Waukee’s Community Development Department (204 W. Hickman Road; permit and inspection hotline 515-978-9533) reviews and issues building permits for new homes, additions, decks, signs and commercial buildings, issues the trade permits and performs the inspections. Applications are filed on the city’s OpenGov portal. Fees come from the 2026 City of Waukee Fee Schedule (Resolution 2026-138), which prices most building permits on valuation and sets flat fees such as $80 for a deck.
What requires a building permit in Waukee?
Waukee’s permit table lists what the department issues: new homes, additions and alterations, commercial buildings, fire protection systems, accessory buildings, decks, residential pools and hot tubs, signs, temporary uses and temporary heat, facade improvements, home occupations, mobile food units and trade work. Each line links to its own online application.
Permit needed
- New homes, townhomes, apartments and commercial buildings
- Additions, alterations and minor structural repairs
- Every deck, whatever its size or height
- Accessory buildings larger than 200 square feet
- Pools holding more than 24 inches of water, and hot tubs or spas
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, including temporary electrical service
- Signs, tents and other temporary structures and uses
- Demolition
Not a building permit
- Accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less (placement rules still apply)
- Irrigation meters on properties that already have a certificate of occupancy, handled by the Public Works Water Department since April 1, 2024
- Sidewalks, approaches and right-of-way or utility easement work, permitted by Public Works
Placement rules apply even to buildings small enough to need no permit: no accessory building in a front yard, at least 2 feet from alleys, easements and lot lines, at least 6 feet from any part of the house, no more than 30% of the rear yard and no taller than 14 feet.
What Waukee decides and what the state holds
The city states that it has adopted the 2024 International Building Code and 2024 International Fire Code, and that the trade codes in force are the editions the State of Iowa adopted: the 2023 National Electrical Code, the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code and the 2024 International Mechanical Code. Its permits page also links guidance from the Iowa Association of Building Officials on House File 2800 and the Iowa electrical code effective June 2, 2026, which electrical contractors should read before pricing work. The adopting ordinance and the city’s amendments are in the municipal code and the city’s records system. The department’s pages also link to the Central Iowa Code Consortium.
Waukee building department: who handles permitting
The Community Development Department combines building, code compliance and planning. It reviews and issues building permits, inspects construction, enforces the rental code, reviews plats, site plans and rezonings and supports the Planning and Zoning Commission. Andy Kass, AICP, is the Community Development Director. Some handouts use the name Development Services for the same office.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | 204 W. Hickman Road, Waukee, IA 50263 (just south of City Hall) |
| Inspection and permit hotline | 515-978-9533 |
| Director | 515-978-7897 |
| Portal | waukeeia.portal.opengov.com |
| City Hall | 230 W. Hickman Road, 515-978-7900 |
| Public Works (sidewalks, utilities, irrigation meters) | 515-978-7920 |
Waukee builds at a fast pace. In September 2026 alone the city issued 181 building permits, 22 for single-family homes, 23 for townhomes, two commercial and 134 others, with a combined valuation of $51.8 million.
Waukee permit types
Each permit in the city’s table has its own OpenGov application and reference documents: fee calculators for new homes, additions and commercial or multi-family buildings, the ICC building valuation chart, and handouts for accessory buildings, decks, pools, hot tubs, permanent signs and facade improvements. Home occupations can also be filed on a printable form.
Residential permits
The residential fee calculator shows how a new home or addition is valued: $170.80 a square foot for finished floor area, $85.40 for a finished basement or three-season porch, $31.50 for an unfinished basement, $69.64 for a garage, $13.66 for an open deck and $25.62 for a screened porch or covered deck. Deck applications need a site plan showing existing structures, a north arrow, dimensions and distances to lot lines, easements, the water meter and the electrical service, plus the city’s fillable deck diagram; decks 30 inches or more above grade must meet the side and rear setbacks and have guards. A pool needs the homeowner acknowledgement form, barrier details and a site plan, cannot go in a front yard or an easement, and needs separate permits for any fence, deck or stairs built with it; the city issues a certificate of occupancy for the pool after the final inspection. The pool flyer (revised September 24, 2026) also sets out how to drain a chlorinated pool: wait seven days without chemicals, check that the pH is between 7 and 8, run the water slowly across at least 15 feet of grass, and send saltwater pools to the sanitary sewer, not the storm drain.
