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Iowa requires contractor registration for construction work above an annual revenue threshold, handled through the Division of Labor. Electricians, plumbers, and mechanical/HVAC contractors hold separate state licenses. Verify both the registration and the specific trade license.

Start with the official lookup linked above from the Iowa Division of Labor / Department of Inspections. Confirm the license or registration is active, that the classification matches your project, and check for disciplinary history or complaints. Then verify general liability insurance — and workers' compensation if the company has employees — directly with the insurance carrier, not from a photocopied certificate.

If something goes wrong, your state consumer protection office and the licensing board are the places to file complaints. Keep the written contract, invoices, photos, and all communication.

Permits are issued by city or county building departments. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport each run their own systems, and smaller towns may permit through the county.

For permitted work, the contractor should pull the permit in their own name and schedule the required inspections. An inspection is your independent verification that the work meets code — be cautious of anyone who suggests skipping a required permit or asks you to pull an owner permit for work they are performing.

Cold winters, hot humid summers, and severe storms including tornadoes and derechos shape Iowa projects. Frost-depth footings, ice dam prevention, and storm-resistant roofing matter.

Housing includes significant pre-war stock in Des Moines and river cities, with basements nearly universal — sump pumps, drain tile, and radon mitigation are common projects.

Get at least two or three written, itemized quotes. The contract should name the scope, price, payment schedule tied to milestones, start and completion dates, change-order process, and warranty terms. Tie payments to completed work, keep the final payment meaningful until the punch list is done, and never pay the full amount up front.

Federal consumer guidance from the FTC applies everywhere: be wary of door-to-door solicitation after storms, pressure to sign immediately, demands for large cash payments up front, and contractors who cannot provide a verifiable license, insurance, and local references.