basement remodeled.
Kitchen Remodeling in Urbandale
Kitchen remodels in Urbandale start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. A full kitchen with us runs about 6 to 12 weeks, depending on lead times, permits and trade scheduling.
Urbandale needs a building permit for nearly all construction, plus separate plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits. Since July 1, 2024, the city grants no building fee waivers except for city-owned projects and a few the council approved.
Tile, countertops, added outlets and moved plumbing are the costs owners most often underestimate. Behind the sink wall, our crew regularly finds mold from a slow faucet leak.
Bathroom Remodeling in Urbandale
Our bathroom quotes run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall bath facelift up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. Most three-quarter and full baths that keep the layout land around $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Urbandale’s amended code requires a mechanical vent fan in every bathroom except half baths. It must discharge outdoors, never into an attic, crawl space or soffit.
Plumbing and electrical changes need their own permits, and licensed trades we coordinate do that work. Most bathroom budgets grow when owners add scope after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Urbandale
Finishing a basement in Urbandale takes a building permit and detailed plans. The city publishes its own Basement Finish and Egress Window handouts.
Bedrooms need an escape window with at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening. Urbandale’s amendment lets a landing meet the 44-inch sill limit. The landing must be at least 36 inches wide, 12 inches out and no more than 24 inches tall.
Size, bedrooms, a bathroom and moisture work set the price, so we quote it in writing. Radon is very common on our Des Moines-area basement jobs, and we build mitigation into the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Urbandale
Reworking a finished basement in Urbandale needs a permit in almost every case. The city exempts only minor repairs and small portable sheds, and wiring, plumbing and ductwork take their own permits. Alterations follow the 2018 International Existing Building Code.
A new bedroom needs egress: at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, with the sill at 44 inches or less. The city allows a landing under the window to meet that height.
Water rules matter here. Urbandale’s Chapter 59 requires sump pumps, footing drains and downspouts to be cut off from the sanitary sewer on the timeline in the city’s notice.
Once old walls come down, our crew most often finds mold, missing moisture barriers, poor insulation and old or unsafe wiring. We have also rebuilt basements other contractors botched, from concrete in a sump pit to walls that collapsed because nobody fastened them.
If work is not complete at an inspection, the city may charge a reinspection fee. We price each basement remodel in a written estimate after a walk-through.
Deck Building in Urbandale
Urbandale’s deck handout lists four inspections: footings and setback before the pour, framing when height would hide it, electrical rough-in if wired, and final. Lot pins should be located at the footing visit.
Footings go at least 42 inches below grade. A ledger needs lags or through bolts, flashing and diagonal bracing.
Decks normally follow the house setbacks, and the house’s rear yard is 30 feet in R-1S. Confirm your lot with the Zoning Administrator at 515-278-3935. We build decks in composite and pressure-treated wood, with railings to match.
Home Additions in Urbandale
Additions in Urbandale start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
An addition must meet your district’s setbacks for the main house. In R-1S that means 30 feet front and rear and 8 feet per side. In R-1L it is 30 feet front, 35 feet rear and 12 feet per side, and height tops out at 35 feet in both.
A front-yard addition may not project past the average setback of the houses on the abutting lots. Footings go 42 inches below grade, and heated or cooled additions must meet State of Iowa energy rules. Adding on to a home without sprinklers does not trigger the city’s sprinkler rule.
Urbandale allows one ADU per single-family lot, up to 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the main home, whichever is greater. We also 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 Urbandale, IA
How do building permits work in Urbandale?
The Department of Community Development handles permits at 3600 86th Street.
Contact (515) 278-3930 for information.
Urbandale uses Citizenserve for online permit applications and inspection scheduling.
Architectural and structural engineering certifications are required for most nonresidential construction.
A site plan must be approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council prior to most new construction.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What building codes does Urbandale follow?
Urbandale enforces the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2018 International Existing Building Code, with local amendments.
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 below grade.
Staff assistance is encouraged for complex projects, and pre-application conferences are available for large projects.
Which school districts serve Urbandale?
Several districts serve parts of Urbandale: Urbandale Community School District, Dallas Center-Grimes, Des Moines, Johnston, Waukee and West Des Moines.
Your exact address decides which one. Check the district boundary map before you plan an addition or basement bedroom around a school.
What's the housing market like in Urbandale?
Urbandale has approximately 45,580 residents with steady growth (15.5% since 2010).
The median household income exceeds $107,000, among the highest in Iowa.
The median home value is approximately $348,000, and the per capita income is around $53,600.
About 70% of homes are owner-occupied.
The city spans Polk and Dallas counties, with western Urbandale experiencing recent growth.
How far is Urbandale from downtown Des Moines?
Urbandale is immediately northwest of Des Moines, with downtown Des Moines approximately 10-15 minutes east, depending on location.
The city sits at the intersection of Interstates 35 and 80 along the Urban Loop business corridor.
DART bus service connects Urbandale to the metro.
Busy Builders serves Urbandale from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Urbandale unique for homeowners?
Urbandale offers suburban convenience with urban access.
The city features over 850 acres of parks and 33 miles of trails connecting to the regional trail network.
Living History Farms is a major attraction.
Urbandale requires a building permit for almost all construction, and plumbing, mechanical and electrical work need their own permits.
Post-war ranches on the east side often need load-bearing work to open a kitchen, while newer homes toward Waukee are mostly finishes and layout.
We tell you which kind of house you own before we price the job.
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