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Basement Finish Permit in Provo, Utah

Required for finishing or remodeling an unfinished basement in Provo, including framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Verified 2026-07-01 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Framing walls in an unfinished basement
  • Adding a bedroom (requires egress window)
  • Adding a bathroom or wet bar (requires plumbing permit if standalone)
  • Electrical wiring for new rooms
  • Structural modifications

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (includes MEP for ≤4 units)
Provo City Consolidated Fee Schedule (provo.municipal.codes/Code/CFS, current through Ordinance 2026-15 passed May 26, 2026), Inspection Fees: building permit 'Based on the 1997 UBC Fee Chart,'… Show full citationProvo City Consolidated Fee Schedule (provo.municipal.codes/Code/CFS, current through Ordinance 2026-15 passed May 26, 2026), Inspection Fees: building permit 'Based on the 1997 UBC Fee Chart,' Building Valuation 'Based upon International Code Council Building Valuation Data'; MEP included for residential buildings of four units or fewer; 'Plan review — 65% of the Building Permit Fee.' The fee schedule contains no distinct 'Basement Finish' line item — a basement finish is permitted and charged solely as a valuation-based building permit.
Building permit per the 1997 UBC Fee Chart — includes plumbing, electrical, and mechanical for residential structures with 4 or fewer units. Plan review 65% of the building permit fee.

Review timeline

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

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

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 openings and well depths.

  2. 2

    MEP Rough-In

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

  3. 3

    Insulation

    Insulation on exterior walls, vapor barrier placement.

  4. 4

    Final

    Drywall, fixtures, smoke detectors in every bedroom and on every floor, all finishes complete. Combustion air to appliances verified per Provo final inspection checklist (Doc 833).

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

Tips

  • Every basement bedroom requires an egress window — minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill height no more than 44 inches above the floor per Provo final inspection checklist (Doc 833) and the adopted IRC.
  • Window wells deeper than 44 inches require a permanently attached ladder or steps.
  • The furnace/water heater room needs combustion air — do not fully enclose it without an air supply.
  • Smoke detectors must be installed in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home.
  • One-half inch gypboard must be installed under all stairs if accessible, per Provo final inspection checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Provo requires a building permit for basement finishes that include framing, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work. Cosmetic work like painting does not require a permit.

In Provo, the published Building Permit Fee (includes MEP for ≤4 units) is: Building permit per the 1997 UBC Fee Chart — includes plumbing, electrical, and mechanical for residential structures with 4 or fewer units. Plan review 65% of the building permit fee.. 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 Provo typically runs 7–14 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Provo City Development Services — Building Division at (801) 852-6428.

You'll need: Floor Plan. Depending on your project, Provo may also ask for: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Provo requires 4 inspection(s) for a basement finish permit, in order: Framing, MEP Rough-In, Insulation, Final. Schedule each through Provo City Development Services — Building Division ((801) 852-6428).

Apply through Provo City Development Services — Building Division at 445 W Center Street, Suite 200, Provo, UT 84601. Phone: (801) 852-6428, email: building@provo.gov. Office hours: Mon–Thu 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (building permits issued until 5:30 PM); closed Fridays. Official information: https://www.provo.gov/200/Building.

Provo, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IBC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a)); Provo's own Building FAQ still lists 2021 IBC as of 2026-07-16 — see NOTE below.; 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 Plumbing Code (IPC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IPC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d)).; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IMC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e)).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IFGC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f)).; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) — per Provo City Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88) listing codes adopted as of July 1, 2021 (not adopted under Utah Code § 15A-2-103, which does not list an IFC edition; edition unconfirmed for the current period beyond this FAQ citation).; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — currently in effect statewide as of July 1, 2026, a single edition with no residential/commercial split under current law (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h)); superseding the 2021 IECC (commercial and residential editions) that Provo's Building FAQ had cited and that was in effect through June 30, 2026.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — currently in effect as of July 1, 2026, superseding the 2021 IEBC that was in effect through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i)).; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — currently in effect (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g)); unchanged by the July 1, 2026 statewide code-edition update. NOTE: Provo's own Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88) still listed 'National Electric Code 2020 Edition' as of 2026-07-16 (re-confirmed live) — this is STALE and always has been, independent of the 7/1/2026 transition; the statewide statute mandates the 2023 NEC, which supersedes the city FAQ.; 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 through June 30, 2026 (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n)).; The statewide code editions are set by Utah Code § 15A-2-103, current version (effective 7/1/2026, superseded 1/1/2027), at le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter2/15A-2-S103.html. Provo's own Building FAQ (provo.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=88) still lists every code at its pre-transition July 1, 2021 edition (2021 IBC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IRC/IFC, 2021 commercial and residential IECC, plus the already-stale 2020 NEC) — the city FAQ has not been updated to reflect either the 2023 NEC statewide mandate or the 7/1/2026 edition change. The state statute governs regardless.. Local amendments apply — see the Provo overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

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

Fee schedules

Checklists & handouts

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 Provo 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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