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Basement Finish Permit in Salt Lake City, Utah

Required for finishing or remodeling an unfinished basement in Salt Lake City, including framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Permit fees are valuation-based.

Verified 2026-07-01 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Framing walls in an unfinished basement
  • Adding a bedroom (requires egress window meeting IRC § R310)
  • Adding a bathroom (requires a separate plumbing permit)
  • Electrical wiring for new rooms (requires a separate electrical permit)
  • Any structural modifications

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building PermitSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34, SLC Code § 18.32.035 — published valuation table. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical sub-permits are billed separately.
Assessed on project valuation per SLC's building permit fee schedule (Ord. 2025-34, SLC Code § 18.32.035): $54.55 for $0.01–$500 valuation, scaling to $8,124.55 plus $5 per each additional $1,000 over $1,000,000 — same published table as the Residential Building Permit (see above)
Plan Review FeeSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34
65% of the building permit fee
Re-Inspection FeeSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34
$129 per occurrence

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Salt Lake City building department
~7–14 business days

How long did your Basement Finish Permit permit actually take in Salt Lake City?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Framing

    Wall framing, fire blocking, egress window wells and openings verified

  2. 2

    MEP Rough-In

    Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins before walls are closed

  3. 3

    Insulation

    Insulation on exterior walls, vapor barrier placement per 2024 IECC requirements (effective July 1, 2026)

  4. 4

    Final

    Drywall, fixtures, smoke and CO detectors, and all finishes complete

See the full Salt Lake City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Every basement bedroom in Salt Lake City requires an egress window — the 2021 IRC § R310 requires a minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening with sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor.
  • Window wells deeper than 44 inches require a permanently attached ladder or steps.
  • The furnace and water heater room needs combustion air supply — do not fully enclose it without adequate air.
  • Smoke detectors are required in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level per the 2021 IRC.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for any room used as a bedroom. The 2021 IRC (adopted statewide by Utah Code § 15A-2-103) requires egress windows with a minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor, and a window well if the window is below grade.

In Salt Lake City, the published Building Permit is: Assessed on project valuation per SLC's building permit fee schedule (Ord. 2025-34, SLC Code § 18.32.035): $54.55 for $0.01–$500 valuation, scaling to $8,124.55 plus $5 per each additional $1,000 over $1,000,000 — same published table as the Residential Building Permit (see above). Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the building permit fee; Re-Inspection Fee — $129 per occurrence. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a basement finish permit in Salt Lake City typically runs 7–14 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Salt Lake City Building Services at (801) 535-7968.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Floor Plan. Depending on your project, Salt Lake City may also ask for: Electrical Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Salt Lake City requires 4 inspection(s) for a basement finish permit, in order: Framing, MEP Rough-In, Insulation, Final. Schedule each through Salt Lake City Building Services ((801) 535-7968).

Apply through Salt Lake City Building Services at 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Phone: (801) 535-7968, email: permits@slcgov.com. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.slc.gov/buildingservices/.

Salt Lake City, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b); unchanged by the 7/1/2026 code cycle; Appendix AQ of the 2021 International Residential Code — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(c); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); unchanged by the 7/1/2026 code cycle; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), residential provisions — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); The 2024 editions of the IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, and ISPSC took effect 2026-07-01 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103, superseding the 2021 editions that governed through 2026-06-30. The 2021 IRC and 2023 NEC were not changed by this cycle. This reflects the version of § 15A-2-103 effective 7/1/2026 (superseded 1/1/2027) at le.utah.gov; the next scheduled version, effective 1/1/2027, carries identical code editions, so this entry is not expected to go stale before then.. Local amendments apply — see the Salt Lake City overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-01.

Fee schedules

Applications & forms

Codes & ordinances

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Salt Lake City building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Basement Finish Permit in other cities

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