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Contractors in Des Moines, Iowa

1,051 public registry records for Des Moines, across 32 State trade categories.

Largest categories: Residential Remodelers (219); All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (130); Plumbing/Heating & A/C Contractors (80).

Source observed 2026-11-02: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Registration is not a quality rating. A recorded location does not establish a service area.

291 general contractors and 760 specialty trade contractors and construction companies. This is the complete State registry for Des Moines, not a curated list.

Choose the trade for your job, then open a business profile to check its registration, services and contact details. Ask each contractor whether they work at your location.

Ask contractors in Des Moines for quotes →

Building in Des Moines: permits and local rules

PermitsPermit & Development CenterCity of Des Moines ↗FencesA fence taller than 3 feet, or a chain-link fence taller than 4 feet, needs a permit.City source ↗FloodplainWork in a floodplain needs a Floodplain Development Permit as well as a building permit.City source ↗

Read from the City of Des Moines website on October 21, 2026. Rules change, so check with the city before work starts.

1,051 registered in Des Moines, Polk County has 2,472

Browse businesses registered in nearby towns, by city and by trade. Ask whether they serve your location before arranging a visit.

All contractors in Polk County →

General contractors in Des Moines

Specialty trades in Des Moines

Other cities in Polk County

All registered contractors in Des Moines

37 of 200 listings publish services; 66 publish hours. These are published details, not availability guarantees.

Premiere members appear first, marked with the gold check.

Premiere members appear first, marked with the gold check.Verified: owner confirmed their details with the StateEvery registered contractor is listed either way, a badge moves a listing up, it never removes anyone, and neither is a judgement of anyone’s work.

Showing the first 200 of 1,051. Narrow by trade above to see the rest.

How to choose the best contractor in Des Moines

Iowa does not rate or rank contractors, and neither do we. The 1,051 registered contractors listed on this page (current as of November 2026) are the complete State registry for Des Moines, shown without any quality ranking. “Best” is not a list you can look up; it is the contractor who is right for your job. Here is the method the pros’ own trade associations recommend for finding them:

  1. 1. Start from the complete list. Every business above holds a current State registration, and nobody pays to be included. Premiere members appear first, marked with the gold check. That is placement, not a rating. Shortlist three or four whose location and trade fit your project.
  2. 2. Confirm the registration is active. Check each one on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing’s official portal (verify a registration ↗). Every profile here links to the State’s own record so you can check it in one click.
  3. 3. Get current proof of insurance. Ask for a certificate of general liability and workers’ compensation. Never let uninsured work start on your property.
  4. 4. Get at least three written, itemized bids. Compare the same scope apples-to-apples. Be wary of a bid far below the rest. It usually hides missing scope or “surprise” costs later.
  5. 5. Check references and recent local work, then put the full scope, price, milestone payment schedule, and warranty in a written contract before anyone starts. Never pay the full amount up front.

The full guide: finding the best contractor in Iowa →Questions to ask before you hire →How to verify a registration →

Frequently asked questions

Who are the best registered contractors in Des Moines, Iowa?

Iowa does not rate or rank contractors, so there is no official "best registered contractors" list. This directory shows all 1,051 registered contractors the State lists in Des Moines, Iowa. Premiere members appear first, marked with the gold check. Owner-verified listings follow, then listings with published business details, then everyone else, alphabetical within each group. Nobody is ranked by quality. To choose one for your project, confirm the registration is active, ask for current proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation (and, for a licensed trade, a current State trade license), and compare written itemized bids. Registration and advertising placement do not establish quality.

How many registered contractors are there in Des Moines, Iowa?

As of November 2026, the State of Iowa lists 1,051 registered contractors in Des Moines, Iowa. This directory shows all of them. It is the complete public registry, and nobody can pay to be added or left out.

Is a registered contractor the same as a licensed contractor?

No. Iowa requires most construction contractors to register with the State (Iowa Code ch. 91C), but registration is not a license, an endorsement, or a guarantee of quality, insurance, or bonding. It confirms only that the business filed a current registration with the State.

How do I verify a contractor's Iowa registration?

Look up the registration number on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing's official portal (https://laborportal.iwd.iowa.gov/iwd_portal/). Every profile in this directory links to the State's own record so you can confirm it independently. See the step-by-step guide at https://contractiowa.com/verify.

Are these contractors insured or bonded?

Registration does not verify insurance or bonding. Always ask a contractor for current proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and get at least three written bids, before you hire.

Where does this data come from and how current is it?

It comes directly from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing's public "Active Iowa Construction Contractor Registrations" record, last exported November 2026. You can read how this directory is built and download the underlying dataset.

Data, sources & method →Verify a registration with the State ↗