Waukee Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Waukee, Iowa.
Waukee, 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 Waukee and throughout Dallas County. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand local building codes, permit processes, and the specific characteristics of rapidly growing 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 Waukee and Western Dallas County
Waukee has passed 23,940 residents and has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the state for years. City permitting runs through 515-978-7900.
Waukee’s growth curve is the whole story for a builder. Most of the housing went up inside the last twenty-five years, so the work here is expansion and completion rather than restoration. Basements left as bare block, decks framed to the minimum, and plans that skipped the fourth bedroom make up the bulk of it.
Two things slow Waukee projects if you do not plan for them. Plan review on a city growing this fast carries a real queue, and newer subdivisions carry active covenants that govern exterior changes. We handle both before we draw rather than after.
Waukee also has a small original core near the trail where the housing is genuinely old. Those are different jobs and we price them differently.
Footings go 42 inches down at minimum to clear Iowa’s frost line.
We build across Dallas County. Homeowners in Clive, West Des Moines, Adel, and Dallas Center call us for the same work.
Expanding a Waukee home? Call: 844-435-9800 for a written estimate.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Waukee before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Waukee
Waukee went from 23,940 residents in the 2020 Census to an estimated 34,890 in 2025. The city builds to the 2018 International Residential Code with local amendments, and it figures permit fees from project valuation. Each card starts with a price where we publish one, then the Waukee rule that shapes that job.
Home Building in Waukee
New homes start from about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Waukee’s new single-family application comes with erosion control and stormwater plan forms. Homes of 8,000 square feet or more, not counting attached garages, need fire sprinklers.
One Waukee rule shows up at the very end. The final Certificate of Occupancy waits until walks, drives, seed or sod and two trees of at least one-inch caliper are in. How long a new home takes is the second most common building question homeowners bring to our site.
Home Remodeling in Waukee
Remodels get a written estimate after a walkthrough, since no two houses need the same work. Waukee’s zoning code bars adding to or structurally altering any building without a permit. The city also adopted the 2018 International Existing Building Code, the rulebook for work on buildings that already stand.
Waukee has changed fast: 5,126 residents in 2000, and an estimated 34,890 in 2025. Repeat customers are a pattern in our reviews. One household had us build a deck and then came back to have the basement remodeled.
Kitchen Remodeling in Waukee
Kitchen remodels start from about $250 per square foot. They take about 6 to 12 weeks from approval through the final punch list. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
In Waukee, plumbing follows the state’s 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code and wiring the state’s 2023 National Electrical Code. The city keeps a trades permit application. Moving a gas range? Waukee’s amended code requires CSST, the flexible corrugated stainless steel gas tubing, to carry an arc-resistant jacket. On our kitchens, tile, countertops, added outlets and plumbing changes are the costs owners most often underestimate.
Bathroom Remodeling in Waukee
Our bathroom quotes run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall bath refresh up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter to full bathroom without major moves lands near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Waukee lists a trades permit application for this kind of work, and it tells builders the permit cost when the permit is issued. The most common reason a bathroom grows is new scope added after the first estimate, such as more wiring, lighting or plumbing.
Basement Finishing in Waukee
Basement prices depend on size, rooms, a bathroom and escape windows, so each finish gets a written estimate. Waukee’s amended code is broad on egress. Any new habitable space in an existing basement needs an emergency escape opening, not just a bedroom.
The same code lets a low basement be finished if the ceiling drops no more than the thickness of drywall or ceiling tile. Waukee also requires sump pumps and footing drains in newer plats where foundations run deeper than 42 inches. After cost, how to finance a finish is the basement question homeowners search most.
Basement Remodeling in Waukee
The price of a basement remodel depends on what the old finish is hiding. Once older Central Iowa basements are opened, mold, missing moisture barriers, thin insulation and outdated wiring are what our crew finds most. That is why we price these jobs after a walkthrough, in writing, rather than from a chart.
