Home Remodel / Repair Submittal Checklist

The following must be submitted with building permit applications for home remodels and
repairs:
General:
o Plans must provide enough detail to allow someone with no knowledge about the project to
build it.
o All plans must:
o Be drawn to scale or have detailed, complete dimensional measurements.
o Be legible.
o Show compliance with the 2018 International Residential Code as amended and
adopted by the city of Des Moines
o Hand-drawn plans prepared without a straight edge will not be accepted.
Floor Plans Must Show:
o Existing and proposed layout of all floors where work is occurring.
o Labels of all rooms, with ceiling heights indicated.
o Locations and sizes of doors and windows.
o Locations of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarm.
o Locations of plumbing fixtures and mechanical equipment.
Structural Plans Must Show:
o Footing locations, sizes, and reinforcement, along with foundation drainage detail.
o Foundation wall locations, sizes, and reinforcement, including wall height.
o Floor framing member type, size, spacing and layout including the proposed lumber species.
o Wall framing member type, size, and spacing, including the size and location of all headers
above windows and doors. Indicate which walls are existing, proposed, or being deleted.
o Include the location, size, and span of any new load bearing beams or headers supporting
floors or ceilings.
o Roof framing member type, size, spacing and layout.
o Engineered design for non-conventional framing systems.
Additional Required Items:
o Detailed information regarding the type and R-value of insulation in the ceiling, walls, and
floor as applicable.
o Details regarding any design alternative requests for elements of the project that do not
comply with the prescriptive requirements of the 2018 International Residential Code.

Page 1 of 1
EXAMPLE FLOOR PLAN
DELETED WALLS OR WINDOWS
PROVIDE FLOOR PLANS THAT CLEARLY INDICATE THE AREA
AND SCOPE OF WORK IN ADDITION TO THE MATERIALS AND NEW WALLS OR WINDOWS
METHODS PROPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK.
NEW STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
INDICATE THE LOCATION OF ALL EXISTING, NEW, AND
SD
DELETED WALLS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS. SMOKE DETECTORS / C.O. ALARM
CO

LABEL THE ROOMS AND PROVIDE DIMENSIONS. PLEASE BE AS

SWAP WINDOW AND DOOR MOVE UTILITIES TO ATTIC,
THOROUGH AS YOU CAN BE TO AVOID CONFUSION LOCATION, REFRAME TO NEW WALL FOR CLOSET
ACCOMODATE WITH NEW
REMOVE LOADBEARING HEADERS
WALL, PROVIDE NEW LVL
BEAM WITH SOLID BLOCKING
TO FOUNDATION BEARING
IE S BELOW 3x5 NEW CLOSET

6FT
6'-0"
I LIT
UT
10'-0"

N REMOVE WALL AND DOOR, 9'-6"

HE REPLACE WITH FALSE EN REPLACE
IT C HEADER FOR OPEN T CH EGRESS
K CONCEPT KITCHEN KI WINDOW
SAME SIZE

3'-0"
SMOKE DETECTORS / OR LARGER
5'-0"
CO ALARMS ARE 12'-0"
ALMOST ALWAYS
2 REQUIRED TO BE

10'-0"
D UPDATED - INCLUDE
BE THEIR EXISTING OR D
2 REPLACE AIR
BE
SD BARRIER
NEW LOCATIONS SURROUNDING
35'-0"

TUB
REPLACE BROKEN FLOOR 12'-0"
18'-0"

/
N G JOISTS WITH 2x10s @ 16"OC
I
LIV NING E D H
REMOVE BATH

AT
DELETE WINDOW WINDOW,
DI

6'-0"
ND
SD
TH A B INSTALL NEW
BA NEW WINDOW
P
EX ING
/ CO EXHAUST FAN
12'-0" FOR
LIV NING VENTILATION

3'-0"
REMOVE NON-LOADBEARING DI 5'-0"

WALL TO ENTRY, CLEAN UP 3x5 NEW CLOSET

AND FINISH FOR EXPANDED SD
1

10'-0"
1 LIVING AREA D REPLACE
D BE
DIRECTION OF FRAMING ABOVE

Y BE EGRESS
7'-0"

TR WINDOW
EN REMOVE FINISHES TO STUDS
REPLACE BAD STUDS
SAME SIZE
12'-0" OR LARGER
WHERE NEEDED INSTALL
NEW INSULATION FOR
THERMAL ENVELOPE
24'-0"
NEW LARGER
EXISTING FLOOR PLAN WINDOW
PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN

EXAMPLE 1/8" = 1'

CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE GUIDE: Register an Account

Register for Customer Self Service (CSS)

Before submitting an application online, you first need to have an account registered with the City of Des Moines Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal.
If you’ve already created a CSS account for other City licenses or permits, you can skip this guide and login to your existing account.
CSS registration is a one-time process. Once you have created your CSS account, you can apply for multiple licenses under that same account.
For the best experience through this process, we recommend using Google Chrome as your web browser.

1. Visit DSM.city/CSS to access the Customer Self-Service portal.

Click on “Guest” in the top-right corner of the webpage or the bottom
of the mobile menu and then select “Register” to create your account.

2. Enter your email address for your account and click “Next” to receive a
New User Account verification email.
Check your email account for the verification email. Once you have
received it, click “Confirm” in the email to begin selecting a user name
and password for your account. Do not share your verification email,
as your confirmation link is unique to your account.

3. After clicking the “Confirm” link in your verification email, your web
browser will open a new page to establish your login information.
Click the “I’m not a robot” box to verify you’re a person.
Set your username and a password for your account. Don’t reuse
a password you’ve used elsewhere, and use the strength gauge to
evaluate how strong your password is.
Confirm your new password, then click “Next” to continue.

4. After you’ve set a username and password, enter your first and last
name. You may ignore the Middle Name and Company fields.
NOTE: Click “Additional Contact Information” and enter at
least one phone number.
Use the “Contact Preference” menu to select how you prefer City
staff to contact you regarding questions about your applications for
licenses, permits and plan reviews. This setting applies to all services
available on CSS. Click “Next” to continue.

5. Finally, enter your physical address. Unlike other online accounts you
may have, CSS requires you to enter your street address in pieces.
Address Line 1: Building/House Number (4730 SW 9th ST)
Pre-Direction: If any, direction shown before Street Name (4730 SW 9th ST)
Address Line 2: Street Name, without including Street Type (4730 SW 9th ST)
Street Type: Select AVE, DR, ST, etc., from the dropdown list (4730 SW 9th ST)
Post Direction: If any, direction shown after Street Type (3225 BIRCH ST SW)
Unit or Suite: Apartment or Unit Number

Enter your City, State, Postal Code and County. Select “Mailing” as your
address type. Click “Submit” to finish creating your CSS account.

Keep your username and password saved in a safe location. You will need it each time you want to apply or renew a permit or license online.
12-2021