| City | Basement finish permit | Notes for apartments |
|---|---|---|
| Lehi | Required — plans + inspections | Internal apartment application (~$25), dedicated parking stall, owner-occupancy declaration |
| Eagle Mountain | Required — city lists basement finishes explicitly | One accessory apartment per lot; owner occupies one unit; separate side/rear entrance |
| Saratoga Springs | Required | Apartment registration + occupancy permit; separate exterior entrance; one paved stall |
| American Fork | Required | Accessory apartment ordinance currently requires two extra off-street stalls (being updated) |
| Draper / Herriman / South Jordan | Required | City-specific apartment rules — we confirm for your address |
Yes. Every city we serve requires a building permit for a basement finish — framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are all inspected. Unpermitted work surfaces at resale, complicates insurance claims, and makes a future apartment registration impossible.
Every basement sleeping room needs an emergency escape opening: at least 5.7 sq ft of net clear opening, minimum 20″ wide and 24″ high, with the sill no more than 44″ above the floor, plus a code-compliant window well with a ladder if it's deeper than 44″.
Residential basement permits in our cities typically issue in one to three weeks once drawings are submitted. We fold that into the schedule — design and bid happen while the permit is in review, so it rarely adds calendar time.
Typically four: rough framing/electrical/plumbing (before insulation), insulation, drywall screw, and final. Your city may combine or add steps — we schedule and attend all of them.