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Basement Finish Permit in Orem, Utah

Required for finishing an unfinished basement in an existing home (framing, drywall, electrical, plumbing). Uses a special fee structure: $40 base + 1.5% of ICC BVT valuation + applicable trade fees (Tables 3B, 3C, 3D). All submittals online.

Verified 2026-07-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Online account at utah.cityinspect.com
  • Permit application submitted electronically with scope of work
  • Floor plan of proposed basement layout including room dimensions, egress window locations, and smoke/CO detector placement
  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical scope if included

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Basement Finish PermitOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Permits (p. 205). This is a distinct, more favorable fee structure than the standard building permit Table 3A tiers.
$40.00 base + 1.5% of BVT valuation + Tables 3B, 3C, 3D (1997 UAC w/2023 revisions) as applicable
Plan ReviewOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Plan Review (p. 205).
Lesser of 65% of permit fee or actual cost
Re-inspectionOrem City FY 2025-2026 Adopted Budget, Building Safety Special Inspections (p. 206).
$125.00

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Orem building department
~5–15 business days

How long did your Basement Finish Permit permit actually take in Orem?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Framing

    After framing is complete, before insulation or drywall

  2. 2

    Rough-in (Electrical / Plumbing / Mechanical)

    All rough-in work complete before walls are closed

  3. 3

    Insulation

    Insulation installed before drywall

  4. 4

    Final

    All finish work complete including drywall, fixtures, and egress windows

See the full Orem inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Basement bedrooms require egress windows of specific minimum size per IRC — verify before framing.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are required in bedrooms and hallways.
  • Orem's basement finish fee structure ($40 + 1.5% of valuation) is distinct from standard building permit fees.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The 2021 IRC requires egress windows in all sleeping rooms. Minimum opening size, height above floor, and sill height requirements apply. Contact the Building Safety Division at (801) 229-7198 for specifics.

In Orem, the published Basement Finish Permit is: $40.00 base + 1.5% of BVT valuation + Tables 3B, 3C, 3D (1997 UAC w/2023 revisions) as applicable. Additional published fees: Plan Review — Lesser of 65% of permit fee or actual cost; Re-inspection — $125.00. 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 Orem typically runs 5–15 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Building Safety Division at (801) 229-7198.

You'll need: Permit Application; Floor Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Orem requires 4 inspection(s) for a basement finish permit, in order: Framing, Rough-in (Electrical / Plumbing / Mechanical), Insulation, Final. Schedule each through Building Safety Division ((801) 229-7198).

Apply through Building Safety Division at 56 North State St., 2nd Floor, Orem, UT 84057. Phone: (801) 229-7198, email: help@orem.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Official information: https://orem.gov/buildingpermits/.

Orem, Utah has adopted: 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — currently in effect; unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b)); 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IBC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a)); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IMC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e)); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IPC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d)); 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — effective July 1, 2025 (not adopted under Utah Code § 15A-2-103, which does not list an IFC edition; edition unconfirmed for the current period); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — currently in effect; unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g)); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IFGC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f)); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IECC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h)); Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 ISPSC that was in effect July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n)); 2006 Uniform Wildlife Conservation Code (UWUIC); 2009 ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. Local amendments apply — see the Orem overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-16.

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 Orem 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

Bountiful, UtahClearfield, UtahDraper, UtahEagle Mountain, UtahHerriman, UtahKaysville, UtahLayton, UtahLehi, Utah

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