Waukee’s zoning code calls for a permit before any building is structurally altered. Its amended residential code covers new habitable space created in an existing basement. Each new room needs an escape opening of 5.7 square feet or more, with a sill 44 inches or lower. In plats covered by Waukee’s subdivision rule, foundations deeper than 42 inches must have a sump pump and footing drains.
Some owners call us after another contractor’s basement went wrong. We have fixed concrete spilled into a sump pit and finished walls that fell down because they were never fastened. Licensed subcontractors do the electrical, plumbing and HVAC work under the codes Waukee enforces.
Deck Building in Waukee
Deck prices depend on size, height, boards, stairs and any roof, so we price each one in writing. For the permit, Waukee values an open deck at 8% of the ICC per-square-foot value for a wood-frame house, times the deck’s area. Footings go at least 42 inches down, Waukee’s frost line.
Got a shed or detached garage? No Waukee deck may sit closer than 3 feet to it. Within 6 feet, that building’s wall must be a two-hour fire wall. Spring 2026 brought a review of one of our composite decks that praised our communication.
Home Additions in Waukee
Home additions start from about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. On a Waukee R-1 lot, the house keeps 30 feet from the front and rear lines. The two side yards must total 15 feet, and neither can drop below 7.
Building toward the street has its own Waukee rule. A front addition cannot sit closer to the right-of-way than the average front yard of the nearest building on each side within 200 feet. Additions to homes without sprinklers do not trigger Waukee’s sprinkler rule. Energy inspections go to a certified third party who reports to the city.
Footings reach at least 42 inches, the frost line in Waukee’s amended code. We build storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages as part of an addition on request. Additions are among the more than 100 projects we finish each year, and our crews frame them on new poured concrete foundations.
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 Waukee, IA
How do building permits work in Waukee?
The Community Development Department handles permits at 204 W. Hickman Road (behind City Hall).
Contact (515) 978-9533 for information.
City Hall general information is (515) 978-7900.
Permit applications may be submitted online.
Waukee has adopted the 2018 International Building Code; Iowa has adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code, 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, and 2024 International Mechanical Code.
Deposits and fees may be paid online by cash, check, or credit/debit card.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What building codes does Waukee follow?
Waukee builds to the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential 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 deep under Waukee’s amended code. The city’s Building Permitting page lists the current codes, so check it before plans are drawn.
Which school district serves Waukee?
Waukee Community School District serves Waukee, plus portions of Clive, Urbandale and West Des Moines.
The district has grown with the city, and attendance areas can change as new schools open.
Check the district’s boundary lookup for your exact address before you plan a bedroom addition or basement finish around a school.
What's the housing market like in Waukee?
Waukee is one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities, with the 2024 special census showing a population of 31,823.
The population has grown 466.9% since 2000.
The median household income is $106,728 with a median resident age of 32.1 years.
About 74% of homes are owner-occupied.
In 2020, a record 1,489 building permits were issued, valued at $245.7 million.
Most homes here went up in the last twenty-five years, so the common jobs are basement finishes, decks and added bedrooms.
How far is Waukee from Des Moines?
Waukee is immediately west of Des Moines, approximately 15-20 minutes from downtown.
The city borders West Des Moines and Clive.
Community Development handles building permits, and applications can be submitted online.
Footings go at least 42 inches deep under Waukee’s amended code.
Busy Builders serves Waukee from our West Des Moines base.
What makes Waukee unique for homeowners?
Waukee is one of Iowa’s fastest-growing cities, located in Dallas County (Iowa’s fastest-growing county with 50%+ growth 2010-2020).
Apple Inc. chose Waukee for a $1.38 billion data center campus in 2017.
The city offers excellent schools, new infrastructure, and family-focused development.
Plan review on a city growing this fast carries a real queue, and newer subdivisions carry covenants that govern exterior changes.
The median age of 32.1 and strong household income reflect the young, professional demographic attracted to Waukee’s growth opportunities.
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