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Commercial permits
Commercial, apartment, hotel and condominium projects have their own fee calculators. Site plans are required for townhome, condominium and apartment developments and for commercial or industrial buildings that are new or expanded by more than half, and they must follow the site plan, subdivision, sign and parking ordinances. Fire protection systems have a separate application, with fire department plan review priced by floor area from $200. Water and wastewater connection fees for commercial buildings are charged per fixture unit.
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Get a free quote →For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit applications through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
What comes before the building permit
- Development review. Rezonings, plats and site plans are reviewed every Tuesday by a staff team, then go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. Property must be platted before a site plan is filed. A pre-submittal meeting can be arranged through 515-978-9533.
- Board of Adjustment. Variances need the city’s request packet and are granted only for special circumstances where a hardship is shown; the fee is $100 for residential and $150 for other requests.
- Erosion control. Construction sites file a COSESCO permit application and SWPPP checklist with Public Works.
- Right of way. Sidewalks, approaches and work in a utility easement need a Public Works permit.
Waukee permit costs and fees
The 2026 City of Waukee Fee Schedule was adopted by the City Council on April 6, 2026 by Resolution 2026-138, with fees in effect from January 1, 2026 unless noted. The building permit fee comes from the valuation table, and the department notifies builders of the final amount when the permit is issued.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1.00 to $500 | $23.00 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $23.00 for the first $500 plus $2.00 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $53.35 for the first $2,000 plus $9.67 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $275.81 for the first $25,000 plus $7.45 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $462.28 for the first $50,000 plus $5.29 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $726.93 for the first $100,000 plus $4.09 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $2,365.20 for the first $500,000 plus $3.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| $1,000,001 and up | $4,150.10 for the first $1,000,000 plus $2.80 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof |
| Residential accessory structures (decks) | $80 |
| Residential accessory buildings 201–600 sq ft / over 600 sq ft | $75 / $150 |
| Accessory structures (except decks) | $20 |
| Residential pool in-ground / above-ground (including electrical and plumbing) | $200 / $50 |
| Residential hot tub or spa (including electrical trade permit) | $75 |
| Inclusive trade permit (new single-family residential construction) | $225 |
| Mechanical, electrical (or temporary electrical service) or plumbing permit | $75 each |
| Minor structural repair or alteration / temporary structures / temporary uses | $75 each |
| Sign remodel / temporary signs | $20 each |
| Energy code inspection / energy code review and inspection | $350 / $500 per unit |
| Certificate of occupancy / zoning compliance letter | $150 |
| Re-issuance or transfer / inspections outside normal business hours | $100 / $75 per hour |
| Construction inspection | $75 per hour |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Worked example: a new house valued at $350,000 falls in the $100,001 to $500,000 band, so the building permit is $726.93 plus 250 steps of $4.09, or $1,749.43. The city’s residential calculator then adds the $225 inclusive trade permit, a $215 sewer tap, $610 water capacity and $840 sewer capacity charges and $250 for the first quarter of erosion control inspection. The bands are listed as the schedule prints them and do not meet exactly: $2,000 works out to $53.00 at the end of the second band, while the third starts at $53.35, and similar gaps of a few cents to a few dollars appear at every later boundary, so price a job inside the band its value falls in.
Other Community Development charges in the 2026 schedule include $400 for a zoning change, $300 for a preliminary plat and $500 for a final plat, $150 for a plat of survey, $75 for a temporary structure such as a tent, $50 for a building sign and $85 for a monument sign, $525 to set up a new mobile home including its trade permits, and $50 for a minor demolition or $100 for removing a building or utility. Appeals of building code decisions go to the Board of Appeals for the same $100 residential or $150 fee as a variance.
Trade permits and who may pull them
Waukee’s own staff issue and inspect trade permits; DIAL does not issue electrical permits there. A new single-family home takes one inclusive trade permit of $225, which the city’s calculator treats as three trades at $75 each; other jobs pay $75 per trade, and a temporary electrical service is a $75 electrical permit. Trade contractors apply on the same OpenGov portal, and the people doing the work hold their Iowa trade licenses.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →- Electrical: the 2023 National Electrical Code as adopted by the state, with the guidance the city links on House File 2800 and the electrical code effective June 2, 2026.
- Plumbing: the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code; irrigation systems on occupied properties need an RPZ backflow preventer set up with the Public Works Water Department.
- Mechanical: the 2024 International Mechanical Code; temporary heat during construction has its own application.
- Pools and hot tubs: the pool and spa permits include their electrical and plumbing permits.
Waukee’s trade application is aimed at contractors and the city lists no owner-installer option; the hotline can answer that question for a specific house.
How to apply for a Waukee building permit
Confirm setbacks, easements and lot coverage; the city does not enforce private covenants.
Rezoning, platting and site plans go through staff review, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
Use the city’s fee calculator for a new home, addition or commercial building.
Open the application for the permit type and upload the site plan, drawings and any acknowledgement forms.
The portal emails review questions, approval and the fees due.
Start only after approval and payment.
Book each inspection on the hotline, 515-978-9533.
Review, corrections and what causes delay
Applicants hear about review questions, approval and fees by email through the portal; leaving out items the handouts list, such as easements, the water meter or the electrical service on a deck site plan, brings review questions. For larger projects, the development review calendar sets the pace: staff review submittals each Tuesday, and the commission and council follow published 2026 schedules. Construction plans are $750 and site plans $300, and a permit re-issue or transfer is $100.
Inspections in Waukee
All inspections are booked through the permit and inspection hotline, 515-978-9533. A deck needs footing, framing and final inspections, and other inspections may be added by the inspector. A pool may not be used until it passes its inspections and receives a certificate of occupancy. Inspections outside normal business hours cost $75 an hour, and the energy code inspection on a new unit is $350, or $500 where the city also reviews the energy plans.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Rental properties are inspected under the rental code at $65 per single-family unit, and the fire department’s fire code inspections are free up to the first reinspection, then cost $100, $300, $600 and finally $1,000 for each further visit. Erosion control on new home sites is billed by the quarter, starting with $250 for the first quarter.
Iowa building code
Waukee enforces the 2024 International Building and Fire Codes it has adopted, with the state’s 2023 electrical, 2024 plumbing and 2024 mechanical codes. FEMA’s Community Status Book for Iowa shows Waukee as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a current effective flood map dated December 15, 2022.
Iowa lets most cities and counties adopt the state building code, another code or none (a city of more than 15,000 must enforce at least the state code), but the energy, accessibility, fire, plumbing, mechanical and electrical rules apply statewide. Iowa rules
Waukee permit search and official resources
Permits filed on OpenGov can be tracked from the applicant’s account, and the city publishes monthly building permit reports. For permit files, plans and inspection records on any property, use the city’s policy on examination and copying of public records, which follows Iowa Code chapter 22.
- Waukee Community Development Department
- Permits and applications, adopted codes
- Waukee OpenGov permit portal
- City of Waukee Fee Schedule 2026 (Resolution 2026-138)
- Residential permit fee calculator
- Accessory building permit handout
- Deck permit handout
- Residential swimming pool permit information
- Development procedures and review schedules
- Board of Adjustment variance packet
- Iowa Association of Building Officials guidance on HF2800
- Iowa Code chapter 22, open records
- FEMA Community Status Book, Iowa
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Waukee building permit FAQs
How much is a deck permit in Waukee?
$80 under the 2026 fee schedule, and every deck needs one, with footing, framing and final inspections.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Waukee?
Only if it is larger than 200 square feet: $75 up to 600 square feet and $150 above. Smaller sheds still have to meet the placement rules.
How do I apply for a Waukee building permit?
Online through the city’s OpenGov portal, choosing the application for the project type and uploading the site plan and drawings.
Which building code does Waukee use?
The 2024 International Building and Fire Codes, with the state’s 2023 electrical, 2024 plumbing and 2024 mechanical codes.
Where do I get a sidewalk or approach permit?
From Public Works, which handles sidewalk, approach, right-of-way and utility easement permits rather than Community Development.
Who handles irrigation meters on an existing home?
The Public Works Water Department, since April 1, 2024; contractors arrange the RPZ backflow device and meter setup with it.
Does an above-ground pool need a permit in Waukee?
Yes, if it holds more than 24 inches of water. The permit is $50, a barrier is required, and the pool needs a certificate of occupancy before use.
How do I book an inspection?
Call the permit and inspection hotline at 515-978-9533.
Simplify Waukee permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Iowa. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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Read guide →West Des Moines Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Waukee permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.